NHL Hockey Player News

Rousek started off the season hot in Rochester (AHL) and has earned himself a call-up to Buffalo Thursday after putting up two goals, four assists, four PIMs, and a -3 plus/minus in eight games. The 24-year-old made his NHL debut in 2022-23, appearing in two games and scoring a goal and an assist. Alex Tuch missed Thursday's team practice due to maintenance so if he is unable to go, Rousek should be expected to take his spot in the Sabres' lineup.

Swayman returns to the Bruins' crease after backing up last game and will look to keep his four-game win streak in tact vs. Toronto. The 24-year-old has been sensational yet again this season, with his 4-0-0 record, .957 SV% and 1.26 GAA. He draws Toronto at home Thursday, who is looking to snap a two-game losing streak and are 13th in the NHL in goals per game (3.22).

After allowing five goals on 42 shots in a 6-5 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Canadiens season-opener, Allen has settled into an impressive run, winning three straight games and posting a 2.63 GAA and .930 SV% on the season (3-0-1). Allen and the Canadiens are +113 road underdogs against the Arizona Coyotes, who are averaging 4.5 goals per game over their last four outings (1-2-1).

The Predators will turn back to Juuse Saros after giving him his first rest of the season, a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Saros will be starting for the ninth time in 10 games and should continue to be a workhorse for the Predators as Lankinen's first start on Tuesday likely did not instill much confidence from the coaching staff. Saros is performing right around his career averages this season, posting a 2.49 GAA and .915 SV% but has only been able to record a 4-4-0 record due to his team's inability to score consistently (2.78 GF / GP). The Predators visit the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, who have the 27th-ranked offence in the league (2.40 GF / GP).

Demko will start for the Canucks on Thursday and look to improve on his impressive start to the season as the Canucks visit the low-scoring San Jose Sharks. Demko's 1.92 GAA and .935 SV% through six games (4-2-0) mixed with a winless Sharks team (0-8-1) that has the worst offence in the league (1.00 GF / GP) is a perfect recipe for the Canucks, who are -225 road favourites.

Ylonen has been a healthy scratch the last two games and hasn't played since October 26th but will return to the Canadiens lineup on Thursday in Arizona. Michael Pezzetta will serve as a healthy scratch, allowing Pezetta, who has one point (1G / 0A) in seven games, to return to the lineup.

Pezzetta has one point (0G / 1A) in seven games with the Canadiens this season while averaging 7:14 time-on-ice. He will sit in the press box as a healthy scratch on Thursday as the team welcomes Jesse Ylonen back into the lineup.

Hoffman has failed to deliver after being acquired by the Sharks in a three-way trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens during the offseason. Like most of the Sharks roster, Hoffman has struggled, registering only one point (0G / 1A), 10 shots, and a -7 plus/minus rating through nine games. He will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.

Thompson will look to continue his undefeated season (4-0-0) as he appears to be the starter for the Golden Knights on Thursday night. Adin Hill has had the slight favour in net, starting 60% of the teams' 10 games thus far but Thompson continues to be a reliable option when called upon and should continue to see a near-split workload the rest of the way. In his most recent contest, Thompson saved 36 of 39 shots in a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Thompson and the Golden Knights are -130 home favourites against the Winnipeg Jet, who are 4-3-2 on the season.

The Predators will likely turn back to Juuse Saros after giving him his first rest of the season, a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Saros will be starting for the ninth time in 10 games and should continue to be a workhorse for the Predators as Lankinen's first start on Tuesday likely did not instill much confidence from the coaching staff. Saros is performing right around his career averages this season, posting a 2.49 GAA and .915 SV% but has only been able to record a 4-4-0 record due to his team's inability to score consistently (2.78 GF / GP). The Predators visit the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, who have the 27th-ranked offence in the league (2.40 GF / GP).

The Jets' workhorse goaltender will likely be between the pipes for the eighth time in 10 games on Thursday as he hopes to rebound from a 3-2 overtime loss at the hands of the New York Rangers on Monday. Hellebuyck has been somewhat inconsistent this season but has still managed a 4-2-1 record despite only three quality starts and a 2.96 GAA and .898 SV%. Hellebuyck and the Jets are +127 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are one of only two teams yet to lose in regulation (9-0-1).

Grubauer appears to be the starter on Thursday, giving him consecutive starts after serving as backup to Joey Daccord for the three games prior. In his most recent outing, Grubauer was excellent, saving 34 of 37 shots against the Tampa Lightning in a 4-3 overtime victory, his first of the season. The Seattle Kraken are -116 home favourites as they welcome the Nashville Predators, who rank in the bottom third of the league offensively (2.86 GF / GP).

Gagner had played four games with the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL this season, registering five points in three games (1G / 4A) and signed with the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday and is expected to make his season debut vs. Dallas. This will mark Gagner's third stint with the Oilers, who played with the organization from 2007-2014 and again from 2018-2020. He is expected to replace Adam Erne, who was placed on waivers by the Oilers Wednesday.

Eklund did not participate in Wednesday's team practice due to an illness but is still expected to play Thursday as San Jose takes on Vancouver. The 21-year-old prospect has struggled offensively as the Sharks continue to be historically bad at scoring (1.0 G/GP) and has a goal, two points, 12 SOG, and a -4 plus/minus to start his first full NHL campaign.

Skinner seems to have taken a grasp on the Oilers' starting role as he is set to start his third-straight game for Edmonton Thursday as they take on Dallas. The 25-year-old was an All-Star in his rookie season in 2022-23, but has struggled thus far this season as he is 1-2-1 with a .863 SV% and 3.51 GAA. He takes on the red-hot Dallas Stars, who have points in all but one of their games this season (6-1-1) but are 18th in the NHL in goals per game (3.13) and 21st in shots per game (29.8).

Vanecek has appeared in four straight games for the Devils and currently finds himself in the midst of a two-game winning streak after stopping 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) and beating Minnesota in his previous start. The 27-year-old has won despite his mediocre play this season as he is 4-2-0, .895 SV%, and 3.24 GAA. He takes on the reeling Minnesota Wild, who have dropped their previous three games but are tied for seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.56).

Korpisalo was on the ball in his previous start as he stopped 41 of 43 shots (.953 SV%) to snap a two-game losing streak as he beat Pittsburgh and will likely take the crease Thursday after occupying the starter's crease at morning skate. After signing a five-year, $20 million contract in the offseason he has struggled early and is 2-3-0 with a .903 SV% and 3.22 GAA. He takes on his old team in Los Angeles, whose offense is in tact as they are currently leading the NHL in goals per game (4.33)

Talbot has been the only reliable netminder for the Kings this season and as such, appears to be the starter on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. In seven games (4-2-1), Talbot has a respectable 2.47 GAA and .914 SV% but has been even more impressive of late, allowing only five goals (.936 SV%) in his last three contests (2-0-1). The Kings are slight -109 road favourites against a Senators team that, despite an unremarkable 4-4-0 start, has had no trouble scoring goals, ranking fifth in the league offensively (4.00 GF / GP).

Rodrigues did not practice Wednesday due to an undisclosed injury and was originally a game-time decision Thursday vs. Detroit but will draw into the lineup without any restrictions. The signed a four-year, $12 million contract in the offseason to join the Panthers and has two goals, six assists, 26 SOG, six PIMs and a +7 plus/minus through eight games to start 2023-24.