NHL Hockey Player News

Jarry will return to the Penguins' crease after serving as backup to Alex Nedeljkovic in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. After a hot start to the season where he registered a .944 SV% in his first two games (1-1-0), he has since sported an ugly .833 SV% in his two games since (0-2-0). The Penguins have hit a rough patch as a whole, losing three straight games and being outscored 14-6 in the process. Jarry and the Penguins will have their work cut out for them on Thursday as they are facing a Colorado Avalanche team that has yet to lose a game (6-0-0).

Johansson is coming off his best performance of the season, a 32-save shutout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Despite being a journeyman for most of his career and never starting more than 13 games in a single NHL season, Johansson is off to a great start with the Lightning as he continues to fill in for the injured Andrei Vasilevskiy. In six games thus far (3-1-2), Johansson has a 2.99 GAA and .917 SV%, significantly better than the 3.29 GAA and .892 SV% he has accumulated throughout his 41-game NHL career ( 14-14-6). The Lightning rank 12th-worst defensively (3.43 GA/GP) but will look to improve that total as they are -285 home favourites against a San Jose Sharks team averaging a league-worst 1.33 goals per game.

Gibson returns to the Ducks' crease for Thursday's game against the Bruins after Lukas Dostal got the nod in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime victory over the Blue Jackets. Gibson has performed admirably to open the campaign with a .907 SV% and a 2.72 GAA through his first three starts, but a lack of goal support still leaves him searching for his first win of the season. Things won't get any easier for Gibson tonight with the Ducks being a +250 road underdog in Boston.

Andersen has not played since October 17th due to a upper-body injury but did back up Pyotr Kotchetkov on Tuesday and will start Thursday vs. Seattle. The 34-year-old veteran is undefeated at 2-0-0 despite his unimpressive .855 SV% and 4.14 GAA. He will face the Seattle Kraken Thursday, who have won two of their last three games but rank 28th in the NHL in goals per game (2.29).

Crouse was absent from Thursday's team practice as he dealt with an illness and will now be a game-time decision Friday vs. Los Angeles. The 26-year-old has struggled out of the gate thus far in 2023-24, with only an assist, eight SOG, four PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through six games.

Vejmelka lines up to face the Los Angeles Kings for a second straight contest after losing in overtime to them in his previous start 2-1 after stopping 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%). The 27-year-old has been sensational when called upon in 2023-24, with his 2-2-0 record, .942 SV% and 1.85 GAA. He takes on Los Angeles again Friday, who has won three of their last four games and are second in the NHL in goals per game (4.5).

Kassian was released from a PTO by Anaheim at the end of the preseason and has announced his retirement after 12 NHL seasons on Wednesday. The 32-year-old played 661 games for four different NHL teams (EDM, VAN, BUF, ARI) and had 92 goals, 203 points and 913 PIMs. He last played for Arizona in 2022-23, where he had two goals, zero assists, 50 PIMs and a -18 plus/minus in 51 games played.

Spence has been recalled from Ontario (AHL) just a day after being sent down in what was mostly a paper transaction. The 22-year-old defensemen has appeared in five games so far in 2023-24 and has an assist, three SOG, and a +1 plus/minus. He should be back in the Kings' lineup for their next game Friday vs. Arizona.

Anderson-Dolan was recalled from Ontario (AHL) a day after being sent down to appear in a game for the Reign while Los Angeles takes a three day break. The 24-year-old forward returns to the Kings where he has failed to pick up a point in only one appearance thus far in 2023-24. He had seven goals and 12 points in 46 games across his first full NHL season with the Kings in 2022-23.

The Bruins have recalled Boqvist as a result of news from earlier today that Milan Lucic will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Boqvist, who will be an option to slide onto the Bruins fourth line, played 70 games with the New Jersey Devils last season, tallying 21 points (10G / 11A).

Binnington will get the nod in net on Friday after serving as a backup to Joel Hofer in the Blues' 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday. Despite his first regulation loss in his most recent appearance, Binnington has had a solid start to the season, showcasing a 1.69 GAA and .945 SV% in four games (2-1-1). Binnington hasn't finished either of his previous two seasons with a save percentage above .901 but the Blues coaching staff hope competition from Hofer can help him elevate his game. The Blues are +169 road underdogs against a Vancouver Canucks team that is off to a strong 4-2-0 start, outscoring their opposition 23-15.

St. Louis has decided to go with the unconventional 11 forwards, seven defensemen approach which had led to Scott Perunovich getting his first appearance of the season in the Blues' lineup. The 25-year-old last appeared in the NHL as a rookie in 2021-22 and had six assists, 14 SOG, eight PIMs and a +2 plus/minus in 19 games. He takes the place of Tyler Tucker in the Blues' lineup Thursday.

Bortuzzo has yet to appear in any of the Blues' first five games but will draw into the lineup for the first time in 2023-24 Thursday as they take on Calgary. The 34-year-old had two goals, three assists, 30 SOG, 29 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus in 43 games played in 2022-23.

Vrana has had a decent start to the season, registering three points (1G / 2A) while averaging 12:13 time-on-ice through five games but will be a healthy scratch for the Blues on Thursday. The Blues are opting to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen on Thursday as they welcome Scott Perunovich into the lineup.

Tucker has registered one point (1G / 0A), six blocks, and eight hits in five games and will be a healthy scratch on Thursday. Scott Perunovich will make his season debut and fill in for Tucker on the Blues' blueline.

Hofer will get his second start of the season on Thursday and look to rebound after allowing six goals on 42 shots in his only game thus far, a 6-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Hofer expected to challenge Jordan Binnington for starts this season but that endeavor has temporarily paused as Binnington has demanded the net with a blistering start, registering a 1.69 GAA and .945 SV% in four games (2-1-1). The Blues are +162 road underdogs but should be able to give the Calgary Flames a run for their money as they have been outscored 25-17 to start the season (2-4-1).

Mitchell was placed on waivers Wednesday but has been assigned to Providence (AHL) after he passed through unclaimed on Thursday. The 24-year-old had an assist, four PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in two games played with Boston this season. Mitchell was a piece of the trade which saw Taylor Hall head to Chicago in the offseason.

Hofer is likely to get his second start of the season on Thursday and will look to rebound after allowing six goals on 42 shots in his only game thus far, a 6-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Hofer expected to challenge Jordan Binnington for starts this season but that endeavor has temporarily paused as Binnington has demanded the net with a blistering start, registering a 1.69 GAA and .945 SV% in four games (2-1-1). The Blues are +162 road underdogs but should be able to give the Calgary Flames a run for their money as they have been outscored 25-17 to start the season (2-4-1).

Ruzicka will be unavailable for the Flames' Thursday night matchup against the St. Louis Blues as he is day-to-day with a shoulder injury. The Slovak forward is off to a solid start this season with four points (2G / 2A), averaging 13:28 time-on-ice through seven games.

Daccord was a bit shaky in his previous outing allowing four goals on 27 shots (.852 SV%) but picked up his second straight victory and is the expected starter Thursday vs. Carolina. The 27-year-old is a five year NHL veteran but has never appeared in more than eight games in any single NHL season. He has a 2-0-1 record, 2.85 GAA and .898 SV% in three games played so far in 2023-24. He takes on the struggling Carolina Hurricanes, who have lost three straight contests and rank last in the NHL in goals allowed (4.71).