NHL Hockey Player News

Georgiev is expected to get his seventh start on Thursday and will look to build on his tremendous early-season results. The Avalanche are one of only three teams without a loss this season (6-0-0), thanks partly to a remarkable start from Georgiev, who has a 1.98 GAA and .930 SV%. The Avalanche are -145 road favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has lost three straight and been outscored 20-17 on the season (2-4-0).

Kochetkov has been reassigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL after making appearances in three consecutive games for the Hurricanes. In those three games (0-3-0), Kotchetkov was unremarkable, as has been the entire Hurricanes roster to start the season, posting a 4.33 GAA and .836 SV%. The Hurricanes will turn back to the tandem of Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta in between the pipes.

Guhle appears to be nearing a return but is still expected to be unavailable for the Canadiens Thursday night matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Guhle has one assist, a +4 plus/minus rating, and seven shots while averaging 15:35 time-on-ice through three games this season.

Hellebuyck will look to extend his two-game winning streak as he appears to be the starting goalie for the Jets on Thursday. After an uncharacteristic start to the season, posting a .843 SV% through his first three contests (1-2-0), Hellebuyck seems to have regained his Vezina-caliber form, boasting a .933 SV% in his two games since (2-0-0). Hellebuyck and the Jets might be facing their toughest matchup of the season as they visit the high-flying Detroit Red Wings who are averaging an absurd 4.86 goals per game to start the season (5-1-1).

The Senators starting goalie position looked like it was about to be overtaken by Anton Forsberg before a forgettable performance on Tuesday where he allowed five goals on 18 shots, opening the door back up for Korpisalo. Korpisalo has had an equally forgettable start to his tenure as an Ottawa Senator, sporting an ugly 3.63 GAA and .872 SV% through four games (1-2-0). Until one goalie can prove himself as the undisputed number one, the two will likely continue to rotate starts. Tonight, Korpisalo and the Senators are +113 road underdogs against a New York Islanders team that has lost three straight.

Montembault will start in goal for the first time since October 17th, an outing where he allowed five goals on 35 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The Canadiens have had some inconsistent results this season but have still salvaged a 3-2-1 record despite being outscored 20-18. The Canadiens are -112 home favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has had similar results this season, showcasing an identical 3-2-1 record while being outscored 19-17.

Petry missed the Red Wings' previous two contests due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return to the lineup Saturday vs. Boston. Petry was acquired in the offseason for Gustav Lindstrom and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2025 and has two assists, four SOG, six PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through four games in 2023-24.

DeBrincat was absent from Wednesday's morning skate due to illness but did skate Thursday and will be a game-time decision vs. Winnipeg. The 25-year-old has been off to an absurd start during his Detroit tenure as he leads the NHL in goals (9) and is third in points (13) while adding 23 SOG and a +6 plus/minus across seven games thus far in 2023-24.

Barkov was a late scratch from the Panthers' previous game Tuesday vs. San Jose due to illness and did not practice Thursday making his a game-time decision Saturday vs. Seattle. The 28-year-old has started the season off with some jump as he has a goal, five assists, 13 SOG, two PIMs, and a +5 plus/minus through five games so far in 2023-24.

Ruzicka's status for Thursday's game against the St. Louis Blues is uncertain as he is day-to-day with an undisclosed 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.

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.

Jarry is expected to 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).

Montembault is expected to start for the first time since October 17th, an outing where he allowed five goals on 35 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The Canadiens have had some inconsistent results this season but have still salvaged a 3-2-1 record despite being outscored 20-18. The Canadiens are -112 home favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has had similar results this season, showcasing an identical 3-2-1 record while being outscored 19-17.

Roy left in the third period of Tuesday's matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers and will be a game-time decision for the Golden Knights' next game on Friday. Roy has four points (3G / 1A) in seven games this season, averaging 15:04 time-on-ice per game.

Belpedio has two points (0G / 2A) in four career NHL games but has not played at the NHL level since the 2020-21 season with the Minnesota Wild. He is expected to make his Flyers' debut on Thursday, likely suiting up alongside Nick Seeler on their third defensive pair.

Sorokin will start on Thursday after being the first goalie off the ice and will look to rebound after consecutive losses (0-1-1), both sub-.900 SV% performances. Despite making several heroic saves early in the contest, Sorokin allowed five goals on 37 shots in the Islanders' 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. The Islanders are -118 road favorites as they welcome an Ottawa Senators team that has lost two straight, being outscored 11-6 in those games.

On Tuesday, Hart allowed three goals on 29 shots in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights but will look to rebound when he takes the starter's crease on Thursday night against the Minnesota Wild. Hart has a 3-2-0 record along with an impressive 2.21 GAA and .922 SV% through five contests. The Minnesota Wild have been scoring with ease, despite being without Matt Boldy, averaging 4.17 goals per game so far this season (3-2-1), attributing to the Flyers +104 home underdogs.

Sorokin is the likely starter on Thursday and will look to rebound after consecutive losses (0-1-1), both sub-.900 SV% performances. Despite making several heroic saves early in the contest, Sorokin allowed five goals on 37 shots in the Islanders' 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. The Islanders are -118 road favourites as they welcome an Ottawa Senators team that has lost two straight, being outscored 11-6 in those games.

Mete has one point (0G / 1A) in five games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL and could make his debut with the Flyers as Emil Andrae was sent down. In 247 career NHL games, Mete has 45 points (5G / 40A), a +19 plus/minus rating, and 46 penalty minutes.

Belpedio has two points (0G / 2A) in four career NHL games but has not suited up in the NHL since the 2020-21 season with the Minnesota Wild. He was recalled alongside Victor Mete and could get an opportunity in the Flyers lineup with Emil Andrae being loaned to Lehigh Valley (AHL).