NHL Hockey Player News

Wedgewood will start between the pipes for the second time in the last two games for the Stars as Jake Oettinger will receive a maintenance day. The Stars coaching staff has made it clear that they don't want to overwork Oettinger this season so Wedgewood starting a third of games could be a realistic expectation. Wedgewood was tremendous in a losing effort against the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, saving 40 of 43 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss. The undefeated Stars (4-0-1) are -109 home favourites but will have their work cut out for them against a Maple Leafs team riding a two-game winning streak.

Solovyov had a goal, an assist, and two PIMs in four games played with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) and has earned himself his first career call up to the Calgary Flames Thursday. The 23-year-old defensemen was the Flames seventh round pick in 2020 (#205th overall) and has yet to appear in the NHL despite two successful full AHL seasons in the last two years. If Adam Ruzicka (undisclosed) is unable to go Thursday, expect Solovyov to make his NHL debut.

Laura left the Bruins' previous game after 9:13 TOI after taking the back end of a skate to the face and will be out at least a week with a facial fracture. The 23-year-old centre has yet to pick up a point in six games played so far in 2023-24, but has six SOG, six PIMs and a -4 plus/minus. It is a hard hit to the Bruins who also lost Milan Lucic (lower-body) week-to-week Thursday.

Lucic has missed the Bruins' previous two games with a lower-body injury and is now expected to be out week-to-week as it continues to linger. The 35-year-old veteran winger signed a one-year, $1 million contract in the offseason and has been a key force in helping the Bruins start their season undefeated (6-0-0) out of the gate. In four games prior to his injury he had two assists, one SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus.

Fleury will return to the net on Friday for a Minnesota Wild team that has uncharacteristically been unable to keep the puck out of their net, regardless of who is in between the pipes. In two games this season (1-1-0), Fleury has a 3.55 GAA, which is slightly better than the Wild's league-worst 4.43 goals allowed per game. Fleury and the Wild will have a chance to get things back on track Friday as they visit a Washington Capitals team that is scoring an average of only 2.00 goals per game, second lowest in the league.

Gustavsson will return to the crease on Thursday for his third consecutive game as he looks for his third victory this season. After a heroic 41-save shutout to open the season, Gustavsson has registered a .861 SV% in his three games since (1-1-1). The Wild have had an uncharacteristic start to the season. The traditionally low-scoring, low-offence Wild, who are without Matt Boldy to boot, have the league's fourth-best offence (4.17 GF/GP) along with the third-worst defence (4.17 GA/GP). They will look to recalibrate as -111 road favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has a 3-2-1 record.

Kahkonen will man the crease on Friday and attempt to stop the bleeding on a dreadful start to the 2023-24 campaign for the Sharks. Last night, with Mackenzie Blackwood in the net, the Sharks were blown out 6-0 by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Blackwood has seen action more consistently to start the season for the Sharks, but their 0-6-1 record indicates they don't have much chance regardless of who is in between the pipes. The Sharks are averaging an embarrassing league-worst 1.14 goals scored per game and as a result, are +357 road underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Blackwood will start for the fifth time in six games for the Sharks on Thursday. Despite an 0-3-1 record, Blackwood has had a couple of very strong performances in losing efforts. On Tuesday, he made 32 of 34 saves in a 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. On the season as a whole, Blackwood has a 3.47 GAA and .914 SV%, admirable totals playing on a Sharks team that gives him virtually zero goal support (1.33 GF/GP). That said, expectations remain extremely low for Blackwood and the Sharks as they are +250 road underdogs against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Merzlinkins will man the crease for the third consecutive game, his fifth start of the season, on Thursday in Montreal. Merzlinkins has been reliable to start the season, donning a 2.69 GAA and .913 SV% in four games (2-1-1), but is coming off his weakest performance where he allowed three goals on 27 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The Blue Jackets are slight +102 road underdogs against a Canadiens team that is off to a 3-2-1 start this season.

The Bruins' goaltending duo of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have paved the way for their 6-0-0 start to the season. Ullmark is proving that last year's Vezina trophy was not a fluke as he has a 1.00 GAA and .962 SV%. A league-best 1.17 goals allowed per game for the Bruins has overshadowed any expected shortcomings after losing key offensive pieces in the offseason. The Bruins are expected to keep the winning streak going as they are massive -303 home favourites against the Anaheim Ducks.

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.