NHL Hockey Player News

Sgarbossa did not appear for the Capitals during his brief call-up stint and will head back to Hershey (AHL) Friday. The 31-year-old centre last played in the NHL in 2021-22 but has been having success in the minors with the Bears this season, with five goals, 28 points, 16 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus in 28 games played.

Swayman, as are the Bruins, is winless in his last two outings, but he will return to the crease on the front end of a back-to-back on Friday. Despite sporting only a .500 record in his last four (2-0-2), Swayman has a stellar .958 SV%, only allowing five total goals, and has been a victim of porous goal support from his team. The Bruins have lost four of their last six (2-1-3) and matchup evenly at -105 against the Winnipeg Jets, who have points in four straight games (3-0-1).

Lehkonen has not yet been cleared for contact, but his presence, skating at practice, is a promising sign for a team without him for 21 games. Before his injury, Lehkonen had eight points (3G / 5A) in 12 games, averaging 18:30 time-on-ice, playing predominantly alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, including top powerplay deployment. Valeri Nischushkin has been the main benefactor, occupying Lehkonen's offensive deployment, scoring 24 points (13G / 11A) in 19 games since.

Lohrei will draw back into the lineup for the Bruins on Friday as Matt Grzelcyk (upper body) did not travel with the team and will miss at least the next two games. In 15 games this season, Lohrei has five points (2G / 3A), 22 shots, eight blocks, and 26 hits while averaging 16:59 time-on-ice.

Grzelcyk played only 13:35 in the Bruins' last game before exiting with an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old defenseman has failed to record a point in 13 consecutive games and has only one point (1G / 0A) through 20 games this season. Mason Lohrei will draw into the lineup in the interim.

Chadwick was drafted in the sixth round (185th overall) by the Maple Leafs in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old defenseman has 24 points (7G / 17A) in 30 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Western Hockey League this season.

Lorentz will be a healthy scratch on Saturday, allowing Anton Lundell to return to the lineup after missing four games due to an illness. Lorentz has been a regular in the lineup this season, scoring three points (1G / 2A) and registering 28 hits while averaging 8:35 time-on-ice through 25 games.

Steven Lorentz will be a healthy scratch on Saturday, allowing Lundell to return to the lineup after missing four games battling an illness. Lundell has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 22 games this season, most recently playing on a line with Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen.

Primeau will start for only the second time this month and the first time since December 9th, a sensational performance where he saved 46 of 48 shots (.958 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Despite seeing very limited action between the pipes, Primeau has played pretty well when called upon, allowing nine goals across his last three starts, boasting a .918 SV%. That said, the Canadiens had to travel last night after a 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild and are +104 road underdogs against a Chicago Blackhawks team that surprisingly ended a four-game losing skid with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

Samuel Ersson has started the last five games for the Flyers, including a 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators last night, as Hart has been recovering from an illness. All signs point to Hart returning to the crease on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings as the 25-year-old netminder will search for his fourth straight win. Hart has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last three contests (3-0-0), posting a dazzling .958 SV%. The Flyers are +118 road underdogs on Friday against a Red Wings team that has scored only six goals over their last four games (0-4-0).

Mrazek will return to the crease on Friday, his third straight start, being rewarded for a heroic performance in their last game. On Tuesday, Mrazek was sensational, saving 35 of 37 shots (.946 SV%), holding down the fort and shutting down the Colorado Avalanche en route to a 3-2 victory. Mrazek has fared well this season for the league's fourth-worst defensive team (3.55 GA / GP), posting a 3.04 GAA and .909 SV% through 20 appearances while tallying a respectable .556 quality start percentage. In a rare occurrence on Friday, the Blackhawks are slight -110 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team that played last night, losing 4-3 to the Minnesota Wild in overtime.

Guttman is expected to be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Philipp Kurashev (illness) to return to the lineup after a one-game absence. Guttman has appeared in nine straight games for the Blackhawks and has three points (2G / 1A), 18 shots, and eight blocks through 14 games on the season.

Kurashev was a late scratch on Monday but returned to practice on Thursday and will play on Friday against the Montreal Canadiens. Kurashev is averaging nearly 20 minutes per night over his last four games, collecting three points (1G / 2A) and six shots on goal. Cole Guttman is expected to be a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks.

Korchinski has not played since December 7th, missing five games while tending to personal matters. The seventh overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft has seven points (2G / 5A) while averaging 19:31 time-on-ice in his rookie season. Wyatt Kaiser and Filip Roos will both be healthy scratches on the blue line for the Blackhawks.

Tinordi has not played since December 5th, missing seven games due to a concussion, but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Montreal Canadiens. Before his injury, Tinordi had one point (0G / 1A), 21 blocks, and 32 hits in 12 games this season. Wyatt Kaiser and Filip Roos will both be healthy scratches on the blue line for the Blackhawks.

Kaiser will join Filip Roos as a healthy scratch on Friday as Jarred Tinordi (concussion) and Kevin Korchinski (personal) will both draw back into the lineup. In 23 games this season, the 21-year-old Kaiser has four points (0G / 4A), 15 hits, and 29 blocks while averaging 16:40 time-on-ice.

Roos will join Wyatt Kaiser as a healthy scratch on Friday as Jarred Tinordi (concussion) and Kevin Korchinski (personal) will both draw back into the lineup. In four games this season, the 24-year-old Roos has seven hits and two blocks while averaging 14:44 time-on-ice.

Reimer will start on Friday, the front end of a back-to-back, his third straight start since Ville Husso and Alex Lyon have been unable to suit up due to injuries. Reimer has a .888 SV% while being winless in his last eight appearances (0-5-2) and has not had a quality start since November 2nd. The Red Wings have faced struggles regardless of who is between the pipes, as they have lost four straight (0-4-0) and seven of their last eight (1-6-1). That said, they are -123 home favourites against a Flyers team that defeated them 1-0 less than a week ago and is coming off a 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators last night.

Mrazek will likely return to the crease on Friday, his third straight start, being rewarded for a heroic performance in their last game. On Tuesday, Mrazek was sensational, saving 35 of 37 shots (.946 SV%), holding down the fort and shutting down the Colorado Avalanche en route to a 3-2 victory. Mrazek has fared well this season for the league's fourth-worst defensive team (3.55 GA / GP), posting a 3.04 GAA and .909 SV% through 20 appearances while tallying a respectable .556 quality start percentage. In a rare occurrence on Friday, the Blackhawks are slight -110 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team that played last night, losing 4-3 to the Minnesota Wild in overtime.