NHL Hockey Player News

Skinner will return to the crease for the Oilers in their first game back from the Christmas break in a favourable matchup against the San Jose Sharks. The Oilers, winners of two straight, are enormous -403 road favourites against a Sharks that has lost six straight (0-6-0), including a 5-1 loss last night at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings. Skinner has had an up-and-down last couple of weeks but is coming off an impressive 31-save performance (.912 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers.

Addison has missed the Sharks' previous three games due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup Wednesday in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old puck-moving defensemen was acquired by San Jose earlier in the season and has a goal, 10 assists, 40 SOG, 18 PIMs and a -13 plus/minus through 31games with both San Jose and Minnesota this season.

On the front end of a back-to-back, the Kings will turn to David Rittich for the second time in the last four games. In his Kings debut last week, Rittich saved 15 of 16 shots (.938 SV%) against the San Jose Sharks and will look to repeat his performance in a rematch against the Sharks on Wednesday. The Kings have won three of their last four (3-1-0) and are huge -344 home favourites against a Sharks team that has lost five straight (0-5-0), scoring only nine goals in that span.

Trouba suffered the injury after he appeared to take an inadvertent elbow to head from Tom Wilson as the former drove toward the Rangers' net. We should expect to receive an update on Trouba's injury and a possible timeline to his return in the coming days. The Rangers' captain has two goals and eleven assists in 32 games this season.

Driedger will make his first start of the season after Joey Daccord got the nod in each of the Kraken's previous seven games as Philipp Grubauer continues to recover from a lower-body injury. Driedger last appeared in an NHL game on May 1st, 2022, when he allowed four goals on 27 shots enroute to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Jets. He owns a 9-5-1 record and a .916 SV% with Coachella Valley (AHL) this season. Driedger will have his hands full on Wednesday, with the Kraken being +125 underdogs in Calgary.

Werenski suffered an apparent knee injury in the second period of Wednesday's game against the Devils and did not return. He appeared to be unable to put any weight on his leg as he exited the ice. Werenski has one goals and 24 assists in 33 games this season. We should get an update on the injury and a possible timetable for his return in the coming days.

Toninato will take the place of the injured David Gustafsson (undisclosed). Toninato has two goals and four assists with Manitoba (AHL) this season.

Georgiev will be in search of a third straight victory on Wednesday as he gets the nod for the Avalanche's first game following the holiday break. Georgiev has been steady of late after enduring a rocky start to his 2023-24 season, posting a .929 SV% while picking up the win in each of his last two appearances. He leads the league with 17 wins to his name despite an underwhelming .899 SV%. He's in a great spot to keep things rolling on Wednesday with the Avalanche being -165 favourites in Arizona.

Gustafsson was a game-time decision for Wednesday's game in Chicago due to an undisclosed injury. He has two goals and two assists in 27 games this season.

Kochetkov allowed five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 5-4 loss in the Hurricanes' last game before the Christmas break but will return to the crease on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old netminder has started four straight and six of the last seven (3-1-2), steadying a Hurricanes' net that has been subpar all season, posting a .927 SV% while allowing fewer than two goals in four contests. The Hurricanes are -130 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team that has lost two of their last three games (1-2-0).

Wedgewood will start for the fifth straight game on Wednesday as he continues to be a mainstay between the pipes for the Stars with Jake Oettinger still week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Wedgewood has been unspectacular this season but reliable in nearly every appearance, posting a 9-1-2 record with a 3.08 GAA and .903 SV%. Specifically since taking over for Oettinger, Wedgewood has been solid, posting a .900 SV% in five appearances (4-0-1). The Stars are -170 road favourites against a St. Louis Blues team that defeated Wedgewood and the Stars 4-3 in overtime less than two weeks ago.

Jost will get the opportunity to centre the Sabres' first line on Wednesday as he fills in for Tage Thompson, who is out due to personal reasons. Jost has two goals and two assists in 28 games this season.

Thompson was a late scratch for Wednesday's game, with the team only announcing his absence just over 30 minutes before puck drop. Thompson has nine goals and ten assists in 26 games this season. Tyson Jost will draw into the Sabres' lineup and centre the first line in Thompson's absence.

Korpisalo did not play in the Senators' last game, their first win in seven attempts, but will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Korpisalo has struggled lately, losing five straight, allowing four or more goals in each, and posting an ugly .861 SV% in the process. The Senators lost 4-3 to the Maple Leafs earlier this month, with Anton Forsberg between the pipes, and are +137 road underdogs against them on Wednesday evening.

Vanecek has started the last three games for the Devils (1-1-1) and will start again on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Vanecek has allowed three goals or fewer in four of his last game games (3-1-1), his best stretch of play this season, posting a .908 SV% in the process. The Devils are significant -254 home favourites against a Blue Jackets squad that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1), including a 6-3 loss to the Devils on December 16th.

Merzlikins will take the crease for the second time in three games as he takes on New Jersey Wednesday fresh off a win over Washington in his previous start (32 saves - .906 SV%). The 29-year-old has bounced back nicely after a pair of rough seasons with his 7-8-5 record, 3.17 GAA and .909 SV%. He will head to New Jersey Wednesday to take on the Devils, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a win last game and are eight in the NHL in goals per game (3.41).

Primeau played well in the Canadiens' final game before the Christmas break, saving 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, and will play in their first game back from the break on Thursday. Primeau has won three of his last four contests (3-1-0), allowing two goals or fewer in three, posting a .916 SV%, but will be hard-pressed to continue his strong play in an unfavourable matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes played last night, a commanding 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators, but are still sizeable -253 home favourites against the Canadiens.

Thompson will draw the Golden Knights' crease for the first time in three games after backing up their previous two losses but will start Wednesday on the road in Anaheim. The 26-year-old has struggled compared to his previous two season in 2023-24, with his 10-5-3 record, 2.71 GAA and .905 SV%. He will look to get Vegas out of their current three-game slump as they take on Anaheim, who has lost their last two games and are 29th in the NHL in goals per game (2.58 GAA).

Magnus Chrona was recalled Wednesday from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) which implies Mackenzie Blackwood will be out vs. Los Angeles after it was announced he was under the weather Wednesday. The 27-year-old netminder is not expected to be out long as he did travel with the team. He has struggled in his first season in San Jose, with his 4-14-2 record, 3.92 GAA and .889 SV%.