NHL Hockey Player News

Demko and Casey DeSmith have split starts over the last six games, but the Canucks will turn back to Demko on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Demko has been stellar for the Canucks all season, highlighted by a current six-game stretch (5-0-1), where he has posted a .916 SV%. The Canucks have not played since December 28th, a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and should be well rested as -143 home favourites against the Ottawa Senators, who have won three of their last four games (3-1-0).

Pierre Engvall's return to the lineup on Tuesday will result in Martin being a healthy scratch. In his last two games, Martin averaged over 10 minutes per night, recorded a five-minute fighting major, fired four shots on goal, and four hits.

Kahkonen is winless in his last six appearances but is expected to return to the crease on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Despite a 0-5-0 record, Kahkonen has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five outings and has posted a respectable .923 SV%. That said, the Sharks are +161 home underdogs on Tuesday against the Red Wings, who have lost three of their last four games (1-3-0).

Varlamov has not started a game since December 20th due in part to dealing with an undisclosed injury but will return to the crease on Tuesday against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche. Varlamov has been serviceable in limited action against his former team, posting a 3.07 GAA and .918 SV% in four games (2-2-0). That said, he has been average between the pipes lately, posting a .897 SV% in his last four outings (1-1-1). The Islanders are +163 road underdogs on Tuesday.

Sergachev remains day-to-day and is expected to return shortly but will miss a sixth straight game on Saturday. Sergachev has 19 points (2G / 17A) in 33 games and has been replaced by Darren Raddysh on the second powerplay unit.

Bortuzzo will draw back into the lineup for the Islanders as Sebastian Aho will not be in the lineup. Before not playing on Sunday, Bortuzzo played in 10 games straight, scoring zero points while averaging 15:32 time-on-ice.

Robert Bortuzzo will re-enter the lineup against the Colorado Avalanche as Aho will not play on Tuesday. Aho has one point (1G / 0A), four hits, and 11 shots in his last nine games.

Talbot will start for the fifth time in the last six games for the Kings when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The 36-year-old Talbot has lost three of his last four outings (1-2-1), his worst run of the season, but was terrific on Saturday, saving 24 of 26 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings are -127 home favourites against a Maple Leafs team that has lost five of their last six games (1-4-1).

Markstrom will likely return the crease for his sixth straight start on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Swedish netminder is amid his best stretch of the play since returning from a fractured finger injury two weeks ago, posting an excellent .931 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Flames are slight -112 road favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that defeated them 3-2 in a shootout on December 14th but has lost two straight games and will be without Kiril Kaprizov and starting goalie Filip Gustavsson.

Matt Martin will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Engvall to return to the lineup after not playing in the last contest for the Islanders. Engvall is expected to play on the second line with Kyle Palmieri and a red-hot Brock Nelson. Engvall, however, has been ineffective offensively lately, scoring zero points in his last 10 games after scoring 11 (4G / 7A) in his previous 18.

Ferraro left Sunday's game with just 4:09 TOI and did not return. The Sharks did not practice on Monday but Ferraro has been confirmed to return to the lineup on Tuesday. He has nine points (1G / 8A), 40 hits, and 101 blocks in 37 games this season.

Demko and Casey DeSmith have split starts over the last six games, but the Canucks will likely turn back to Demko on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Demko has been stellar for the Canucks all season, highlighted by a current six-game stretch (5-0-1), where he has posted a .916 SV%. The Canucks have not played since December 28th, a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and should be well rested as -143 home favourites against the Ottawa Senators, who have won three of their last four games (3-1-0).