NHL Hockey Player News

The Sharks will return to Chrona between the pipes on the front end of a back-to-back on Saturday, his fifth straight start. The 23-year-old Chrona has struggled in his first NHL season, allowing four or more goals in four of seven appearances (1-4-1), posting a miserable .872 SV%. The Sharks will visit a Columbus Blue Jackets team riding a three-game losing skid.

Bongiovanni is an undrafted 24-year-old from Mississippi who has spent the past three seasons with the Manitoba Moose (AHL). In 34 games this season, Bongiovanni has 15 points (8G / 7A) with Manitoba.

The Kings will likely turn to Talbot on the front end of a back-to-back in a favourable matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. After a horrible two-month stretch, Talbot has rebounded nicely, posting a .936 SV% in his last nine games (5-3-1). Talbot has dropped two straight contests but has played serviceably, saving 58 of 64 combined shots (.906 SV%).

The reeling Red Wings, losers of seven straight, will turn to Reimer between the pipes on Saturday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres. Alex Lyon has struggled immensely lately, so a strong outing for Reimer could generate more opportunities for him down the stretch. The 36-year-old Reimer has played well lately, posting a 3-1-0 record and .930 SV% since the start of the new year.

The Senators will turn Korpisalo in the front end of a back-to-back on Saturday afternoon. After losing seven straight, the Senators are riding a rare two-game winning streak, keeping their opposition to three total goals. Korpisalo was excellent in his last outing, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On the front end of a back-to-back, the Islanders will turn to Varlamov to tend the twine for only his second start in the last 10 games. Varlamov played well in his last outing, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 6-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks, snapping an eight-game winless skid (0-4-2) for the veteran netminder. After recording a season-best six-game winning streak, the Islanders have been outscored 7-0 in their last two games (0-2-0).

Vilardi expected to return to the lineup shortly after battling an upper-body injury but his timeline has taken an unexpected setback after being diagnosed with an enlarged spleen that will keep him out indefinitely. Any prolonged absence for Vilardi will be a sizeable blow to the Jets' offence as the 24-year-old Vilardi has been productive lately, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last seven games.

Shea has seen minimal action lately, not suiting up for Pittsburgh since December, and has been reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Shea has zero points in 22 games with Pittsburgh this season. In a corresponding move, Pittsburgh has recalled Jack St. Ivany.

St. Ivany was the fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has yet to play an NHL game. The 24-year-old California-born defenseman has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), tallying 12 points (4G / 8A) in 52 games. In a corresponding move, Ryan Shea has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Namestnikov has been productive lately but is battling an undisclosed ailment, making his status uncertain for Friday's contest against the Anaheim Ducks. He has five points (1G / 4A) in his last six games.

Scheifele's absence was a surprise on Wednesday as he came down with an illness before puck-drop. The Jets have had several players miss time due to illness over the last few games, but Scheifele is expected to return to the lineup on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. Scheifele has 10 points (3G / 7A) in his last nine games.

Gudas exited Thursday's game after playing only 5:01 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The bruising defenseman collected three points (0G, 3A), 24 penalty minutes, and 26 hits in the eight games before his injury.

Bear will be the odd-man out on Thursday as the Capitals look to get fresh legs in the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Alexander Alexeyev will draw into lineup in his place.

Alexeyev will draw right back into the Capitals lineup after sitting out Wednesday's game in Edmonton. Ethan Bear will sit in his place.

Aube-Kubel will be the odd-man out on Thursday as the Capitals look to get fresh legs in the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Aliaksei Protas will draw into lineup in his place.

The lower-body injury held Protas out of last night's game in Edmonton but he is feeling healthy enough to suit up on Thursday. Nicolas Aube-Kubel will sit in his place.