NHL Hockey Player News

Matthew Kessel will draw into the lineup in favour of Scandella on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 34-year-old Scandella has eight points (2G / 6A), 64 hits, and 45 blocks in 62 games this season.

Marco Scandella will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Kessel to re-enter the lineup. Kessel has four points (0G / 4A), 38 hits, and 60 blocks in 32 games this season.

After a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken last night, the Kings will switch to Rittich between the pipes on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Thursday. Rittich has been inconsistent in his last four games, alternating between allowing four goals and recording a shutout in each contest. The Kings enter action on Thursday as significant -290 road favourites against the San Jose Sharks.

Nichuskin started skating in Denver this week and will attempt to return to the lineup on Friday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 29-year-old is having a sensational year despite missing part of the season due to personal reasons, with his 26 goals and 50 points in 48 games played.

Trenin was a late scratch on Monday, replaced by Chris Wagner, and will remain out of the lineup on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. Trenin has two goals, 16 shots, and 26 hits in 10 games with the Avalanche.

The Blues will turn to Binnington to tend the twine on Thursday in a battle against the Nashville Predators. Binnington has won two straight and was terrific in his last outing, saving 36 of 38 shots (.947 SV%) in an impressive 3-2 overtime win against the high-scoring Edmonton Oilers. The Blues enter action on Thursday as +165 road underdogs.

Greenway played 20:30 time-on-ice in Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, did not play on Tuesday, but could return on Friday. Greenway was a game-time decision last Friday due to an undisclosed ailment but ended up drawing into the lineup.

Lipkin was a seventh-round pick of the Coyotes in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has earned himself a three-year-, entry-level contract. In 39 games with Quinnipiac University this season, Lipkin has 35 points (15G / 20A).

Graf is an undrafted 21-year-old out of Massachusetts who has played collegiate hockey for the last three seasons. He scored 49 points (22G / 27A) in 34 games with Quinnipiac University this season.

The Flames have lost six of their last seven and will turn to Wolf in the crease for the second time in the last four games. Wolf has lost three straight, allowing four goals twice, including his most recent outing when he allowed four goals on 18 shots (.778 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The Flames enter action as +176 road underdogs on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets.

Tkachuk did not play on Tuesday due to an illness but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The Panthers are already without Carter Verhaeghe for the foreseeable future and are eagerly awaiting Tkachuk's return.

The Islanders have won two straight and will turn to Sorokin between the pipes for consecutive games after rolling with Semyon Varlamov in three straight. Sorokin saved 18 of 19 shots in a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, snapping a six-game losing skid for the netminder. The Islanders enter action as -185 road favourites against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

With Aaron Ekblad expected to miss most of the remainder of the regular season, Mahura will draw into the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. Mahura has two points (0G / 2A) in his last four games but hasn't played since March 24th.

Ekblad exited Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens after playing only 7:16 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. Ekblad's presence on the blueline will be a critical blow for the Panthers for the remainder of the season but all indications point to him being ready for the playoffs.

The Panthers have lost four of their last five and will return to Bobrovsky to tend the twine on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. Bobrovsky allowed five goals on 16 shots (.688 SV%) in his last outing in a disappointing 6-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Panthers enter action as -153 road favourites against a Senators club they defeated 3-2 in overtime on February 20th.

Brazeau played only 3:45 of time-on-ice before exiting Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators with an upper-body injury. Brazeau has been a lineup regular for the Bruins for the last several weeks and had five points (4G / 1A) in six games before his injury.

For the first time this season, the Avalanche started a goalie other than Georgiev for two straight contests but will return to him on Friday against the Edmonton Oilers. Georgiev has allowed four goals in two of his last three games (1-2-0), including four on 13 shots (.692 SV%) in his last outing before being replaced by Justus Annunen in an eventual 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators. The Avalanche enter action as +121 road underdogs against an Oilers club coming off a disappointing 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars.