NHL Hockey Player News

Stastney set a new career high in games played Thursday (9) but has been reassigned to Milwaukee (AHL) Friday. The 23-year-old fifth-round pick had been playing an impressive brand of hockey prior to his demotion, with one goal, five SOG, four PIMs and a +6 plus/minus in nine games. He will return to Milwaukee, where he had a goal and four points in 10 games prior to his latest promotion.

Jarry will man the Penguins' crease for the sixth time in seven games Friday after dropping his previous game after allowing three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%). The 28-year-old leads the NHL in shutouts (3) and has had a strong start to his season despite the play of those around him in Pittsburgh, with his 8-9-2 record, 2.50 GAA and .917 SV%. He will head to Florida to take on the Panthers Friday, who have won three of their last five games and are second in the NHL in shots per game (34.0).

Bussi was recalled while Jeremy Swayman was away from the team due to illness but has been returned to Providence (AHL) upon Swayman's return Friday. The 25-year-old returns to Providence, where he was enjoying a successful start to the season with his 6-4-2 record, 2.58 GAA and .917 SV%.

Greaves has yet to appear in an NHL game this season but had a respectable 9-3-0 record, 3.09 GAA and .899 SV% with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) prior to his call up and will take on St. Louis Friday. The 22-year-old undrafted goaltender has only appeared in one other NHL game, picking up the loss while posting a .939 SV% and a 3.05 GAA. He will hope to pick up his first career win Friday as the Blue Jackets host the Blues, who have lost four of their last seven games and are 24th in the NHL in goals per game (2.88).

Bortuzzo has yet to pick up a point while only appearing in four games thus far in 2023-24 with St. Louis and has been dealt to the New York Islanders for a 2024 7th round pick. The 34-year-old defensemen is in the second year of a two-year, $1.9 million contract ($950,000 AAV) and will replace Ryan Pulock (lower body), who was placed on the Injured Reserve earlier Friday.

Pulock left the Islanders' game Thursday vs. Columbus in the third period after 16:28 TOI due to a lower-body injury and has been placed on the Injured Reserve Friday. The 29-year-old heavy shooting defensemen had struggled a bit prior to his injury, with two goals, four assists, 34 SOG, eight PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 25 games. The Islanders' traded for Robert Bortuzzo from St. Louis Friday in a corresponding move.

Burakovsky returned to the Seattle lineup on Thursday after a six-week absence due to an upper-body injury. However, after just one game, he will be on the shelf again on a week-to-week timeline with an unrelated upper-body injury, a tough blow for Burakovsky and the Kraken. The 28-year-old forward played 9:05 time-on-ice in his return, recording one assist and one shot on goal.

Skinner will start for the seventh straight game and look for his sixth straight victory on Friday. Skinner has elevated his game since the Oilers changed coaches last month, highlighted by a tremendous .943 SV% during his season-best five-game winning streak, allowing only eight total goals over that stretch. The Oilers are considerable -187 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that has played well lately but was shut out 2-0 last night against the Vancouver Canucks.

Foudy has been unable to make the desired impact for the Predators this season, scoring only three points (0G / 3A) in 13 games. As a result, he was placed on waivers, a move at least partially made to allow Tommy Novak to return to the lineup, and will now report to the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.

Tucker will play for only the third time since November 7th and is expected to skate on the Blues third defensive pair with Scott Perunovich. In 10 games this season, the 23-year-old Tucker has two points (1G / 1A), 10 penalty minutes, 11 blocks, and 17 hits.

Vrana has been out of the lineup since November 28th and has only played two of the last eight games for the Blues. Vrana has six points (2G / 4A) and 41 shots on goal in 17 games this season. He is expected to skate on the fourth line alongside Alexei Toropchenko and Nikita Alexandrov.

Lyon will return to the crease on Saturday after watching Ville Husso get berated in a 6-5 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Lyon has unquestionably been the best goaltender for the Red Wings since making his debut less than a month ago, posting a stellar 1.61 GAA and .947 SV% through five games (4-1-0). The Red Wings will look to rebound on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators, who they last played on November 16th in a 5-4 overtime loss, one day before Lyon made his debut with the Red Wings.

Compher has not participated in the last several practices for the Red Wings but will be a game-time decision on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators. The 28-year-old Compher is pacing for the best season of his career with 19 points (6G / 13A) in 24 games. He will likely join Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane on the second line if he can return.

Dahlin played 25:22 time-on-ice and scored one goal in the Sabres' Tuesday night contest but suffered a lower-body injury at some point that kept him out of action on Thursday and will make him a game-time decision on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Dahlin has followed up on a breakout 2022-23 campaign with 21 points (6G / 15A) in 26 games. Owen Power has filled as the quarterback on the top powerplay unit in his absence.

Skinner will likely start for the seventh straight game and look for his sixth straight victory on Friday. Skinner has elevated his game since the Oilers changed coaches last month, highlighted by a tremendous .943 SV% during his season-best five-game winning streak, allowing only eight total goals over that stretch. The Oilers are considerable -187 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that has played well lately but was shut out 2-0 last night against the Vancouver Canucks.

Pacioretty has not played yet this season as he continues to recover from his second Achilles surgery in less than a year but could make his debut with the Capitals before the end of the 2023 calendar year. Over the last three seasons, Pacioretty has struggled vehemently with injuries, playing only 92 total games. After recovering from his first Achilles surgery, he was only able to play five games last season before re-injuring his Achilles and forcing an abrupt end to his season. If Pacioretty can stay healthy, he could be a big boost for a Capitals team that ranks second-worst in the league offensively (2.35 GF / GP) and has the league's worst powerplay (9.0%).

Primeau has roughly started every third or fourth game for the Canadiens over the last month and will continue that trend on Saturday when the Canadiens visit the Buffalo Sabres. Primeau last played on November 30th, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. The Canadiens have lost three of their last four (1-3-0) but defeated the Sabres in their only matchup this season, a 3-1 victory on October 23rd with Jake Allen between the pipes.

Oshie exited the Capitals' November 24th contest against the Edmonton Oilers with an upper-body injury after playing only 6:45 and has not been in the lineup for the six games since. He has participated in team practice over the last two days and has elevated his status to a game-time decision for Saturday's contest against the New York Rangers. Oshie has primarily spent the season attached to Evgeny Kuznetsov but has only two points (1G / 1A) in 17 games. He has a 0.12 point-per-game pace this season after never pacing below 0.57 throughout his 16-year career.

Hofer will start for the first time since allowing four goals on 15 shots (.733 SV%) in an 8-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on November 24th but will have a favourable matchup against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has lost three straight, including a 7-3 loss to the New York Islanders last night. Hofer has been inconsistent this season but mostly reliable when called upon, posting a 3.04 GAA and .901 SV% in nine games (5-4-0). The Blues are -141 road favourites on Friday night.