NHL Hockey Player News

Sillinger exited Wednesday's loss to the Montreal Canadiens with an undisclosed injury and his status on Friday against the Ottawa Senators doesn't seem promising after he was unable to participate in practice on Thursday. The Blue Jackets also recalled Kent Johnson from Cleveland (AHL), adding to the speculation that Sillinger could miss some time.

Binnington will likely start for the third consecutive game and look to build off a strong 34-save performance (.919 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Binnington has been mostly solid this season, recording a 2.91 GAA and .910 SV% through 16 games (6-6-1), but has allowed three or more goals in four of his last five appearances (1-2-0). The Blues are -122 home favourites on Thursday against a Buffalo Sabres team that ranks in the bottom-third of the league offensively (2.91 GF / GP) and has been wildly inconsistent this season, indicated by their 4-4-0 record over their last eight games.

Jarry allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday and will get the chance to redeem himself, starting his third consecutive game on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite only one victory in his last five games (1-3-1), Jarry has been solid, recording a .911 SV%, but has not received ample goal support, with the Penguins scoring two or fewer in each of those four losses. The Penguins are +113 road underdogs against the Lightning, who have lost two straight games, being outscored 7-2.

Don't look now, but Blackwood and the last-place San Jose Sharks are playing and competing in hockey games. The Sharks have won three of their last six (3-3-0), impressive totals considering the team's 11-game losing streak to start the season. The Sharks' recent uptick in play is due in part to Blackwood, who has been exceptional lately, recording a .924 SV% in his last eight appearances (3-3-1). That said, the Sharks are massive +429 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has lost three straight (0-3-0) but defeated the Sharks 3-1 on October 19th.

Guttman did not play on Tuesday and remains out, day-to-day, with an upper-body injury. Through five games, Guttman is averaging 11:26 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A), scored in his first game of the season.

Over the past month, Varlamov has started one of every three games for the Islanders, a trend that will likely continue on Thursday as Varalamov was in the starter's crease at the morning skate. Varlamov has a tremendous 2.30 GAA and .930 SV% through seven games this season, totals positively inflated from a strong start to the season. The 35-year-old goaltender hasn't been nearly as dominant in recent games, allowing three or more goals in four straight outings (1-2-1) and posting a .893 SV%. The Islanders are +179 road underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes, who have won two straight and rank 12th in the league offensively (3.33 GF / GP).

Giordano played only 6:31 time-on-ice before exiting Tuesday's contest with a broken finger and is expected to be out week-to-week, leaving a huge void on a defensive core already without Timothy Liljegren and John Klingberg. Giordano has been a consistent presence on the back end for the Maple Leafs this season, recording five points (1G / 4A) in 20 games while averaging 17:52.

After a string of poor performances and sitting for two straight games, Mrazek will start consecutive games after a strong showing in the Blackhawks' 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, saving 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%). Mrazek and the Blackhawks are sizeable +182 road underdogs against his former team, the Detroit Red Wings, who will likely be without Dylan Larkin. In his career, Mrazek has had strong results against his former club, despite a 3.07 GAA and .883 SV%, recording a 7-2-1 record.

Svechnikov was a last-minute healthy scratch on Tuesday due to an illness but is expected to return on Thursday against the New York Islanders. Svechnikov is coming off his best performance of the season, scoring two points (1G / 1A), his first goal, adding to his nine-point output (1G / 8A) through 12 games. The talented 23-year-old winger is still re-acclimating to the game after missing an extended period due to knee surgery and is averaging only 16:20 time-on-ice, nearly a full two minutes less than his totals from last season.

Hellebuyck played well in a goalie-duel on Tuesday but ultimately came up short, allowing two goals on 21 shots (.905 SV%), losing 2-0 to Jake Oettinger and the Dallas Stars. Despite his most recent loss, Hellebuyck has been on a different level lately, allowing two or fewer goals in each of his last four starts (3-1-0), recording a tremendous .948 SV%. That said, Hellebuyck and the Jets will have one of their tougher tests to date as +105 home underdogs against the Edmonton Oilers, who have won three straight and outscored their opposition 18-6.

Vilardi has not played since October 17th, the third game of the season, when he suffered an MCL sprain. His status for Thursday's game against the Edmonton Oilers remains to be determined but he would add a noticeable offensive punch to a Jets team that already ranks eighth in the league offensively (3.38 GF / GP). Before his injury, Vilardi was seeing deployment on the top powerplay unit, a spot he would likely reclaim in favour of Cole Perfetti.

Ryan Reaves will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing McMann to draw back into the Maple Leafs lineup for his fourth game. McMann has two points (0G / 2A), averaging 9:00 time-on-ice, while primarily seeing bottom-six minutes skating alongside David Kampf and Noah Gregor.

Reaves has been in and out of the lineup lately, playing only two of the last six games for the Maple Leafs, and will return to the press box on Thursday as a healthy scratch in their contest against the Seattle Kraken. Reaves has one point (1G / 0A), 32 hits, and a -10 plus/minus through 16 games and will be replaced in the lineup by Bobby McMann.

Woll has been stellar lately and, as such, will be rewarded with his third consecutive start. Woll has allowed three or fewer goals in his last three games (2-1-0), all quality starts, posting a terrific .936 SV% in the process. Consistency has been Woll's only downfall this season but the rookie goaltender will get the opportunity to string together his fourth-straight quality start as the Maple Leafs are -176 home favourites on Thursday against a Seattle Kraken team that ranks 26th in the league offensively (2.78 GF / GP) and will be without Jaden Schwartz (upper-body).

Johnson will head back to Columbus four weeks after his surprise demotion to Cleveland (AHL) after he was recalled to replace the injured Damon Severson (oblique). The 21-year-old high-end prospect has re-found his game in the minors, with five goals, 10 assists, and a +5 plus/minus in 10 games played. He returns to Blue Jackets, where he had 16 goals, 24 assists, 126 SOG and 14 PIMs in 79 games played in 2022-23.

Severson exited last Sunday's contest with an upper-body injury, playing only 9:57 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Severson had three points (2G / 1A) in his last two games and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 19 games this season. He has now been placed on injured reserve and is about one week through his original six-to-eight-week recovery timeline. The move to IR has allowed the Blue Jackets to recall Kent Johnson.

Sheary has not played since November 7th but is targeting a December 9th return when the team heads out for a road trip through Western Canada. In 13 games this season, Sheary has three points (1G / 2A), playing up and down the lineup, predominantly alongside Luke Glendening and Michael Eyssimont on the fourth line.

After a string of poor performances and sitting for two straight games, Mrazek will start consecutive games after a strong showing in the Blackhawks' 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, saving 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%). Mrazek and the Blackhawks are sizeable +182 road underdogs against his former team, the Detroit Red Wings, who will likely be without Dylan Larkin. In his career, Mrazek has had strong results against his former club, despite a 3.07 GAA and .883 SV%, recording a 7-2-1 record.

Woll has been stellar lately and, as such, will likely be rewarded with his third consecutive start. Woll has allowed three or fewer goals in his last three games (2-1-0), all quality starts, posting a terrific .936 SV% in the process. Consistency has been Woll's only downfall this season but the rookie goaltender will get the opportunity to string together his fourth-straight quality start as the Maple Leafs are -176 home favourites on Thursday against a Seattle Kraken team that ranks 26th in the league offensively (2.78 GF / GP) and will be without Jaden Schwartz (upper-body).