NHL Hockey Player News

The Oilers have outscored their opposition 12-3 during a three-game winning streak and will likely turn to Skinner between the pipes on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 26-year-old Skinner was solid in his most recent outing, saving 21 of 22 shots (.955 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. He has a 2.84 GAA and .897 SV% in 46 games this season (23-17-4). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as slight -111 home favorites against a Jets club coming off a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

Oilers' head coach Kris Knoblauch made it clear the team's main priority is having Leon Draisaitl healthy for the playoffs, which could potentially limit his usage down the stretch. The 29-year-old Draisaitl is averaging 21:39 time-on-ice and has 101 points (49G / 52A) in 68 games this season. He had a career-high 55 goals in the 2021-22 season.

The Kings' five-game winning streak snapped in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild, when Kuemper allowed two goals on 21 shots (.905 SV%). Still, Kuemper will start for the fifth consecutive game on Thursday when he tends the twine against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 34-year-old Kuemper has a 2.16 GAA and .917 SV% in 39 appearances this season (22-9-7). The Kings enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -260 road favorites against a Blackhawks squad amid a five-game losing skid (0-4-1).

Utah HC is coming off a disappointing 7-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, where Vejmelka was pulled after allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%). Still, he will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.50 GAA and .908 SV% in 45 appearances this season (19-18-6). Utah enters Thursday's contest as -171 home favorites against a Sabres team riding a two-game winning streak.

The Panthers have lost two straight (0-2-0) and hope to return to the win column on Thursday with Bobrovsky tending the twine against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky struggled in his previous outing, allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The 36-year-old goalie has a 2.51 GAA and .906 SV% in 45 games this season (28-15-2). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -185 road favorites against a Blue Jackets squad that has been outscored 10-1 in their last three games (0-3-0).

Gustafsson only played 13:34 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, and was absent from practice on Thursday due to an undisclosed injury. The 33-year-old Gustafsson is averaging 16:19 time-on-ice, recording 18 points (2G / 16A) and a -19 plus/minus rating in 60 games this season.

Soderblom showed no signs of an injury in the Red Wings' previous game, playing 13:57 time-on-ice, but will be sidelined day-to-day with an undisclosed ailment. The 23-year-old Soderblom is averaging 13:13 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) in 22 games this season.

The Canadiens are coming off an impressive 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators and will roll with Montembeault between the pipes as they continue their push for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 28-year-old Montembeault has been excellent lately, posting a 2.09 GAA and .922 SV% in his last eight games (7-0-1). He has a 2.84 GAA and .901 SV% in 50 games this season (25-21-4). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as +108 road underdogs against a New York Islanders team riding a two-game winning streak.

The Flames are coming off an impressive 2-1 win over the New York Rangers with Dan Vladar between the pipes, but they will turn to Wolf on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 23-year-old Wolf struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has a 2.62 GAA and .912 SV% in 41 games this season (22-14-5). The Flames enter Thursday's contest as +153 road underdogs against a Devils squad with wins in four of their last five (4-1-0).

Jakub Vrana will draw back into Nashville's lineup on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks, sending Bellows to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Bellows is averaging 10:43 time-on-ice and has one goal in 10 games this season.

Kieffer Bellows will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks, allowing Vrana to re-enter the lineup. The 29-year-old Vrana has one goal and is averaging 11:40 time-on-ice in four games with the Predators.

The Predators have been outscored 7-2 in their last three games (0-2-1) and will likely turn to Annunen between the pipes on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 25-year-old Annunen was excellent in his most recent outing but didn't receive any goal support, saving 20 of 21 shots (.952 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings. He has a 2.93 GAA and .900 SV% in 15 games with the Predators this season (8-5-1). The Predators enter Thursday's contest as -166 home favorites against a Ducks squad coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars.

The Stars have allowed 16 goals in their last four games, with Jake Oettinger tending the twine (1-2-1), and will turn to DeSmith on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 33-year-old DeSmith was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. He has a 2.42 GAA and .914 SV% in 20 appearances this season (12-6-0). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as slight -110 home favorites against a Lightning squad with points in three straight (2-0-1).

The Flames are coming off an impressive 2-1 win over the New York Rangers with Dan Vladar between the pipes, but they will likely turn to Wolf on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 23-year-old Wolf struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has a 2.62 GAA and .912 SV% in 41 games this season (22-14-5). The Flames enter Thursday's contest as +153 road underdogs against a Devils squad with wins in four of their last five (4-1-0).

The Senators are coming off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, where Ullmark allowed four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%). They will turn Ullmark between the pipes again on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 31-year-old Ullmark has a 2.71 GAA and .910 SV% in 35 games this season (18-12-3). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as slight +106 home underdogs against an Avalanche squad that played last night, losing 2-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Prokop is an undrafted defenseman out of Union College (ECAC) that has signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 23-year-old scored 27 points (8G / 19A) in 36 games with Union College this season.

Romanov is battling an illness and will likely miss a second consecutive game. The 25-year-old Romanov is averaging 22:46 time-on-ice, recording 18 points (4G / 14A), 120 hits, and 138 blocks in 52 games this season.

The Capitals have outscored their opposition 9-2 in their last two games (2-0-0) and will turn to Lindgren between the pipes on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Lindgren was serviceable in a 4-3 win over the Flyers last month, saving 19 of 22 shots (.864 SV%). The 31-year-old goalie has a 2.65 GAA and .897 SV% in 30 appearances this season (15-11-3). The Capitals enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -236 home favorites against a Flyers club outscored 7-0 in their last two games (0-2-0).

The Senators are coming off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators, where Ullmark allowed four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%). They will turn Ullmark between the pipes again on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 31-year-old Ullmark has a 2.71 GAA and .910 SV% in 35 games this season (18-12-3). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as slight +106 home underdogs against an Avalanche squad that played last night, losing 2-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Blue Jackets have lost four straight (0-4-0) and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday as they desperately try to stay in contention for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 30-year-old Merzlikins allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He has a 3.04 GAA and .896 SV% in 44 games this season (22-18-4). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +165 home underdogs against a Florida Panthers team amid a two-game losing skid (0-2-0).