NHL Hockey Player News

Binnington allowed five goals on 25 shots (.800 SV%) yet still picked up the win in a victory over Toronto in his last game. The 29-year-old has not been his sharpest this season, with his 14-12-3 record, 3.21 GAA and .892 SV%. He will face New Jersey, who is fifth in the NHL in shots (34.6) and eighth in goals (3.39).

Blackwood took a puck to the hand during morning practice and will be held out of the lineup for precautionary measures Thursday. The 26-year-old has been having a year to forget prior to yet another injury, with his 5-3-1 record, 3.05 GAA and .888 SV%.

Schmid was recalled Thursday after Mackenzie Blackwood left practice due to a hand injury. The 22-year-old was excellent in his first showing with the Devils earlier in the season, with a 5-3-0 record, .932 SV% and 1.96 GAA.

Palat has not played since Oct. 24th due to a groin injury but will return to the Devils' lineup Thursday as they take on the Blues. Prior to his injury, the 31-year-old had three goals, eight SOG and a -1 plus/minus rating.

Tierney had two goals, three points, three SOG and a +1 plus/minus rating through five games previously with the Panthers in his last stint with the club. In 20 games with Charlotte (AHL) he had three goals, 16 points, 10 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus.

Thompson failed to pick up a point in limited minutes across two games for the Devils and will head back to the Utica Comets (AHL) Thursday. Prior to his time in New Jersey, he had six goals, 13 points, six PIMS and a -6 plus/minus through 22 games with Utica.

Moverare will be recalled to the Kings for the second time this season after failing to collect a point in two games in his previous stint with the club. In 20 games with Ontario (AHL), he has five assists, 25 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus.

Dowd has 10 goals, 17 points, 38 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 39 games but will miss his first contest of the year as he heads away from the team for the birth of his child.

Noesen has eight goals, 20 points, 75 SOG, 17 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 37 games with the Hurricanes but will miss his first contest of the year Thursday as he deals with a lower-body injury. He is considered day-to-day for the time being.

Pacioretty has yet to play a game in 2022-23 due to surgery to repair a torn Achilles in the offseason but had been activated from the injured non-roster list Wednesday and will make his season debut Thursday. The 34-year-old was acquired by the Hurricanes in the offseason after a 19-goal, 18-assist season in 39 games with Vegas in 2021-22.

Kochetkov allowed four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%) to snap a five-game winning streak as he was defeated by the New York Rangers his last time out. The rookie netminder has been phenomenal this season, with his 10-2-4 record, .924 SV% and 2.08 GAA. He draws a good matchup with the Nashville Predators, who rank 27th in the NHL in goals per game (2.72) and 28th in powerplay percentage (17.9).

Grundstrom has six goals, four assists, 53 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -7 plus/minus across 36 games played but will, unfortunately, be the odd man out and a healthy scartch as Brandon Lemieux returns to the Kings lineup.

Lemieux missed the Kings' previous three games as a healthy scratch but will draw back into the lineup Thursday as the team takes on Boston. The 26-year-old has three assists, 15 SOG and 34 PIMs through 17 games so far this season.

Pettersson has 11 assists, 47 SOG, 19 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus through 37 games this season but will be a game-time decision Thursday vs. Vegas as he deals with an undisclosed injury. The Penguins should provide an update as the teams heads on the ice for warmups.

Poehling returned for one game from an upper-body injury but is going to be a game-time decision Thursday as the Penguins take on Vegas. The 24-year-old has four goals, four assists, 34 SOG and a +3 plus/minus through 31 games this season.

Georgiev allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) for his fourth straight loss as he was beaten by Vegas in his previous start. The 26-year-old has been faltering as of late, but still holds a strong 15-6-3 record, with a .915 SV% and 2.68 GAA. He will hope for better fortunes against the Vancouver Canucks, who have lost their last three games after a 6-2 loss to the New York Islanders last game.

DeSmith stopped 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a relief loss vs. Boston in the Winter Classic as he was called upon for an injured Tristian Jarry. The 31-year-old backup does not have a great record (4-7-2) despite having a solid SV% (.911) and GAA (2.99). He will take on the Vegas Golden Knights, who have wont their last two games and are eight in the NHL in shots per game (32.8).

Swayman allowed four goals on 25 shots (.840 SV%) for his second straight overtime loss as he was downed by the Buffalo Sabres in his previous start. The Bruins' backup has struggled this season, with his 7-3-3 record, 2.68 GAA and .897 SV%. He will take on the Los Angeles Kings, who have won three of their last four games and eight of their last 10.