NHL Hockey Player News

Luukkonen will start for the third straight game on Wednesday in a favourable matchup against the Montreal Canadiens. Luukkonen had a terrible outing on Monday, allowing four goals on 15 shots (.733 SV%) in a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, a rare blip in an otherwise outstanding two-month run for the netminder. The Sabres enter action as -140 road favourites.

The Flyers will go right back to Ersson between the pipes on Wednesday after he took the loss in Saturday's outdoor game against the Devils. Ersson allowed five goals on 39 shots in the Stadium Series affair, as the Flyers eventually fell by a score of 6-3. The 24-year-old netminder has endured an up-an-down season to date, posting an .898 SV% to go along with his 15-10-4 record. He draws an excellent matchup on Wednesday with the Flyers being -250 favourites to pick up the win in Chicago.

Soucy has not played since suffering a hand injury on January 20th and has been retroactively placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve. A steadying presence on the blue line, Soucy has been limited to only 21 games this season due to an earlier lower-body injury and is three weeks into his original five-to-six-week prognosis. The 29-year-old has six points (2G / 4A), 21 hits, and 39 blocks this season.

Woo finds himself back with the Canucks just a few days after being sent down and will offer Vancouver defensive depth after Nikita Zadorov and Noah Juulsen were shaken up in Tuesday's loss to Colorado. The 23-year-old Woo has enjoyed a strong season with Abbotsford (AHL) up to this point, with five goals, 18 points, 41 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus.

Joshua hurt his hand in a fight on February 13th against Chicago and has been placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to the same date of his injury. The 27-year-old had been enjoying a breakout season in his fourth year in the NHL, with 13 goals, 26 points, 69 SOG, 46 PIMs and +16 plus/minus in 53 games before his injury.

Smith has been out since December 21st due to a lower-body injury but is expected to return to the Sharks' lineup on Saturday after being activated off Injured Reserve on Wednesday. The 25-year-old bruising right winger will provide some much-needed grit into the Sharks' lineup with his one goal, two assists, 27 SOG, 33 PIM and -4 plus/minus through 26 games before the injury.

Cizikas was limited to only 8:31 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins before exiting the game with an undisclosed injury. The Islanders' next game is on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues.

MacLean played six games with the Islanders earlier this season, scoring one goal during that stint. The undrafted 24-year-old has earned himself another call-up due to solid play in the AHL, tallying 22 points (6G / 16A) in 43 games with the Bridgeport Islanders.

Arvidsson exited Tuesday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after playing only 17 seconds due to an undisclosed injury. It was only Arvidsson's fourth game of the season as he recently made his debut, returning from back surgery in October. He was off to a strong start before his injury, tallying two points (0G / 2A) and 12 shots in his first three games.

Urho Vaakanainen will replace Lindstrom, who will be a healthy scratch for the third time in the last seven games. Lindstrom has five points (3G / 2A), 20 hits, and 32 blocks in 23 games this season.

Gustav Lindstrom will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Vaakanainen to re-enter the lineup after not playing on Monday. The 25-year-old Vaakanainen has nine points (1G / 8A), 48 shots, and 56 hits in 46 games this season.

Gibson has started the last three games, winning twice, and will return to the crease on Wednesday. In his last outing, Gibson was tremendous, saving 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The Ducks enter action as slight -107 home favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that played last night, losing 5-1 to the Los Angeles Kings.

MacDonald made his return to the Sharks lineup on Monday after being a healthy scratch in his previous outing but was placed on waivers by the Sharks on Tuesday. In 22 games this season, MacDonald has seven points (6G / 1A), 34 shots, and 33 hits.

White has been with Pittsburgh since the beginning of January but has been placed on waivers with the intention of being reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). White played 11 games with Pittsburgh this season and failed to register a point.

Samsonov will start for the second straight game and attempt to extend his winning streak to five games on Wednesday night. Samsonov was solid in his last outing, saving 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. The Maple Leafs have done a stellar job of protecting their netminder lately, as Samsonov has managed to record two of his last three victories while saving fewer than 20 shots.

Noah Gregor will draw back into the lineup on Wednesday, making Reaves a healthy scratch for the second time in the last four games. Reaves has one goal and 24 hits in his last seven games.

Ryan Reaves will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Gregor to re-enter the Maple Leafs lineup. Before being a healthy scratch on Monday, Gregor played 12 straight for the Maple Leafs, tallying four assists and 48 hits.

As has been the case all season, the Bruins will continue their goalie rotation on Wednesday and turn to Ullmark after Swayman played in the previous game. Ullmark had a rough outing in his last contest, allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Bruins enter action as +118 road underdogs against the Edmonton Oilers and their fifth-ranked offence (3.56 GF / GP).

Parker Wotherspoon and Lorei are both drawing into the Bruins' lineup on Wednesday as Hampus Lindholm (undisclosed) and Kevin Shattenkirk (healthy scratch) are both not expected to play. Lohrei has not played for the Bruins since January 18th and has six points (3G / 3A) in 27 games this season.