NHL Hockey Player News

Georgiev stopped 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) picking up his third straight defeat in a hard-luck overtime loss to the New York Rangers in his last start. The 26-year-old has been sensational in his first season in Colorado, with his 11-5-2 record, .920 SV% and 2.65 GAA. He takes on the Buffalo Sabres, who are coming off a high after a 6-0 win in their last game and rank first in the NHL in goals per game (3.93).

Thompson allowed three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%) as he picked up his second straight loss in a defeat to the Boston Bruins in his last start. The rookie starter has been solid all season, posting a 13-7-0 record, a .917 SV% and a 2.70 GAA. He draws a much easier start than his previous two losses, facing Chicago Thursday, who have lost 12 of their last 13 games and rank 30th in the NHL in goals per game (2.41).

Hinostroza has not played since Nov.30th due to an undisclosed injury but will return to the Sabres' lineup Thursday as they head to Colorado. The 28-year-old had eight assists and 17 SOG through 15 games played prior to his injury.

Bryson has one goal, eight points, 14 SOG, and is a -15 plus/minus through 25 games this season but will miss the Sabres' matchup against Colorado Thursday due to a lower-body injury.

Copley allowed six goals on 31 shorts (.806 SV%) in his worst start of the season, a loss vs. Buffalo his last time out. Despite his struggles Tuesday, Copley will take the crease for the third time in for Los Angeles games, as he has a 2-1-0 record, a .884 SV% and a 3.33 GAA. He gets arguably the toughest draw in the league in the Boston Bruins, who have won their last two games and are 2nd in the NHL in both goals per game (3.86) and shots (35.0).

The Sabres' captain will miss Thursday's game vs. the defending Stanley Cup Champions, Colorado Avalanche due to a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. Okposo has missed time already this season but still has two goals, 11 points, 44 SOG and a +2 plus/minus through the 23 games he has played so far.

Brown has missed the past 18 games due to an upper-body injury and will head to Springfield (AHL) for a conditioning assignment. Prior to his injury, he had no points, five SOG and was a -2 plus/minus through five games with the Blues.

Binnington was perfect in his last start, stopping all 25 of 25 shots to snap a seven-game losing streak in a win over Nashville. It has been a rough season for the Blues workhorse, who has a 10-11-1 record, a .894 SV% and a 3.23 GAA. He takes on the Edmonton Oilers, who have won three of their last four games after a 6-3 victory over Nashville last game.

Skinner stopped 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) but picked up the loss in a 2-1 defeat to Minnesota in his last start. The 24-year-old Edmonton native has stolen the Oilers' starting spot, with his 9-7-0 record, 2.76 GAA, and .919 SV%. He will take on the St. Louis Blues, who won their last game 1-0 over Nashville but have lost six of their last eight games.

Saros allowed one goal on 24 shots (.958 SV%) as he took the hard-luck overtime loss in a 1-0 defeat to St.Louis in his previous game. The 27-year-old has not been his usual dominant self this season, as shown by his 9-8-3 record, .908 SV% and 2.93 GAA. He draws the Winnipeg Jets, who will be looking to re-enter the win column after dropping their last two contests allowing a combined 11 goals against.

Lycksell has been recalled to the big club for the second time this season after a short one-game showing earlier in the year. The 23-year-old has had a successful season with Lehigh (AHL) prior to the call-up, with five goals, 16 points and a -3 plus/minus through 16 games in the minors.

Rodrigues has missed Colorado's previous 10 games due to an ankle injury but will return to the line Thursday as they take on the Buffalo Sabres. The 29-year-old will be a welcome return to the injured Avalanche lineup, as he has six goals, nine points, 84 SOG and averages 18:07 TOI.

Harkins has two goals, four points, eight PIMs and is a +6 through 13 games this season but will be a game-time decision Thursday due to an undisclosed injury.

Barron has been enjoying a successful first full NHL season, with three goals, nine points and 32 SOG through 18 games but will be a game-time decision Thursday as he deals with an undisclosed injury. Barron joins Hansen Harkins as one of two game-time decisions for the Jets' Thursday.

Evans has five assists, 28 SOG and nine PIMs playing in all 29 of Montreal's games this season but will be a healthy scratch Thursday as Rem Pitlick draws back into the lineup.

Pezzetta has played in the Canadiens' previous three games but will head to the press box yet again as a healthy scratch Thursday. The 24-year-old has a goal, 12 PIMs and 16 SOG while playing limited minutes in Montreal's bottom-six through 16 games this season.

Allen stopped 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a win over Calgary in one of his strongest starts of the season his last time out. The Canadiens' starter has been up and down this season, as shown by his 9-10-0 record, .901 SV% and 3.26 GAA. He draws the Anaheim Ducks, the league's coldest team after a 7-0 loss to Toronto in their last game, having lost nine of their last ten contests.

Dostal allowed five goals on 15 shots (.667 SV%) as he filled in rather poorly for an injured John Gibson in his previous time out. The 22-year-old has struggled in his two showings this year, with his 0-1-0 record, .849 SV% and 5.38 GAA. He will hope to push his numbers more in the right direction as he takes on the Montreal Canadiens, who are on a back-to-back after coming off a 3-2 loss to Ottawa on Wednesday night.