NHL Hockey Player News

Montembeault has only started one of the last four games for the Canadiens but will return to the crease for the second consecutive game on Tuesday when they visit the Dallas Stars. Montemneault has unquestionably been the most reliable netminder between the pipes for the Canadiens but has struggled lately, allowing four goals in each of his last two games (0-1-1), posting a subpar .818 SV%. The Canadiens are significant +244 road underdogs against a Stars team that has outscored their opposition 13-5 in their last two games (2-0-0).

Markstrom will likely return the crease for his sixth straight start on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Swedish netminder is amid his best stretch of the play since returning from a fractured finger injury two weeks ago, posting an excellent .931 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Flames are slight -112 road favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that defeated them 3-2 in a shootout on December 14th but has lost two straight games and will be without Kiril Kaprizov and starting goalie Filip Gustavsson.

Vasilevskiy had the night off on New Year's Eve but will likely return to the crease for the Lightning for his 10th start in their last 11 games. Vasilevskiy has allowed eight goals on 52 shots (.846 SV%) in his last two games (2-0-0) but was tremendous in his previous nine (7-2-0), posting a stellar .925 SV%. Tampa Bay is a +122 road underdog against the Winnipeg Jets, who have points in eight straight games (6-0-2).

Wedgewood will remain between the pipes for the ninth straight game for the Stars since Jake Oettinger suffered a lower-body injury on December 15th. Wedgewood has been unspectacular in the crease but has given his team a chance to win each night, allowing three goals or fewer in six of his last eight games (6-1-1), posting a serviceable .906 SV%. The Stars are significant -280 home favourites against the Montreal Canadiens, who have lost three straight games and four of their last five (1-3-1).

Beecher has played 12 straight games for the Bruins, scoring only one point in the process (0G / 1A). He will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing James van Riemsdyk to draw back into the lineup.

Matt Grzelcyk will return to the lineup on Tuesday, prompting the Bruins to make Shattenkirk a healthy scratch. Shattenkirk has seen an elevated offensive role with the Bruins lately, scoring four points (2G / 2A) in the last seven games, including three points on the powerplay.

Kevin Shattenkirk will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Grzelcyk to make his return to the lineup for only the second time in the last six games for the Bruins. On Saturday, Grzelcyk recorded an assist and fired five shots on goal in 18:20 time-on-ice.

After losing three straight games, the Oilers have won five in a row, three courtesy of Skinner, who will return to the crease on Tuesday. Skinner has saved 82 of 87 shots (.943 SV%) during his three-game winning streak and has been terrific dating back to late November, posting a .920 SV% in 12 games (10-2-0). The Oilers are -175 home favourites in a favourable matchup against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has lost two straight but defeated the Oilers 4-1 in their only other matchup this season.

Georgiev will likely start for the eighth straight game and search for his sixth win over that stretch. Georgiev has helped the Avalanche collect a point in five straight (4-0-1) and has a save percentage above .900 in four of those games, a rarity for the inconsistent netminder this season. Georgiev and the Avalanche are sizeable -182 home favourites on Tuesday against the Islanders, who have lost two of their last three games (1-2-0), including being outscored 10-1 in two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Colton has been out of the lineup since blocking a shot in the third period on December 27th, exiting the game after playing only 11:16 time-on-ice. Before leaving the game, Colton recorded four hits and extended his point streak to two games with an assist. He has been a game-time decision in each game since his injury.

Petr Mrazek started the last three games for the Blackhawks, but after allowing 11 goals in his last two starts, the team will turn to Soderblom on Tuesday. Soderblom has not recorded a victory in seven appearances (0-5-1), posting an ugly .846 SV%. The Blackhawks are sizeable +247 road underdogs against a Predators team that has struggled lately, losing three of their last four (1-2-1), but defeated the Blackhawks 4-3 in a shootout on December 5th.

Trevor van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch for the Capitals on Tuesday, allowing Fehervary to return to the lineup after missing one game. Through 28 games, Fehervary has five points (1G / 4A), 62 hits, and 48 blocks.

Meier will be unavailable for the Devils on Wednesday, January 3rd after he exited Saturday's contest against the Boston Bruins in the third period, playing only 12:30 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Meier had four points (4G / 0A) in four games after being held without a point in nine straight.

Van Riemsdyk has played 20 consecutive games for the Capitals, but he will be a healthy scratch as the team attempts to correct their defensive woes after being outscored 13-4 in their last three games (0-3-0). Martin Fehervary is expected to return to the lineup and replace van Riemsdyk on the back end.

The Capitals, losers of four straight, will return to Kuemper on Tuesday when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a three-game winning streak where Kuemper allowed two goals or less in each game, Kuemper has allowed five goals in consecutive games, both losses, posting an ugly .833 SV%. The Capitals are +151 road underdogs against the Penguins, who have outscored their opposition 14-3 during a three-game winning streak.

Foligno has not missed a game yet this season but has been battling an ongoing injury and will be a game-time decision on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. In 35 games, Foligno has 15 points (6G / 9A), playing predominantly with Pat Maroon and Frederick Gaudreau.

Kochetkov has been solid for the Hurricanes over the last month and will likely return to the crease for the seventh time in the last eight games on Tuesday. Kochetkov has helped the Hurricanes collect at least a point in seven of his last eight games (5-1-2), posting a tremendous .930 SV%, giving the team high-caliber goaltending that they had been lacking all season. That said, the Hurricanes are +110 road underdogs against the New York Rangers, a team that is coming off a commanding 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning and has been atop the Eastern Conference for most of the season.

Okposo played 10:56 in Buffalo's 5-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday and suffered a lower-body injury that will keep him out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. The 35-year-old Okposo has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 38 games this season, averaging 13:59 time-on-ice while playing most recently on a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Peyton Krebs.