NHL Hockey Player News

The Kings have been outscored 18-6 in their previous four games (0-3-1) and will hope for a better result on Wednesday with Kuemper between the pipes against the St. Louis Blues. After a tremendous start to his first season in Los Angeles, posting a 2.06 GAA and .922 SV% in his first 24 appearances (14-4-5), Kuemper has a significantly less impressive 3.25 GAA and .878 SV% in his last nine (4-4-1). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as -149 home favorites against a Blues squad that defeated them 4-1 less than a week ago.

Hughes played the previous three games after missing nearly a month due to a lower-body injury but will return to the sidelines. The 25-year-old Hughes has been having another season worthy of a Norris trophy, scoring 60 points (14G / 46A) in 50 games. That said, his inability to remain in the lineup lately causes notable concern for a Canucks team desperately trying to stay in the mix for a playoff spot.

The Oilers are coming off a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday and will switch to Skinner between the pipes on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 26-year-old Skinner saved 14 of 16 shots (.875 SV%) in relief of Calvin Pickard in the loss to the Ducks. Skinner has a 2.87 GAA and .897 SV% in 41 games this season (20-15-4).

Fischer has been a lineup regular for the Red Wings most of the season but finds himself placed on waivers. The 27-year-old forward is averaging 11:09 time-on-ice and has seven points (1G / 6A) in 45 games this season.

Vrana has only cracked the Capitals' lineup once since early January and has been placed on waivers. The 29-year-old Vrana is averaging only 9:50 time-on-ice and has 11 points (7G / 4A) in 26 games this season.

Mazur was a third-round pick, 70th overall, of the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game. he has 15 points (8G / 7A) in 20 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) this season.

The Blues had a four-game winning streak before losing 6-3 to the Dallas Stars on Sunday. They will attempt to return to the win column on Wednesday with Binnington between the pipes against the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Binnington saved 25 of 26 shots (.962 SV%) in his most recent start, a 4-1 win over the Kings. He has a 2.81 GAA and .899 SV% in 43 appearances this season (18-20-4). The Blues enter the action on Wednesday as +133 road underdogs against a Kings squad amid a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).

Savoie spent most of Edmonton's last game playing on the second line alongside Leon Draisaitl, but he will be returning to the AHL. The 21-year-old Savoie has 37 points (13G / 24A) in 45 games with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL) this season.

The Canucks have been outscored 11-5 in their last two games (0-2-0) and will likely turn to Lankinen between the pipes on Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks. Lankinen struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 23 shots (.783 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old Finnish netminder has a 2.57 GAA and .904 SV% in 37 games this season (20-10-7). The Canucks enter Wednesday's contest as -222 home favorites against a Ducks squad that defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-2 last night.

Rasmussen has missed the previous four games due to an upper-body injury but will likely return to the lineup on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 25-year-old Rasmussen has 16 points (9G / 7A) in 56 games this season.

With Vitek Vanecek being traded to the Florida Panthers, the Sharks have recalled goaltender Georgi Romanov from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL). The 25-year-old Romanov has a 3.10 GAA and .905 SV% in 21 games with the Barracuda this season (11-6-3).

Helenius was the 59th overall pick of the Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward made his NHL debut this season, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in 27 games with the Kings.

The Senators are coming off a 5-4 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals and will attempt to rebound on Wednesday, turning to Ullmark between the pipes against the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite allowing four goals, Ullmark played well in his last outing, saving 37 shots (.902 SV%). He has a 2.71 GAA and .911 SV% in 29 appearances this season (13-11-3). The Senators enter the action on Wednesday as sizeable -236 road favorites against a Blackhawks squad that has scored 18 goals in their last three games (2-1-0).

The Sharks opted not to play Vanecek on Tuesday in anticipation of a trade, which was realized on Wednesday morning, sending him to Florida in exchange for Patrick Giles. Vanecek posted an unimpressive 3.88 GAA and .882 SV% in 18 games with the Sharks this season (3-10-3). Though he will be predominantly backing up Sergei Bobrovsky, Vanecek should see an improvement in his statistics on a much stronger Florida team.

Giles is an undrafted 25-year-old forward out of Boston College. He made his NHL debut this season, playing nine games with the Panthers and scoring zero points. He scored seven points (5G / 2A) in 39 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) this season.

The Senators are coming off a 5-4 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals and will attempt to rebound on Wednesday, likely turning to Ullmark between the pipes against the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite allowing four goals, Ullmark played well in his last outing, saving 37 shots (.902 SV%). He has a 2.71 GAA and .911 SV% in 29 appearances this season (13-11-3). The Senators enter the action on Wednesday as sizeable -236 road favorites against a Blackhawks squad that has scored 18 goals in their last three games (2-1-0).

Mitchell made his season debut last week, playing two games with Boston, but was reassigned to the Providence Bruins (AHL) on Tuesday. The 26-year-old defenseman has 27 points (4G / 23A) in 46 games with Providence this season.

Viel played four games with Boston, scoring zero points, and will return to the AHL, where he has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign. The 28-year-old forward has 26 points (8G / 18A) in 51 games with Providence (AHL) this season.

Merkulov has only played 10 career NHL games, scoring one point (0G / 1A), and has been re-assigned to the AHL. The undrafted 24-year-old has 44 points (13G / 31A) in 47 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL) this season.

Brown has 151 games of NHL experience, including two games with Boston earlier this season, but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 32-year-old forward has 44 points (16G / 28A) in 52 games with Providence (AHL) this season.