NHL Hockey Player News

Gustavsson stopped 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) for his first loss in three starts as he was defeated by St. Louis in his previous start. The Wilds' backup netminder has been sensational in his first season in Minnesota, with his 9-6-1 record, 2.25 GAA and .924 SV%. He will face the New York Islanders, who are in the middle of a three-game losing skid but rank sixth in the NHL in goals allowed per game (2.69).

Hellebuyck allowed six goals on 22 shots (.727 SV%) in his worst start of the season as he snapped a four-game winning streak with a loss to Detroit. The 29-year-old has been enjoying a sensational bounce-back season, with his 20-10-1 record, 2.42 GAA and .924 SV%. He will face the Buffalo Sabres, who have lost their last two-games but have won seven of their last ten.

Hoffman has seven goals, five assists, 80 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 29 games and will be a healthy scratch Thursday as Montreal takes on Nashville. Justin Barron will replace him as the Canadiens' go with seven defenseman for this contest.

Montembeault allowed three goals on 40 shots (.925 SV%) but picked up his fifth loss in six starts as he was defeated by Seattle last start. The Canadiens' backup has struggled in 2022-23, yet still has been Montreal's best netminder with his 6-6-2 record, 3.42 GAA and .900 SV%. He will face the Nashville Predators, who just snapped a four-game winning streak with a 2-1 loss to Toronto on Wednesday.

Jones stopped all 21 of 21 shots for his fifth straight win and second shutout of the season as he beat Montreal in his previous start. Jones has been winning like crazy, as he is tied for third in the NHL in wins with his 19-5-3 record, but still has an ugly .894 SV% and 2.78 GAA. He will face the league-leading Boston Bruins, who have picked up a point in at least 11 games, winning nine of those contests.

Barron has been a healthy scratch for the previous three Montreal games but will draw back into the Canadiens' lineup as they take on the Predators Thursday. The 21-year-old defenseman has yet to pick up a point while collecting two SOG and a -4 plus/minus through four games.

Suter has five goals, six assists, 49 SOG and a -5 plus/minus through 38 games but will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season vs. Toronto. He will be replaced by Adam Erne in the lineup.

Erne was a healthy scratch for the Red Wings' previous game but will draw back into the lineup as they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second time in three games. The 27-year-old has five goals, eight assists, 35 SOG and a -5 plus/minus through 37 games prior to his scratching.

Lindstrom was back in the Red Wings' lineup for only the second time since Dec. 14th in Detroit's victory Wednesday but will head back to the press box as a healthy scratch yet again Thursday vs. Toronto. The 24-year-old stay-at-home defender has two assists, 11 SOG and a -8 plus/minus through 19 games with the Red Wings.

Oesterle was a healthy scratch for the Red Wings' previous game Wednesday but will draw back into the lineup Thursday for Gustav Lindstrom vs. Toronto. The 30-year-old has two goals, one assist, 26 SOG and six PIMs through 27 games played this year.

Gavrikov missed the Blue Jackets' previous two contests due to an upper-body injury but will be a game-time decision Thursday as Columbus takes on Carolina. Gavrikov has two goals, seven assists, 46 SOG, 24 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 39 games this season.

Korpisalo allowed three goals on 42 shots (.929 SV%) for his second win in three starts as he beat Carolina in his last game. The 28-year-old has been the Blue Jackets' best netminder this season, with his 6-7-1 record, 3.10 GAA and .913 SV%. He takes on the Carolina Hurricanes, who are on an unexpected four-game losing streak after a 5-3 loss to New Jersey last game.

Merzlikins' nightmarish 2022-23 season adds one more piece to the puzzle as the 28-year-old netminder is now considered day-to-day with a lingering illness. It has been rough goings for the goaltender who holds the league's worst SV% (.865 SV%) and GAA (4.62) so he will be hoping to return to the Blue Jackets' when he is over the illness.

Luukkonen has had a busy week of being sent down and then recalled after winning his previous start for a sixth straight win by stopping 39 of 44 shots (.886 SV%) as he defeated Minnesota his last time out. The 23-year-old has an impressive 9-3-1 record, but a not-so-pretty 3.49 GAA and .894 SV%. He will face Winnipeg, who just snapped a five-game winning streak with a 7-5 loss to Detroit on Wednesday.

Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 24 shots (.875 SV%) for his fourth win in five starts as he beat Columbus in his previous start. The league leader in wins for the last five seasons has been incredibly solid yet again, with his 17-10-1 record, 2.47 GAA and .918 SV%. He draws the Vancouver Canucks for a start Thursday, who has lost five of their last six games after a 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh last game.

Sorokin allowed one goal on 26 shots (.962 SV%) for his third loss in four games as he was defeated in overtime by Dallas in his last start. The 27-year-old has been excellent in his first full season, with his 14-13-2 record, 2.30 GAA and .925 SV%. He takes on the Minnesota Wild, who will be attempting to snap a three-game winless skid that they find themselves in after a 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Rangers last game.

Quinn's move is likely a paper transaction to make room for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to come up and start Thursday's game. Expect Quinn to be in the building on Thursday and be recalled before their next game.

Luukkonen was scheduled to start on Tuesday but was unavailable due to illness, recalling him this morning suggests that he's feeling better and is in line to start Thursday. With Luukkonen coming up, Jack Quinn was loaned to the AHL, but that's likely just a paper transaction to make room for Luukkonen.