NHL Hockey Player News

Wilsby was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the team not announcing his absence prior to warmups. He is considered day-to-day with the injury.

Bemstrom has 228 games of NHL experience, including scoring five points (2G / 3A) in 24 games with Pittsburgh last season, but has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 25-year-old forward has an impressive 41 points (19G / 22A) in 37 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). He replaces the injured Sidney Crosby (upper-body) in the Penguins lineup.

Saros will be looking to secure his first win since January 18th when the Predators travel to Chicago on Friday. Saros was tagged with his fourth-consecutive defeat in his last start, allowing four goals on 38 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Senators on Monday. The 29-year-old netminder owns a disappointing 11-22-6 record on the season to go along with a .901 SV%. Thankfully, Saros has a great chance of finally getting back in the win column on Friday as the Predators enter action at -190 on the money line.

Friedman has 93 games of NHL experience but has primarily been an AHL player the past several seasons. The 29-year-old defenseman played five games with Vancouver this season, regularly being an option on the blueline whenever an injury arises. He has six points (1G / 5A) in 20 games with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) this season.

Kostin has not played since January 10th due to a lower-body injury but could draw back into the lineup on Saturday against the Dallas Stars. The 25-year-old Kostin is averaging 10:32 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 26 games this season.

Bourque has not played since taking a puck to the face on Sunday but willreturn to action on Friday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 23-year-old Bourque has started to find his game at the NHL level, with seven points (4G / 3A) in his last 14 games after only scoring seven (2G / 5A) in his first 33. Colin Blackwell will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Bourque's return to the lineup.

Mavrik Bourque will return to the lineup from an upper-body injury, sending Blackwell to the press box as a healthy scratch against the Los Angeles Kings. Blackwell has two points (1G / 1A) in his last two games and has been an effective contributor from a fourth-line role this season. He has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 47 games.

Lyubushkin exited Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks after only 10:47 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury and will not play on Friday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old Lyubushkin is averaging 16:58 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (0G / 11A), 82 blocks, an 62 hits in 53 games this season. Brendan Smith draws into the lineup as Lyubushkin's replacement.

Ilya Lyubushkin is battling an upper-body injury and will not play on Friday against the Los Angeles Kings, allowing Smith to re-enter the lineup. The 35-year-old Smith is averaging 12:35 time-on-ice, recording three points (0G / 3A), and 31 hits in 22 games this season.

The Stars are coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, snapping a five-game winning streak, and will hope to return to the win column on Friday with Oettinger tending the twine against the Los Angeles Kings. Oettinger has played well lately, allowing three or fewer goals in nine straight (6-3-0), posting a solid .925 SV%. He has a 2.31 GAA and .912 SV% through 39 games this season (26-12-1). The Stars enter Friday's contest as slight -100 road underdogs against a Kings squad riding a two-game winning streak.

Texier is battling an illness, did not play on Thursday, but could be ready to return on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 25-year-old Texier is averaging 12:35 time-on-ice and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 27 games this season.

On the front end of a back-to-back, the Kings will turn to Rittich between the pipes on Friday against the Dallas Stars. Rittich has only played twice in the previous 11 games. He has a 2.62 GAA and .887 SV% in 23 games this season (11-11-0) and was exceptional in his only meeting against the Stars this season, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in a 3-2 victory. The Kings enter Friday's contest as slight -109 home favorites against a Stars team coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

Rosen was the 14th overall pick of the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old played two games with the Sabres this season but has predominantly been in the AHL, scoring 39 points (23G / 16A) in 40 games with the Rochester Americans.

After being outscored 9-0 in two straight games (0-2-0), Minnesota responded with an impressive 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in one of Gustavsson's best performances lately, saving 37 of 38 shots (.974 SV%). The 26-year-old Gustavsson had struggled before his most recent victory, allowing four or more goals in six of eight contests (2-5-0), posting an ugly .873 SV%. He has a 2.61 GAA and .915 SV% in 36 appearances this season (21-11-3).

On the tail end of a back-to-back, Dobes will be between the pipes for the Canadiens on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the final game before the two-week hiatus to accommodate the 4 Nations Face-Off. After a brilliant start to the young 23-year-old Czech netminder's NHL career, winning his first five games and posting a .941 SV%, Dobes has lost three straight (0-2-1) and posted a .887 SV%.

On the front end of a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Saturday against a New Jersey Devils squad that has scored three or fewer goals in four of their last five games (2-3-0). The 28-year-old Montembeault was serviceable in his most recent outing, saving 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. He has a 2.99 GAA and .898 SV% in 40 games this season (18-19-3).

Gudas was absent from practice on Thursday due to an illness and his status for Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Kings is uncertain. The 34-year-old Gudas is averaging 19:10 time-on-ice, recording 12 points (1G / 11A), 124 blocks, and 181 hits in 53 games this season.

The Oilers are riding a two-game winning streak and will turn to Skinner between the pipes on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. Skinner played well in his most recent outing, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the St. Louis Blues. The 26-year-old netminder has a .918 SV% in his last 22 games (14-6-2). The Oilers enter Friday's contest as -175 home favorites against an Avalanche squad that played last night, defeating the Calgary Flames 4-2.

Compher has not played since January 25th, missing five straight games, but will likely return to the lineup on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old Compher recorded an assist in his most recent outing, snapping a six-game pointless skid. He has 21 points (6G / 15A) in 48 games this season but has only recorded two (1G / 1A) in his last 12.