NHL Hockey Player News

Kulak played on Thursday but will be a healthy scratch for the third time in four games on Saturday. With Kulak out, Cale Fleury will draw back into the lineup.

Fleury was a healthy scratch on Thursday but will replace Mike Reilly in the lineup on Saturday. Fleury has had a slow start offensively, posting just one goal and no assists in 19 games.

Reilly played in three straight games, picking up two assists, but will be replaced by Gustav Olofsson on the blueline on Saturday.

Olofsson was recently called up from Laval (AHL) after collecting seven assists in 20 games. Olofsson has appeared in 56 career NHL games (all with Minnesota) since being drafted in the second-round in 2013. Olofsson will replace Brett Kulak on the Canadiens' third-pair.

Kinkaid gave up three goals on 13 shots after replacing Carey Price in Montreal's blowout loss to the Bruins on Tuesday. Kinkaid has had a really difficult time this season, allowing at least three goals in all five of his outings, going 1-1-2 with a 4.29 GAA and .877 SV%. Until he can get back on-track, he shouldn't be considered as a spot-start option.

Smith allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Oilers win in Vegas last Saturday. The Oilers have been consistent with their goalie rotation this season, so Smith will start after watching Mikko Koskinen for the last two games. Smith has gone 4-3-0 with a 2.84 GAA and .908 SV% in his last seven starts. In his first game vs. the Canucks, Smith stopped 31 of 33 shots in a 3-2 win.

Saarijarvi was a third-round pick (No.73 overall) in 2015 and never really got things going in the AHL. After posting 31 points (11G / 20A) in 34 games in his final OHL season, Saarijarvi posted just 28 points (2G / 26A) in 125 AHL games. He will report to Tucson (AHL).

Comrie was originally a second-round pick of the Jets but was claimed off of waivers by the Coyotes during the preseason. Comrie has not appeared in an NHL game this season but has gone 4-0-0 with a 2.75 GAA and .900 SV% in four AHL starts. With Jimmy Howard hurt, Comrie could join the Red Wings immediately and serve as Jonathan Bernier's backup.

Rittich stopped 34 of 36 shots in the Flames win in Buffalo on Wednesday. Rittich has been superb in his last three outings, going 2-0-1 while stopping 105 of the 112 shots (.938 SV%) that he faced. Now he gets the Senators at home with their third-string goalie in net, so don't hesitate to start him tonight. He is 6-1-2 with a 2.40 GAA, .916 SV% and one shutout at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Nieves played in three straight games but will be a healthy scratch in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon. Michael Haley will replace Nieves on the Rangers fourth line.

Hutton surrendered five goals on 29 shots in the Sabres loss in Tampa Bay on Monday. Hutton is on a seven-game personal losing streak, going 0-5-2 with a hideous 4.02 GAA and .869 SV%. He will look to record a win for the first time since October 22nd when he faces the Maple Leafs on Saturday, but the matchup is far from ideal.

Rooney has missed the last seven games with an upper-body injury but will replace Jack Hughes (lower-body) in the lineup on Saturday. Rooney has just one assist in 13 games this season.

Hughes missed Friday's practice with a lower-body injury that he suffered while blocking a shot in Montreal. Luckily for the Devils, Kevin Rooney is ready to return from injury, replacing Hughes up-front. Hughes should be considered questionable heading into their Monday/Tuesday back-to-back.

Blackwood allowed four goals on 48 shots in the Devils' win in Montreal on Thursday. Blackwood has allowed three-plus goals in four straight starts and is now 6-4-1 with a 3.04 GAA and .911 SV% in November. In his first start against the Rangers, Blackwood stopped 29 of 31 shots in a 5-2 win (Oct.17).

McElhinney stopped 32 of 34 shots in the Lightning's win in Chicago on November 21st. Andrei Vasilevskiy started the last four games, including last night, so McElhinney will face his former team on Saturday. He has won three in a row but lost in his only other start vs. Carolina, allowing four goals on 44 shots in a 4-3 OT defeat.

Cernak was suspended for two games for his elbow to the head on Rasmus Dahlin but is expected to be back in the lineup vs. the Hurricanes on Saturday night. Cernak, who plays in more of a shutdown role with Ryan McDonagh, has one goal and no assists in 20 games this season.

Leddy missed Wednesday's game in Los Angeles but head coach Barry Trotz expects him to play on Saturday. Leddy, who has three assists in his last seven games and nine points (2G / 7A) in 18 games this season, will likely replace Noah Dobson on the blueline.

Andersen stopped all 25 shots that he faced in the Maple Leafs shutout win in Detroit on Wednesday. Andersen has now won three in a row while stopping 89 of 93 shots (.957 SV%). With Michael Hutchinson starting on Friday, Andersen will get the second-game of a back-to-back for the first time this season. He enters play at 6-3-3 with a 2.83 GAA and .909 SV% on home-ice.

Samsonov allowed four goals on 39 shots in the Capitals loss to the Canadiens on November 15th. Braden Holtby started the last six games but Samsonov will star the second-half of their back-to-back tonight in Detroit. He is 3-0-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .918 SV% on the road this year and has the best spot-start matchup of any goalie tonight.

Elliott allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Flyers' win in Columbus on Wednesday. With Carter Hart starting on Friday, Elliott will start Saturday afternoon in Montreal. He has won two in a row and three of his last four starts, making Elliott an intriguing spot-start option on a busy Saturday slate. Overall, he is 4-2-0 with a 2.56 GAA and .921 SV% on the road this year.