NHL Hockey Player News

The Jets are coming off an impressive 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche when Hellebuyck saved 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) and will likely return to him between the pipes on Friday against the Utah Hockey Club. Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 27 shots (.852 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to Utah HC less than a week ago. That said, he remains the front-runner for the Vezina trophy, boasting a marvelous 2.02 GAA and .927 SV% in 38 games (29-7-2). Winnipeg enters Friday's contest as sizeable -210 home favorites against a Utah team outscoring their opposition 13-4 in their last three games (3-0-0).

Stolarz has not played since December 12th due to a knee injury but was back at practice on Friday. The 30-year-old Stolarz was heavily relied upon by the Maple Leafs before his absence, posting a stellar 2.15 GAA and .927 SV% in 17 games (9-5-2). Joseph Woll has seen most of the action between the pipes for the Maple Leafs in the interim.

San Jose's recent acquisition of Walker Duehr off of waivers from the Calgary Flames made Graf a healthy scratch on Thursday before being sent down to the AHL on Friday. The 22-year-old Graf averaged 14:17 time-on-ice and had two points (0G / 2A) in 10 games this season.

Barrie has not played since mid-November and has been assigned to the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) for a conditioning loan. The 33-year-old Barrie is averaging 15:20 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in two games with the Flames this season. He has not played an AHL game since the 2013-14 season when he had three points (0G / 3A) in six games with the Lake Erie Monsters.

Del Mastro was a fourth-round pick, 105th overall, of the Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut last season, playing two games. He has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying eight points (0G / 8A) in 38 games with the Rockford IceHogs.

Allan has been sidelined the last few games for the Blackhawks but will re-enter the lineup on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, replacing T.J. Brodie. The 21-year-old Allan is averaging 15:11 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 38 games this season.

The Blackhawks have dropped four of their last five and will turn to Soderblom between the pipes on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 25-year-old Soderblom was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 39 of 41 shots (.951 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators. He has a 2.92 GAA and .907 SV% in 20 appearances this season (6-11-2). The Blackhawks enter Friday's contest as sizeable +202 home underdogs against a Lightning squad amid a two-game losing skid.

Swayman missed the second half of Boston's back-to-back on Thursday due to an upper-body ailment but returned to practice on Friday and looks like an option to return on Saturday vs. Colorado. The 26-year-old had a well-documented contract dispute to begin the season and has followed it up with a below-average 15-16-4 record, .896 SV% and 3.00 GAA this year.

Toninato played four games with the Jets earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 30-year-old forward has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 25 games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) this season.

Rust was limited to 11:41 time-on-ice before exiting Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks with a lower-body injury. An update on Rust's status should be provided before the Penguins return to action on Saturday against the Seattle Kraken. The 32-year-old Rust has been producing at a tremendous rate, with 30 points (14G / 16A) in his last 27 contests.

After 16 points (3G/13A) in 29 games with Manitoba (AHL), Brad Lambert has earned himself his second call-up of the season to Manitoba (AHL). The 21-year-old forward was Winnipeg's 2022 1st round pick (30th overall) and struggled during four games with Winnipeg earlier this season, failing to pick up a point in four games played.

Palat did not play on Wednesday due to an illness but was back at practice on Friday. The 33-year-old Czech forward has 19 points (10G / 9A) in 48 games this season but only has three points (2G / 1A) in his last 10. The Devils return to action on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Despite essentially sharing the Islanders' net with Marcus Hogberg the last month, Ilya Sorokin will return to the crease in hopes of his fourth win in his previous five starts. The 29-year-old Russian netminder has struggled more often than not this season, as shown by his 14-14-4 record, 2.81 GAA and .902 SV%. He hosts the surging Philadelphia Flyers, who have won five of their last seven games.

Oettinger will occupy Dallas' crease for a third consecutive game on Friday vs. Vegas as he tries to forget the 19-save (.895 SV%) loss he endured in his previous start vs. Carolina. The 26-year-old will look to continue his strong 2024-25 campaign, where he ranks 2nd among goalies in both Wins (23), and SV% (.914 SV%). He will host the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, who snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over St. Louis in their previous contest.

Markstrom left Tuesday's game vs. Boston early due to an MCL Sprain after Justin Brazeau crashed into New Jersey's net and will be out for approximately four to six weeks. It is brutal timing for the 34-year-old, who will now miss representing Sweden at the Four Nations Cup. Markstrom was sporting a strong 21-9-5 record with a .912 SV% in his first season with the Devils. Isaac Poulter was recalled from Utica (AHL) in a corresponding move on Friday.

The Predators will somewhat surprisingly stick with Annunen between the pipes on Thursday. Annunen relieved Juuse Saros at home against the Sharks on Tuesday and guided them to a come from behind victory, allowing just one goal on 16 shots. Annunen has arguably outplayed Saros since being acquired from the Avalanche, posting a 5-2-0 record and a .924 SV% across eight appearances. He's a good bet to stay in the win column on Thursday as the Predators enter action at -225 on the money line.

Gibson will be looking to get back in the win column on Thursday after going winless in his last five appearances. He was unfortunate to come out on the losing end his last time out, allowing just two goals on 44 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Panthers on Saturday. The 31-year-old netminder owns a 7-8-2 record and a .909 SV% on the season. Gibson and the Ducks enter action on Thursday at +130 on the money line.

Daccord will make his 29th start of the season when the Kraken host the Capitals on Thursday. Daccord secured the victory his last time out, stopping 25 of the 29 shots he faced in a 6-4 win over the Sabres on Monday. The 28-year-old netminder has been a reliable backstop for the Kraken this season, registering a 16-10-2 record and a .914 SV%. Daccord and the Kraken enter Thursday night's matchup at +115 on the money line.