NHL Hockey Player News

Schmaltz missed Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury and could miss an extended period of time. Laurent Dauphin has been recalled from the AHL to fill-in for Schmaltz while he is out.

Ville Husso was hurt for the Blues AHL team so acquiring Coreau adds some goaltending depth at the AHL-level. Coreau once looked like a promising young netminder but has struggled mightily at the NHL-level and is 3-6-2 with a 3.57 GAA and .895 SV% in 13 games with San Diego (AHL) this season.

Halak allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Bruins loss to the Devils on December 27th. Tuukka Rask started the Winter Classic, so they’ll come back with Halak tonight vs. the Flames. Calgary has a high-powered offence but they are on the tail-end of a back-to-back, which makes Halak a more trustworthy option tonight.

Markstrom allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Canucks win in Ottawa last night. With Thatcher Demko not expected to be called up until their next game, Markstrom will likely start both games of the Canucks back-to-back. Markstrom has won three in a row evil stopping 91 of the 98 shots (.929 SV%) that he has faced.

Pouliot has played in 13 straight games, picking up just two assists, but will be replaced by Michael Del Zotto in Montreal.

Del Zotto has been a healthy scratch for 13 consecutive games but will replace Derrick Pouliot on Thursday. Del Zotto has just four points (1G / 3A) in 22 games this year.

Sutter missed two months of action with a shoulder injury but will replace Josh Leivo (back spasms) in the lineup on Thursday. Sutter will likely return in a support role, serving as the team’s third-line centre behind Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat. Sutter had just three goals and one assist in 13 games earlier this year.

Leivo has been moved to IR due to back spasms that forced him to leave Wednesday’s game in Ottawa. Leivo has been ruled out of tonight’s game and Saturday’s game in Toronto, so moving him to IR was just a formality to active his replacement Brandon Sutter. Leivo is eligible to come off of IR for next Thursday’s game vs. the Coyotes.

Quick stopped 22 of 24 shots in the Kings win in Colorado on Monday. Quick was given Tuesday night off so it’s not surprising that the Kings will come back to him tonight vs. a red-hot Lightning team. Quick finished December at 6-5-1 with a 2.33 GAA, .922 SV% and one shutout but should be left on the bench vs. the highest scoring team in the NHL.

Elliott played just 8:45 TOI on Wednesday but returns to Belleville, where he has one goal and three assists in eight games this season.

Dauphin has six goals and 12 assists (18 points) in 30 games with Tucson this season. Dauphin could have an extended stay with the Coyotes because he is expected to replace Nick Schmaltz, who may land on IR.

Mantha has been out since December 2nd, missing the last 14 games with a hand injury but will play Friday vs. the Predators. Mantha has scored nine goals and five assists (14 points) in 27 games this season.

Markstrom allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Canucks win in Ottawa last night. With Thatcher Demko not expected to be called up until their next game, Markstrom will likely start both games of the Canucks back-to-back. Markstrom has won three in a row evil stopping 91 of the 98 shots (.929 SV%) that he has faced.

Prosser will be replaced by Ryan Murphy, who will be making his season debut after being called up from Iowa (AHL) on Tuesday.

Murphy was recalled from Iowa (AHL) on Tuesday and will make his season debut in Toronto this afternoon. Murphy, who has played in 172 career NHL games, has 13 points (3G / 10A) in 27 games with Iowa this season.

Seeler missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but will return to the lineup in Toronto on Thursday afternoon. Seeler doesn’t bring a lot of offence to the table, having picked up just three points (1G / 2A) in 36 games this year.