NHL Hockey Player News

Luoto has served as a healthy scratch for the last five games, so he'll head to Manitoba to get a chance to play. The 22-year-old has three assists in nine AHL games this season.

Markstrom allowed two goals on 51 shots in the Canucks win over the Kings last Saturday. It was a fantastic game for Markstrom, who has won four straight while posting a 2.24 GAA and .941 SV%. He has gone 7-5-2 with a 2.48 GAA, .924 SV% and one shutout on home-ice this year but will face a Chicago team that is heating up, winning five of their last six with 3.83 goals per game.

Fleury allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Golden Knights win over the Ducks on Tuesday. Fleury has been strong in his last two starts, stopping 53 of 56 shots (.946 SV%) to move to 11-6-2 with a 2.90 GAA, .905 SV% and one shutout on home-ice this season. Tonight he faces a Flyers team that is a different team on the road than in Philadelphia--they've lost five of their last seven road games while scoring just 2.29 goals per game.

Grubauer allowed five goals on 24 shots in Colorado's loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday. Grubauer has gone winless in his last six starts, going 0-4-1 with a 3.40 GAA and .895 SV%. The Avalanche are struggling right now and a matchup with the Blues likely won't help. St. Louis has won eight of their last nine (8-1-0) while scoring 3.78 goals per game.

Andersen stopped 26 of 27 shots in the Maple Leafs win in Minnesota on Tuesday. Andersen is 5-0-1 despite posting a 3.17 GAA and .902 SV% in his last six starts thanks to his teammates averaging 5.17 goals per game in front of him. Tonight he takes on a Jets team that has lost four in a row one home-ice, averring 2.50 goals per game.

Merzlikins stopped 36 of 37 shots in the Blue Jackets win over the Panthers on Tuesday. It was an outstanding effort from Merzlikins in his first game as the Blue Jackets new No.1 netminder. It was Merzlikins first career NHL win but his second may have to wait a little longer. The Bruins are 14-1-8 while scoring 3.43 goals per game in Boston this year.

Raanta stopped 38 of 39 shots in the Coyotes win over the Blues on Tuesday. It was a fantastic outing and a much-needed win for Raanta, who snapped a three-game losing skid in the process. He is 3-4-0 with a 2.59 GAA, .920 SV% and one shutout on home-ice this year and is a great option against a Ducks team that has lost five of their seven (2-4-1) games while scoring just 2.29 goals per game.

Timashov played in the last eight games but will be replaced by Mason Marchment, who will be making his NHL debut, on Thursday. Timashov has eight points in 29 games while playing just 8:21 ATOI in his first NHL season.

Marchment has two goals and two assists in 11 games with the Marlies (AHL) this season and was called up on Wednesday. The 24-year-old winger is 6-foot-4, 220 lbs. and will replace Dmytro Timashov and is expected to skate on the fourth line in his debut.

Brodie missed Tuesday's game with an illness but is expected to be back in tonight vs. the Rangers. Brodie, who has 12 points (1G / 11A) in 36 games, will replace Michael Stone.

Dahlstrom sat as a healthy scratch for the last 12 games but will play for the first time since December 3rd tonight vs. the Maple Leafs. Dahlstrom will be replacing Nathan Beaulieu, who is out for at least one month with a lower-body injury.

Beaulieu suffered a lower-body injury while blocking a shot in Colorado on Tuesday and will miss at least four weeks. With Beaulieu out, Carl Dahlstrom is expected to play Thursday but Sami Niku could be recalled from Manitoba (AHL).

Hughes was banged up late in Tuesday's shootout win over the Bruins but returned to the game and played in overtime. He was on the ice for Thursday's morning skate but will not play tonight, but his availability for the skate suggests it's a very minor issue.

Talbot stopped 19 of 20 shots after replacing David Rittich in the Flames 5-2 loss to the Canucks on Sunday. December was Talbot's busiest month so far and he went 2-2-0 with a 2.09 GAA and .939 SV% in four starts and one relief appearance. Tonight he faces his former team, who have lost three of their last four (1-2-1) road games but possess a top-10 offence this season.

Smith allowed one goal on seven shots after replacing Mikko Koskinen in the Oilers loss to the Flames last Friday. Smith has not recorded a win since November 23rd, going 0-3-1 with a 4.35 GAA and .840 SV% in four starts and two relief appearances since. He'll try to get back on track against a Sabres team that has lost four straight while averaging 1.75 goals for per game.

Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 43 shots in the Jets win in Colorado on Tuesday. Hellebuyck finished December at 5-4-2 with a 3.28 GAA, .902 SV% and one shutout. January gets off to a difficult start with the Maple Leafs in town. Toronto is 13-4-1 and leads the NHL in goal-scoring, averaging 4.05 goals per game since their coaching change.

Lauzon played one game (15:40 TOI) during his call-up but heads back to the AHL with Torey Krug and likely Charlie McAvoy back in the lineup tonight.

Blidh has yet to play this season after undergoing shoulder surgery in September but will get back up to game-speed with Providence. He spent most of his season there last season, posting 10 goals with 13 assists (23 points) in 74 games.