NHL Hockey Player News

Blackwell has picked up seven goals in 14 games with the Admirals this season and has never appeared in an NHL game.

Kase was forced to leave Thursday’s game in Minnesota and is not expected to play on Saturday afternoon due to an upper-body injury. Kase has cooled off as of late, picking up just one assist in his last seven games but this would be a huge loss for a Ducks team trying to fight back into the playoff picture in the Western Conference.

Bailey was a second-round pick in 2013 and has picked up eight points (5G / 3A) in 52 career NHL games. During his time in the AHL, Bailey has registered nine goals and 11 assists in 37 games with Rochester.

Leier was a fourth-round pick back in 2012 and has registered just seven points (2G / 5A) in 55 career NHL games with the Flyers. The 24-year-old has performed well in the AHL, picking up 10 goals and nine assists in 34 games this season.

Korpisalo allowed one goal on 30 shot in the Blue Jackets win over the Devils on Tuesday. Korpisalo has been playing great lately, stopping 93 of the last 98 shots (.949 SV%) that he faced. Additionally, Korpisalo comes in at 4-1-1 with a 3.20 GAA and .893 SV% on home-ice this season.

Sparks surrendered four goals on 28 shots in the Maple Leafs loss to the Islanders on December 29th. Sparks missed time with a concussion but is set to start the tail-end of the Maple Leafs’ back-to-back in Florida. Sparks has gone 3-1-0 despite posting a 3.27 GAA and .898 SV% on the road this season.

Johnson was forced to leave Thursday’s game vs. the Maple Leafs with a lower-body injury that will likely keep him out of the lineup on Saturday. Alex Killorn moved up to the second line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov with Johnson held off of the ice on Friday.

Rinaldo has not been in the lineup wins January 1st and was believed to be a healthy scratch, so he could have suffered a non-game injury.

Kero has registered 16 goals and 21 assists (37 points) in 43 games with Utica this season. He is not expected to make his Canucks debut on Friday.

Johansen will miss Saturday’s game vs. the Panthers and Monday’s game in Colorado before being eligible to return next Friday in Florida. Calle Jarnkrok is candidate to move in the lineup with Johansen sidelined.

Lammikko, 22, had six assists in 40 games during his time with the Panthers. With Vincent Trocheck (ankle) set to make his return to the lineup on Friday, Lammikko was the odd-man-out on the active roster.

Trocheck is listed as a game-time decision for Friday’s game but activating him from IR all but confirms that the Panthers’ No.2 centre will be back in the lineup vs. the Maple Leafs. Look for Trocheck to centre a line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad in his return.

Skinner missed Thursday’s practice and will be a game-time decision for Friday’s game in Vancouver. This would be a huge loss for the Sabres, Skinner leads the team in goals (30) and sits second in points (44).

Ullmark allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Sabres win in Calgary on Wednesday. Ullmark has played pretty well this season, going 10-3-3 with a 2.86 GAA and .917 SV% in 17 stars and one relief appearance. He hasn’t seen the Canucks in any of those games but has gone 6-1-2 with a 2.60 GAA, .927 SV% and one shutout on the road.

Demko will be making his season debut after serving as Jacob Markstrom’s backup for a couple of weeks. Demko is one of the top goaltending prospects in the NHL and went 8-5-0 with a 2.58 GAA and .911 SV% in 16 games before being promoted to the NHL. He allowed four goals on 30 shots in a 5-4 OT win vs. the Blue Jackets in his NHL debut last year.

Howard allowed one goal on 24 shots in the Red Wings win over the Wild. Howard has earned two pretty easy wins ain a row, stopping 39 of the 42 shots (.929 SV%) that he faced to beat Minnesota and Anaheim. Things will get more difficult in Calgary. The Flames average 31.8 shots per game and the second most goals (3.67) per game in the NHL through 48 games.

Demko is expected to make his season debut after serving as Jacob Markstrom’s backup for a couple of weeks. Demko is one of the top goaltending prospects in the NHL and went 8-5-0 with a 2.58 GAA and .911 SV% in 16 games before being promoted to the NHL. He allowed four goals on 30 shots in a 5-4 OT win vs. the Blue Jackets in his NHL debut last year.