NHL Hockey Player News

Campbell stopped two of three shots after replacing Jonathan Quick last Thursday. Quick has struggled since returning from injury, so Campbell will get another start tonight in Minnesota. While Quick was out, Campbell went 2-3-0 with a 2.69 GAA, .922 SV% and one shutout. The Wild come into Thursday averaging just 2.75 goals for per game (t-22nd in the NHL).

Saros allowed five goals on 32 shots in the Predators loss to the Sharks on Tuesday. It was Saros’ first loss of the season, but came against one of the toughest opponents in the NHL. Tonight the NHL’s fourth ranked offence in New Jersey, but has gone 3-0-0 wihile allowing just three goals on 69 shots (.957 SV%) on the road this season.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the 20-game suspension was assessed to Tom Wilson by the Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist during the NHL preseason. Wilson is not eligible to play until November 21st.

Edler was forced to leave Wednesday’s game with a lower-body injury and was placed on IR on Thursday afternoon. He will go for an MRI on Friday to determine the severity of his injury. Edler missing time due to injury comes as no surprise, as the veteran defenseman has missed at least 12 games in each of the last three seasons—missing a total of 56 games over that span.

Gibbons was a healthy scratch on Tuesday but will replace Maxime Comtois (undisclosed) tonight. Gibbons has not recorded a point while averaging 11:34 TOI/GM in seven games this season.

Comtois is reportedly banged up with an undisclosed ailment, so he is expected to be scratched on Thursday. Brian Gibbons is expected to replace him in the lineup on the Ducks’ fourth line.

Smith allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Flames loss to the Predators last Friday. David Rittich started the last two games, but Smith will be between the pipes tonight vs. the Penguins. Smith needs to be much better than the 3.38 GAA and .885 SV% that he posted in his first six starts, but has a difficult matchup tonight with the Penguins in town.

Holtby allowed two goals on 24 shots in the Capitals win in Vancouver on Monday. Holtby has alternated wins and losses through his first seven starts, amassing a 3.46 GAA, .885 SV% and one shutout so far. His inconsistency and a matchup with Connor McDavid, makes him a risky start on a busy night in the NHL.

Grubauer stopped 42 of 43 shots in Colorado’s win in Carolina last Saturday. Grubauer lost his first start with the Avalanche, but has won his last two games while stopping 69 of 73 shots (.945 SV%). Tonight he will take on a surprising Senators team that is averaging the fifth most goals for per game (3.63) through their first eight games.

Raanta will backup Darcy Kuemper for the second straight game. Raanta is feeling better, but Kuemper played well in Columbus, so they’ll give him another start.

Kuemper filled in for Antti Raanta, who was a late scratch after being schedule to start Tuesday’s game in Columbus. Kuemper stopped 35 of 36 shots in the 4-1 win. Tonight he will make his third start of the season and comes in with a 1.52 GAA and .953 SV% in his first two outings. He draws a solid matchup against a Canucks team that is banged up and coming in on the tail-end of a back-to-back.

Vorobyev will get back into the lineup with Michael Raffl injury. Vorobyev will centre the Flyers third line with Wayne Simmonds and Oskar Lindblom on his wings. He has just one goal while averaging 12:00 TOI/GM in five games this season.

Riikola had a rough night in Edmonton on Tuesday, so he will get a chance to sit in the press box tonight. Chad Ruhwedel will replace him on the third pairing.

Ruhwedel is expected to make his season debut on Thursday, replacing Juuso Riikola. Ruhwedel had just five points (2G / 3A) in 44 games with the Penguins last year.

Brisebois, 21, has recorded one goal and one assist in seven games with Utica this season. Brisebois could make his NHL debut on Thursday with Alex Edler and Chris Tanev getting injured on Wednesday.