NHL Hockey Player News

Boyle has been recalled because John Gibson suffered an upper-body injury on Thursday. Boyle figures to serve as Chad Johnson’s backup on Saturday.

Hall will miss his second straight game and fourth game in the last eight due to a lower-body injury. The Devils don’t seem overly concerned about Hall missing an extended period of time so he could be back early next week.

Kruger missed the last four games with a concussion but is set to return to the lineup on Saturday. Jacob Nilsson was sent back to the AHL to open up a roster spot for Kruger, who has just five points (4G / 1A) in 33 games.

Nilsson, 25, failed to record a point in two games during his call-up. With Marcus Kruger set to return to the lineup on Saturday, Nilsson returns to the AHL where he has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 31 games.

Seabrook missed Friday’s practice because of an illness but will travel to Colorado for Saturday’s game. The Blackhawks are playing a bit better as of late but Seabrook has been held pointless with a minus-1 rating in his last five games.

Patrick is expected to miss the rest of the Flyers road-trip, which consists of three games in four days. Patrick was forced to leave Tuesday’s game in Tampa Bay after logging 7:03 TOI and did not return. Jordan Weal will replace him in the lineup on Saturday.

Hanzal is dealing with a lingering back issue which ruined his 2017-18 campaign. It looks like that could happen again in 2018-19 as he has no timetable for his return.

Dickinson is dealing with back spasms and is officially listed as day-to-day. His movement to IR is retroactive to December 22nd, so he can return to the active roster whenever he is healthy.

Carrick has been sidelined by a foot injury since October 28th but appears set to return to the blueline on Saturday. Carrick had four points (1G / 3A) and a minus-5 rating in his first nine games in Dallas.

Bayreuther appeared in 19 games during his call-up while the Stars blueline was decimated by injuries. The 24-year-old had five points (2G / 3A) during that time but returns to the AHL where has two goals and three assists in seven games.

Bobrovsky stopped all 39 shots that he faced in the Blue Jackets shutout win in New Jersey last Sunday. Bobrovsky is riding a four-game winning streak, having allowed just four goals on 134 shots (.970 SV%). The 30-year-old has been excellent as of late but he has a tough matchup with the Maple Leafs in town—he is 1-1-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .915 SV% in the first two meetings this season.

Sparks allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Maple Leafs come-from-behind overtime win vs. Detroit last Sunday. Sparks is now 5-1-1 despite a below-average 3.00 GAA and .908 SV% this season. He will have to be great tonight as he goes head-to-head with Sergei Bobrovsky but he catches a break with the Blue Jackets playing last night.

Marchand missed Friday’s practice with an upper-body injury and is not expected to play tomorrow. With Marchand out, Danton Heinen skated on the Bruins first line in practice.

McAvoy was banged up before the Christmas break, missed Thursday’s game vs. New Jersey and was moved to IR on Friday. His move to IR simply means that he won’t play on Saturday but is eligible to play in the Winter Classic.

Lehner allowed one goal on 20 shots in the Islanders win in Dallas last Sunday. Lehner has won two in a row while stopping 55 of 57 shots (.965 SV%). Tonight he has a good matchup with the Senators in town without their No.1 netminder. Lehner is 1-1-2 with a 2.17 GAA, .924 SV% and one shutout in just five appearances on home-ice this season.

Fiore has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 23 games with San Diego (AHL) this season. Fiore will report to Tucson (AHL). He did not record a point in his only career NHL games last season.