NHL Hockey Player News

Gionta will replace Casey Cizikas on the Islanders fourth line on Saturday. Gionta adjust five assists (2G / 3A) in 30 AHL games with Bridgeport last season.

Cizikas was questionable for Saturday’s game but his move to IR means the will be out against the Predators. Cizikas’ move to IR is retroactive to Monday, so it allowed them to sign Stephen Gionta without sending anyone down. He could end up missing jut one game.

Ladd will make his season debut after missing the first three games of the season with an upper-body injury. Ladd will start on a veteran third line with Valtteri Filppula and Leo Komarov.

Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Canucks on Thursday. Vancouver went on to add two empty-net goals, winning the game 4-1. Vasilevskiy has played very well in his first two starts, stopping 66 of the first 69 shots (.957 SV%) that he has faced. The 24-year-old was 3-0-0 with a 1.30 GAA, .959 SV% and two shutouts vs. the Blue Jackets last year.

Saros allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Predators win abasing the Islanders last Saturday. It was a solid start to the season for Saros, who should see close to 30 starts this season and could close in on 20 wins as the Predators No.2. Tonight he faces the Islanders who have started the year at 2-1-0 with 3.00 goals for per game.

DeSmith stopped 35 of 37 shots in the Penguins win over the Golden Knights on Thursday. DeSmith filled in admirably for Matt Murray, who was unavailable due to a concussion. Murray is healthy enough to dress tonight, but they will stick with DeSmith after a great performance versus Vegas.

McElhinney allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Canucks on Tuesday. McElhinney has won each of his first two starts since being claimed off of waivers from Toronto. The veteran has stopped 53 of the 57 shots (.930 SV%) he has faced so far, but remains a risky option tonight in Minnesota.

Konecny left Friday’s practice after being hit by an Ivan Provorov shot, but said that he expects to play this afternoon vs. the Golden Knights. Konecny has just one assist and a minus-4 rating in four games this season.

Bobrovsky allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Blue Jackets win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. Bobrovsky has backed up Joonas Korpisalo twice already this season, but will make his third start of the year tonight in Tampa Bay. Bobrovsky was 0-1-1 while allowing six goals on 57 shots (.895 SV%) in two starts vs. the Lightning last year.

Fleury allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Golden Knights loss in Washington on Wednesday. It has been a tough start to 2018-19 for Fleury, who has a 3.95 GAA and .846 SV% in his first four starts. Today’s start will be his second against the Flyers this year—he was pulled after allowing five goals on 16 shots in the first meeting.

Andersen allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Maple Leafs win in Detroit on Thursday. Andersen has won three of his first four starts of the season despite allowing a combined 13 goals on 122 shots (.893 SV%). Tonight he faces a Capitals team that he had mixed results against last season—one shutout and one six-goals against game.

With Carey Price out with the flu, Niemi will make his first start of 2018-19. Niemi struggled the early part of 2017-18, but was strong in a Canadiens uniform, going 7-5-4 with a 2.46 GAA and .929 SV% in 17 starts and two relief appearances. As solid as he was with Montreal last year, he is a terrible option tonight vs. the Penguins.

Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Canucks on Thursday. Vancouver went on to add two empty-net goals, winning the game 4-1. Vasilevskiy has played very well in his first two starts, stopping 66 of the first 69 shots (.957 SV%) that he has faced. The 24-year-old was 3-0-0 with a 1.30 GAA, .959 SV% and two shutouts vs. the Blue Jackets last year.

Bischoff, 24, made the Golden Knights out of camp but did not appear in a game. He heads to the AHL, where he had 23 points (7G / 16A) in 69 games a season ago.

Dries did not record a point in three games with the Avalanche. He returns to the AHL, where he had 30 points (19G / 11A) in 70 games with the Texas Stars last season.

Kiselevich, 28, came to the NHL after nine seasons in the KHL. In his most recent season, Kiselevich had 16 assists in 44 games with CSKA Moscow. Kiselevich will replace Jacob MacDonald on the third pair.

Lindgren has gone 2-1-0 with a 2.39 GAA and .875 SV% in three games with the Rockets so far this season. With Carey Price out with the flu, Lindgren is expected to backup Antti Niemi vs. the Penguins.

Price is out with the flu, so Charlie Lindgren has been recalled and is expected to backup Antti Niemi vs. the Penguins. Price is questionable for Monday’s game vs. the Red Wings as well.