NHL Hockey Player News

Leddy will remain sidelined by a lower-body injury on Wednesday, missing his fourth consecutive game. Noah Dobson will remain in the lineup with Leddy sidelined.

Kotkaniemi missed three games with a groin injury but he will accompany the team to Philadelphia, which makes it possible for him to make his return to the lineup. The second-year centre has had a slow start to the year, scoring two goals with one assist in 12 games before getting hurt.

Matheon has missed the last five games but with Corey Stillman heading back to the AHL on Tuesday, it paved the way for Matheson's return vs. The Capitals. He has had a slow offensive start to the season, pointing a single assist in nine games.

Acciari suffered an undisclosed injury vs. the Red Wings on Saturday and is day-to-day. Dominic Toninato will be recalled from Springfield (AHL) to replace Acciari.

Trocheck will miss his seventh straight game on Thursday and remains day-to-day, which makes him questionable for their Saturday/Sunday back-to-back.

Dowd has missed the last two games but may return to the lineup in Florida. Dowd brings almost no offence to the table, scoring just two goals with one assist (three points) in 11 games this season.

Holtby allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Capitals win over the Sabres last Friday. Ilya Samsonov started on Sunday, so Holtby comes into Thursday's game well-rested. Holtby has won five of his last six (5-0-1) while posting a 2.63 GAA and .923 SV%. Holtby has put a rough start behind him but has a tough matchup on Thursday. Florida is 3-1-1 while averaging 3.80 goals per game on home ice this season.

Zibanejad will not play Wednesday vs. the Red Wings but also won't travel to Carolina for Thursday's game. Look for Zibanejad to return on Sunday at the earliest. Ryan Strome will continue to centre the first line with Zibanefad sidelined.

Little had to receive 25-to-30 stitches to close a laceration and had to stay overnight for further evaluation. This latest injury effectively rules Little out for Friday's game and will likely sideline him for at last a few games.

Klingberg left Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury and the initial diagnosis is that he will miss 2-to-4 weeks. Klingberg will undergo an MRI to determine exactly how serious it is and the Stars will likely release a detailed timetable in the coming days.

Hart allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Flyers win over the Hurricanes on Tuesday. Hart has won two straight while stopping 56 of the 60 shots (.933 SV%) that he has faced. The win also improved Hart to 3-1-0 with a. 1.76 GAA, .933 SV% and one shutout on home ice. Tonight they host a Montreal team that is 4-2-2 while averaging 3.88 goals per game on the road this year.

Binnington allowed three goals on 30 shots in the Blues victor vs. the Blue Jackets last Friday. Jake Allen finally gave him a night off on Saturday but they'll go right back to Binnington in Vancouver. Binnington has gone 5-1-0 with a 2.17 GAA and .926 SV% in his last six starts, putting him back firmly among the top goalies in the league. The Canucks' offence is among the best in the league right now but it's hard to justify benching Binnington.

Gibson stopped 39 of 40 shots in the Ducks win over the Canucks last Friday. Gibson was able to neutralize one of the best offences in hockey right now and won for the second game in a row. He has been drastically better in Anaheim this season, going 5-1-0 with a 1.83 GAA and .948 SV%, so don't hesitate to start him vs. a Wild team that has scored the third-fewest goals (2.36 GF/gm) this season.