NHL Hockey Player News

Mrazek gave up four goals on 29 shots in the Hurricanes 6-4 win over the Capitals on Saturday. Mrazek has given up four goals in three straight outings, posting an .854 SV% in the process. In his first start against Montreal, Mrazek stopped 33 of 36 shots in a 4-3 shootout win (Oct.3).

Merzlikins was handed the loss after replacing Joonas Korpisalo in the shootout on Sunday. With Korpisalo out for at least one month, this will be a huge test for the 25-year-old Merzlikins. Tonight will be his first career start on home-ice and hopefully it goes better than his first eight road outings--0-4-4 with a 3.41 GAA and .889 SV%.

Smith was held pointless in five games with the Red Wings earlier in the year but has 13 points (4G / 9A) and 59 PIMS in 22 AHL games with Grand Rapids. With Valtteri Filppula out, Smith could draw into the lineup on Saturday.

Head coach John Tortorella said that Korpisalo would be out "weeks" but it is officially at least one month. The Blue Jackets will be without their starting netminder until early-to-mid February, forcing Elvis Merzlikins into the No.1 role for the first time in his career.

Ullmark allowed three goals on 22 shots in the Sabres 3-2 loss in Boston on Sunday. Ullmark has lost three straight while allowing a combined seven goals on 75 shots (.907 SV%) but will make his fifth consecutive start on Tuesday. In his first start against the Lightning, Ullmark allowed three goals on 34 shots in a 3-2 loss (Nov.8).

Jarry allowed two goals on 32 shots in the Penguins 5-2 win in Nashville last Friday. Jarry continues his amazing run, winning his last four while posting a 1.70 GAA, .942 SV% and one shutout. Since the middle of November, Jarry is tied for second in wins (10), second in GAA (1.74) and third in SV% (.943). He starts the week with a good home matchup. Ottawa has lost eight of its last nine road games (1-6-2) while scoring just 2.11 goals per game.

With Mikko Koivu expected to return to the Wild's lineup on Tuesday, Sturm heads back to Iowa where he has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 25 games this season.

Okhotyuk, 19, was a second-round pick (No.61 overall) in this summer's draft and hast picked up five assists in 10 games with the Ottawa 67's (OHL).

Fleury stopped 27 of 28 shots in the Golden Knights 4-1 win over the Coyotes on Saturday. The win snapped a brief but ugly two-game losing skid for Fleury, who had a super easy night in his first game against Anaheim. The 35-year-old stopped 13 of 15 shots in a 5-2 win vs. the Ducks back in late-October and is 10-6-2 with a 2.95 GAA and .904 SV% on home-ice.

Kuhlman has been out with a hairline nondisplaced fracture of the right tibia since October 19th but has resumed skating with the Bruins recently. He'll go to Providence, where he had 30 points (12G / 18A) in 58 games last season, so get back up to game speed before returning to the Bruins.

Sprong was sent down to the AHL on Saturday but was quickly recalled and could play Tuesday in Vegas. Sprong has compiled 14 goals and five assists (19 points) in 48 career games with Anaheim.

Butcher missed Sunday's game in Ottawa but head coach Alain Nasreddine told reporters that he still has to talk to the team medical staff, but a good chance that Butcher returns to the lineup tomorrow against Boston. Butcher has one goal and two assists in his last five games.

Blackwood allowed three goals on 23 shots in the Devils 4-3 overtime win over the Senators on Sunday. Blackwood has gone 4-1-1 with a 2.74 GAA and .910 SV% in his last six starts but draws a tough home assignment with the Bruins in town on Tuesday. Boston has won six of their last nine road games while scoring 3.56 goals per game.

Halak stopped all 26 shots that he faced in the Bruins shutout win over the Bruins last Friday. Tuukka Rask started on Sunday but they'll come back to Halak Tuesday in New Jersey. It was a much-needed outing for Halak, who had lost three of his previous four starts. Halak comes into Tuesday at 5-2-1 with a 2.12 GAA, .932 SV% and two shutouts on the road this year.

Georgiev surrendered four goals on 48 shots in the Rangers 5-4 overtime win in Toronto on Saturday. It was another busy night for Georgiev, who is now 4-3-0 with a 2.87 GAA, .919 SV% and one shutout in seven starts in December. He has played great on the road this year, going 8-2-0 in 10 starts, while Edmonton has lost eight of their last 10 home games (2-6-2) while averaging just 2.30 goals per game.

Koivu was back at practice on Monday but remains a game-time decision for Tuesday's game. Koivu, who has missed the last 12 games with a lower-body injury, will centre the second line with Zach Parise and Kevin Fiala if he does play.

Korpisalo has been among the best goalies in the NHL since mid-November, ranking first in the NHL in wins (11), tied for second in shutouts (2), tied for sixth in GAA (2.04) and tied for 10th in SV% (.926) over that span. Korpisalo suffered a knee injury during the shootout vs. Chicago last night and now the Blue Jackets turn to an inexperienced duo of Elvis Merzlikins and Matiss Kivlenieks.

Clifton suffered an upper-body injury early in Sunday's game vs. the Sabres and will not play against the Devils tomorrow. With Clifton and Charlie McAvoy definitely out and Torey Krug not expected to travel, look for the recently recalled Jeremy Lauzon to play with Matt Grzelcyk.

Krug was on the ice for Monday's morning skate but head coach Bruce Cassidy doesn't expect him to play tomorrow vs. the Devils. With Krug likely out, Charlie McAvoy on IR and Connor Clifton dealing with an upper-body injury, Jeremy Lauzon was called up and is expected to skate with Matt Grzelcyk.