NHL Hockey Player News

The Blues have been outscored 12-8 in their last two games (0-2-0) and will likely turn to Hofer between the pipes on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks. Hofer allowed five goals on 38 shots (.868 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 6-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 24-year-old netminder has a 2.92 GAA and .901 SV% in 14 games this season (8-4-1). The Blues enter Thursday's contest as -195 home favorites against a Ducks squad with points in five of their last six (4-1-1).

The Maple Leafs are riding a five-game winning streak and will roll with Woll between the pipes on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Woll saved 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. He has a solid 2.46 GAA and .915 SV% in 20 games this season (14-6-0). The Maple Leafs enter Thursday's contest as +153 road underdogs against a Hurricanes squad coming off a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Oilers will roll with Skinner between the pipes for the third time in the last four games. Skinner saved all 26 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday but was not awarded a shutout because he missed the end of the first period, being removed from the playing surface by a concussion spotter. The 26-year-old Skinner has a 2.69 GAA and .902 SV% in 27 games this season (16-8-3). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -216 road favorites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team amid a four-game losing skid (0-3-1).

Shore has been a regular in Minnesota' lineup the last month and will return from a paper transaction on Wednesday that sent him to the Iowa Wild (AHL). The 30-year-old forward is averaged 8:21 time-on-ice and scored one point (0G / 1A) in 21 games this season.

Tampa Bay snapped a four-game losing skid in a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday when Vasilevskiy saved 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%). The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy returns to the crease on Thursday, looking to build on a solid 2.36 GAA and .914 SV% through 30 games this season (17-12-1). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as -164 home favorites against a Boston Bruins club amid a five-game losing skid.

Kaliyev was unable to secure a spot on the Los Angeles Kings' roster this season and was placed on waivers on Sunday. He will make his Rangers debut on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 23-year-old Kaliyev was the 33rd overall pick of the Kings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He has 71 points (35G / 36A) in 188 career games.

Rempe has finished serving his eight game suspension and will draw back into the Rangers lineup for the first time since December 20th. The 22-year-old Rempe has 24 penalty minutes and 12 hits in five games this season.

Sillinger is averaging 17:30 time-on-ice, recording 22 points (6G / 16A) through 40 games this season. If he is not able to play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, recently recalled Owen Sillinger will like draw into the lineup as his replacement.

Jack Johnson (illness) will not play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, allowing Severson to seamlessly re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Severson is averaging 21:30 time-on-ice, recording 17 points (6G / 11A), 70 blocks, and 23 hits in 38 games this season.

Johnson has been a regular in the Blue Jackets lineup lately but will not play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken due to an illness. The 37-year-old Johnson is averaging 12:56 time-on-ice, recording two points (0G / 2A) in 27 games this season.

The Blue Jackets are riding a two-game winning streak and will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes for a fifth straight outing. Merzlikins allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 SV%) in his most recent contest but was strong enough for a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 3.17 GAA and .887 SV% in 27 games this season (14-10-3). He has not finished a season with a winning record since the 2021-22 campaign. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +109 home underdogs against a Seattle Kraken squad amid a three-game losing skid (0-2-1).

Shesterkin has been out of the lineup since December 30th, battling an upper-body injury, but will return to the crease on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 29-year-old Shesterkin struggled before his injury, allowing nine goals on 38 shots (.763 SV%) in his last two games (0-2-0). He has a 3.10 GAA and .906 SV% in 27 games this season (11-15-1). He has never finished a season with a GAA above 2.62. The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as +135 home underdogs against a Devils squad that snapped a four-game losing skid in their previous outing.

Malkin did not play the Penguins previous game, a late scratch due to an upper-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. Malkin is averaging 18:35 time-on-ice, recording 71 shots and 32 points (8G / 24A) in 41 games this season.

The Penguins have lost four straight (0-1-3) and will turn to Nedeljkovic between the pipes on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. Nedeljkovic struggled in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%) in a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He has a 3.22 GAA and .888 SV% in 17 appearances this season (6-6-4). The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +183 home underdogs against an Oilers club outscoring their opposition 15-5 during a four-game winning streak.

With Linus Ullmark still sidelined, the Senators' crease remains under the control of Forsberg. Forsberg played well in his previous outing but came up short in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings when he allowed three goals on 33 shots (.909 SV%). The 32-year-old Forsberg has a 3.03 GAA and .888 SV% in 13 appearances this season (4-7-1). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -160 home favorites against a Buffalo Sabres club coming off a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals.

With Sean Monahan (wrist) sidelined, the Blue Jackets have recalled Del Bel Belluz from the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 21-year-old Del Bel Belluz made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in one game. He leads the AHL with 37 points (17G / 20A) in 34 games this season.

Ersson has been out since suffering a lower-body injury on New Year's Eve but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 25-year-old Ersson has a 3.02 GAA and .884 SV% in 19 appearances (9-6-2) but has been better lately, saving 47 of the last 48 shots in his previous two outings (2-0-0). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +140 home underdogs against a Stars squad riding a five-game winning streak.

With Sean Monahan (wrist) sidelined, the Blue Jackets have recalled Sillinger from the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 27-year-old Sillinger has yet to play an NHL game. He has 25 points (8G / 17A) in 34 AHL games with Cleveland this season.

It's unclear when Monahan suffered his wrist injury in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he did not appear in the third period, finishing the game with only 12:26 time-on-ice. The team is waiting for results from a bone scan to have a more concrete timeline for his return. Monahan, in his age-30 season, was producing at a point-per-game pace for only the second time in his career, with 41 points (14G / 27A) in 41 games.

Ekblad exited Friday's 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins late in the third period and has not practiced since, but will return to the lineup on Wedndesday. The 28-year-old Ekblad is averaging 23:31 time-on-ice, his highest total in four seasons, recording 20 points (2G / 18A), 54 blocks, and 59 hits in 40 games this season.