NHL Hockey Player News

Kochetkov has lost three of his last four starts (1-2-1), allowing 11 goals and posting a .893 SV%, and will attempt to rebound on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 25-year-old netminder has a 2.48 GAA and .901 SV% in 25 appearances this season (15-8-1). The Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as -113 road favorites against a Lightning club outscored 13-5 during a four-game losing skid. Tampa Bay defeated Carolina in their only other meeting this season, 4-1 on opening night.

The Blues are coming off a disappointing 6-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets and will revert to Binnington between the pipes on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. Binnington was perfect in his most recent outing, saving all 20 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season in a 4-0 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 31-year-old Binnington has an unspectacular 2.79 GAA and .899 SV% in 29 appearances (11-14-3) but has been solid lately, recording two shutouts and posting a .929 SV% in his previous four games (3-1-0). St. Louis enters Tuesday's contest as +114 road underdogs against a Minnesota team that defeated them 4-2 on November 19th.

Faulk played a season-low 16:16 time-on-ice in last Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks has not played since but should return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 32-year-old Faulk is averaging 23:27 time-on-ice and has 13 points (2G / 11A) in 37 games this season. He also been active on the Blues' second powerplay unit.

Stephens played nine games with Seattle earlier this season, scoring one point (0G / 1A), but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL), where he has eight points (4G / 4A) in 18 games. The 27-year-old forward has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 104 career NHL games.

With Jeremy Lauzon (lower body) on Injured Reserve, the Predators recalled Gravel from the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) for precautionary reasons before being reassigned to Milwaukee. The 32-year-old Gravel is no stranger to the NHL, with 135 games of experience, but has primarily been an AHL player the past three seasons. He has five points (1G / 4A) in 25 games with Milwaukee this season.

Wiesblatt was the 31st overall pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward made his NHL debut last week, scoring zero points in two games. He has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 27 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.

Fleury has frequently been with Seattle as an extra defenseman this season but has only drawn into the lineup twice. The 26-year-old has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 14 points (5G / 9A) in 19 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

With Joey Daccord (upper body) activated from Injured Reserve, Setzka has been reassigned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL). The 28-year-old Stezka exclusively served as the backup to Philipp Grubauer while with Seattle. He has a 2.94 GAA and .906 SV% in 18 games (6-9-3) with Coachella Valley in the AHL.

Daccord has been activated from Injured Reserve and Ales Stezka has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL), indicating that Daccord will likely return to the crease shortly. Daccord has not played since December 22nd and had lost four straight outings (0-3-1) despite having a strong 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.51 GAA and .912 SV% in 23 games (12-9-2).

Miller exited Saturday's game after taking a puck to the throat and has since been diagnosed with a fractured larynx that will keep him out of the lineup for at least two weeks. The 32-year-old Miller was averaging 13:58 time-on-ice and had eight points (2G / 6A) in 34 games before his injury.

Shesterkin has been sidelined since December 31st and is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve at any time. A byproduct of poor team play, Shesterkin has struggled this season, posting an uncharacteristic 3.10 GAA and .906 SV% in 27 games (11-15-1). Jonathan Quick will start for the third time in four games since Shesterkin's absence.

The Blue Jackets have won two of their last three (2-1-0) and will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Merzlikins allowed four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Blues. The 30-year-old netminder has a 3.18 GAA and .888 SV% in 26 games this season (13-10-3). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +133 road underdogs against a Penguins club they defeated 6-2 on November 15th.

Middleton has not played since December 12th, missing 11 consecutive games, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Before his injury, the 28-year-old Middleton was averaging a career-high 20:36 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (5G / 8A), 76 blocks, and 42 hits in 29 games this season.

Bernard-Docker left practice early on Monday after suffering a high-ankle sprain. He needed assistance leaving the ice and will be out of the lineup until late February at the earliest. The 24-year-old Bernard-Docker was averaging 13:06 time-on-ice and had four points (1G / 3A) in 25 games before his injury.

George exited the Islanders' January 2nd 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs after only 8:07 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury and has not played since. The 20-year-old George is averaging 16:38 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 25 games this season.

The Stars are riding a four-game winning streak and will roll with Oettinger between the pipes on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Oettinger has been tremendous lately, posting a .932 SV% during a three-game winning streak. The 26-year-old netminder has a 2.35 GAA and .910 SV% in 29 games this season (19-9-1). The Stars enter Tuesday's contest as -162 road favorites against a Rangers club that defeated them 3-1 on December 20th.

Gaudreau joined Mats Zuccarello as Minnesota players to miss practice due to an illness on Monday, but both are expected to play on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 31-year-old Gaudreau has 16 points (7G / 9A) in 40 games this season but has only one point is his last 11 (0G / 1A).

Zuccarello showed no signs of illness in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, recording three points (2G / 1A), but was not available for practice on Monday. The 37-year-old Zuccarello is having another great season, scoring 25 points (10G / 15A) in 27 games.

The Blue Jackets will return to the traditional 12-forward, six-defenseman formation on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Harris going to the sidelines as a healthy scratch, being replacing by Kevin Labanc. The 24-year-old Harris recorded an assist in his most recent outing despite being limited to a season-low 4:32 time-on-ice. He has three points (1G / 2A) and is averaging 11:39 time-on-ice through 24 games this season.

The Blue Jackets will return to the traditional 12-forward, six-defenseman formation on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Labanc subbing in for Jordan Harris. The 29-year-old Labanc has not played since December 17th. He is averaging 10:38 time-on-ice and has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 27 games this season.