NHL Hockey Player News

Cave has been held pointless in the last four games and has seen his playing time drop. With David Backes set to return from suspension, Cave will serve as a healthy scratch.

Braun came out of the Wednesday’s game after playing just 6:10 TOI and heads to IR ahead of Saturday’s game. Jacob Middleton was called up from San Jose (AHL) and is expected to make his NHL debut with both Braun and Radek Simek sidelined with injuries.

With Justin Braun heading to IR, Middleton could make his NHL debut on Saturday. The former seventh-round pick has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 26 games with the Barracuda this season.

Quick was lit up for six goals on 33 shots in the Kings loss to the Lightning on Thursday. It was an ugly night for the Kings and Quick was hung out to dry. Tonight he faces the Oilers for the second time on home-ice, where he is 4-6-1 with a 2.99 GAA, .901 SV% and one shutout. Quick allowed three goals on 34 shots in a 3-2 loss in his first start vs. Edmonton (Nov.29).

Malgin was in the lineup for the last six games but will be replaced by Michael Haley in the lineup on Saturday.

Haley will play Saturday after being a healthy scratch for the last three games. Haley, who has one goal, two assists and 13 PIMS in 17 games this season, will replace Denis Malgin.

Kiselevich was in the lineup for the last two games but will serve as a healthy scratch Saturday to allow Chris Wideman to make his Panthers debut.

Wideman is on his third team of the season after bing acquired from the Oilers. Wideman has two goals and five assists (seven points) in 24 games between the Senators and Oilers this year, showcasing his has the ability to put up decent numbers from the back-end.

Lehner allowed two goals on 21 shots in the Islanders win over the Blackhawks on Thursday. Lehner has won six in a row while allowing just five goals on 164 shots (.970 SV%). Lehner has been absolutely lights out as of late and draws a pretty solid matchup in St. Louis. The Blues rank 23rd in the NHL in scoring (2.82 GF/pg) through 23 games.

Rittich has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury but is set to return to Flames crease on Saturday afternoon. Rittich allowed five goals on 33 shots in the Flames win over the Sharks on Monday. Rittich finished December at 5-2-2 with a 2.64 GAA and .915 SV%. Today he faces a Flyers team that has lost five in a row while being outscored 20-to-10.

Dubnyk allowed three goals on 41 shots in the Wild’s win in Toronto on Thursday afternoon. Dubnyk moved to 7-7-0 with a 2.65 GAA and .913 SV% on the road with that win and this will be his fifth afternoon start of the season. It may not carry any weight, but Dubnyk is 3-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and .936 SV% in the previous four day games.

Tarasenko missed Thursday’s game vs. the Capitals but will be back on the lineup on Saturday. Tarasenko, who will skate with Tyler Bozak and Zach Sanford, has 11 goals and 11 assists (22 points) in 37 games this season.

Patrick has missed the last four games but is set to return to the Wild lineup on Saturday afternoon. Patrick has had another slow start, collecting just 11 points (5G / 6A) in 33 games this season.

Pettersson left Thursday’s game in Montreal with a lower-body and will not play Saturday in Toronto. With Pettersson out, Brandon Sutter will skate with Nikolay Goldobin and Brock Boeser. Pettersson is day-to-day.

Ullmark allowed three goals on 38 shots in the Sabres win over the Panthers on Thursday. Ullmark has won four straight games while posting a 1.99 GAA and .944 SV%. The 25-year-old has had a very nice season to-date, going 9-1-3 with a 2.74 GAA and .922 SV%. He stopped 35 of 37 shots in a 4-2 win in his first game vs. Boston.

Markstrom allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Canucks 2-0 loss in Montreal on Thursday. Markstrom hasn’t lost two in a row since November 27/29 but that could happen tonight in Toronto. The Maple Leafs are one of the most dangerous teams in the NHL and the Canucks will be without their star rookie Elias Pettersson.

Allen allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Blues win over the Capitals on Thursday. The win snapped a brief two-game losing streak for Allen, who comes into Saturday’s game at 8-7-2 with a 3.64 GAA and .885 SV% on home-ice. Tonight he will try to slow down an Islanders team that has won five in a row and seven of their last eight.

Reimer stopped all 12 shots that he faced after replacing Roberto Luongo in the Panthers come-from-behind shootout win in Detroit on Monday. Reimer has strung together three straight wins, stopping 72 of the 76 shots (.947 SV%) that he has faced. In his first start against the Blue Jackets, the 30-year-old allowed five goals on 32 shots in a 5-4 loss (Oct.11).

Rittich has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury but is set to return to Flames crease on Saturday afternoon. Rittich allowed five goals on 33 shots in the Flames win over the Sharks on Monday. Rittich finished December at 5-2-2 with a 2.64 GAA and .915 SV%. Today he faces a Flyers team that has lost five in a row while being outscored 20-to-10.