NHL Hockey Player News

Simek suffered a concussion in a collision with Sam Bennett on Monday. With Simek out on Wednesday, Joakim Ryan will draw back onto the blueline for just the second time in 15 games.

McNiven served as Antti Niemi’s backup for three games while Carey Price was out. With Price set to return on Thursday, McNiven heads back to Laval, where he has gone 4-4-1 with a 2.56 GAA and .884 SV%.

Price has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury but could start Thursday vs. the Canucks. Antti Niemi posted a 3.68 GAA and .881 SV% in those three games but went 2-1-0. It would be Price’s first start since December 22nd. The 31-year-old was 8-3-0 with a 2.42 GAA and .916 SV% in December.

Helm has missed the last 21 games with a shoulder injury that he suffered in New Jersey on November 17th. Helm will return on the Red Wings’ third line and skate with Luke Glendening and Andreas Athanasiou. He had just six points (1G / 5A) in 20 games before getting hurt.

Koskinen surrendered four goals on 36 shots in the Oilers loss to the Jets on Monday. Koskinen has fallen into a bit of a slump lately, losing four in a row while allowing a combined 16 goals on 115 shots (.861 SV%). The 30-year-old hasn’t been great on the road (3.25 GAA, .893 SV%) but a matchup with the Coyotes sets him up as a solid option tonight.

Hill gave up four goals on 41 shots in the Coyotes win in Anaheim last Saturday. Hill had a ridiculous stretch of games to start his NHL career but his game has fallen off as of late. Hill has allowed at least three goals in six straight games, giving up a total of 21 goals on 186 shots (.887 SV%). He just isn’t experienced enough to trust from a fantasy perspective, especially against Connor McDavid.

Gunnarsson has been out since November 16th but is ready to play on Thursday if the coaches call upon him. Gunnarsson had no points, just eight shots and a plus-2 rating in seven games before getting hurt.

Varlamov will not be available to serve as Philipp Grubauer’s backup on Wednesday, so Pavel Francouz was recalled on Tuesday. Consider Varlamov as questionable heading into Friday’s game against the Rangers.

Archibald has spent most of the season with Utica (AHL), where he has 11 goals and five assists (16 points) in 23 games. The 28-year-old forward, who stands at 6-foot-3, 210 lbs., Archibald has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 52 career NHL games.

Nilsson has gone 3-8-1 with a 3.09 GAA and .895 SV% in 12 games with the Canucks this season. With Craig Anderson out with a concussion the Senators are trying to upgrade their goaltending situation by swapping McKenna for the 28-year-old Nilsson. His career .905 SV% suggests that he won’t be too big of an upgrade though.

Pyatt has recorded just two assists, 29 shots and a minus-16 rating in 37 games this season—averaging 11:42 TOI/gm. Pyatt will switch locker rooms tonight but will likely serve as a healthy scratch against the team that just traded him. Pyatt could be on his wait to Utica (AHL) after clearing waivers at noon.

McKenna was set to serve as the Senators backup vs. Vancouver tonight but now he switches locker rooms and will be Jacob Markstrom’s backup vs. the Senators. McKenna has gone 1-4-1 with a 3.96 GAA and .897 SV% in 10 games with Ottawa this season.

Markstrom allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Canucks win in Calgary last Saturday. Markstrom was outstanding in December, going 8-1-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .943 SV% in nine games. The 28-year-old has been red-hot and is a must-start against a Senators team that ranks 30th in the NHL with 34 points (15-21-4) through 40 games.

Blackwood stopped all 25 shots that he he faced in the Devils shutout win over the Canucks on Monday. Blackwood has posted back-to-back shutouts and won three in a row while allowing just two goals on 104 shots (.981 SV%). Despite this impressive stretch, Blackwood remains a risky option in Dallas against a Stars with a potent top-line and an above average power-play.

Rust missed Monday’s game in Minnesota with a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Wednesday. Rust was back on the Penguins top line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel in the morning skate and will look to continue the torrid pace he was on before getting hurt—scoring eight goals with three assists (11 points) in his last nine games.

Murray allowed one goal on 31 shots in the Penguins win in St. Louis last Saturday. Murray has been sensational since returning to the Penguins crease, going 5-0-0 with a 1.38 GAA, .959 SV% and one shutout. Murray should be able to continue his hot stretch against a Rangers team that has scored the eighth fewest goals per game (2.79) in their first 38 games.

Bishop surrendered three goals on 38 shots in the Stars overtime loss to the Canadiens on Monday. Bishop has played very well as of late, going 3-1-1 while allowing just eight goals on 151 shots (.947 SV%). He makes for a great start again tonight vs. the 15-16-7 Devils at American Airlines Center, where Bishop is 8-3-2 with a 2.09 GAA and .933 SV%.

DeAngelo was in the lineup for the last two games but played just 11:56 TOI on Monday and will be replaced by Fredrik Claesson on Wednesday.

Claesson was a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace Tony DeAngelo on Wednesday. Claesson, who has two goals and one assist in 22 games, is expected to be paired with Kevin Shattenkirk.