NHL Hockey Player News

Grubauer stopped all eight shots he faced after replacing Braden Holtby in the Capitals loss in Anaheim on Tuesday. With Holtby struggling, Grubauer will get the nod tonight in Los Angeles. He had a sluggish start to the year but has really turned thing around in the last few months. He comes into Thursday at 3-4-3 with a 2.64 GAA and .916 SV% on the road this year.

Jones was yanked after he allowed three goals on 13 shots in the Sharks loss to the Blue Jackets on Sunday. It was a terrible outing for Jones, who will be given a chance to get back on track right away as he starts vs. the Blues tonight. Jones is 1-0-0 vs. St. Louis this season and is 13-7-2 with a 2.52 GAA and .914 SV% on home ice this season.

Gibson turned aside 47 of 50 shots in the Islanders overtime loss in Pittsburgh on Saturday. It was a tough luck loss for Gibson, who was making his season debut, following 33 strong games in Bridgeport (AHL). He will look for his second NHL win in his sixth career game tonight in Edmonton.

Gibson stopped all 36 shots that he faced in the Ducks shutout win over the Capitals on Tuesday. Gibson has won six in a row while allowing just nine goals on 207 shots (.957 SV%). Gibson has been excellent as of late, but draws a tough matchup in Nashville. In his first start vs. the Predators, Gibson allowed four goals on 29 shots in a 5-2 loss in early-November.

Fleury allowed three goals on 20 shots in the Golden Knights loss in Columbus on Tuesday. Fleury has lost three of his last four starts while giving up 13 goals on 137 shots (.905 SV%), but tonight he will make his fourth consecutive start. The 33-year-old has a great matchup in Detroit—he comes in at 10-4-1 with a 2.12 GAA and .934 SV% on the road.

Andrighetto has been sidelined since December 31st, but will return on the Avs’ fourth line on Thursday. Andrighetto, who will replace Nail Yakupov in the lineup, has 18 points (6G / 12A) in 37 games this season.

Schmidt will miss his fourth straight game but will join the team in Buffalo on Friday and is expected to re-join the lineup on Saturday. With Schmidt still out, Brad Hunt will remain in the lineup in Detroit.

Smith was hurt in Tuesday’s game in Columbus and will come out of the lineup tonight vs. the Red Wings. With Smith out, Tomas Tatar, who is making his return to Detroit, will skate on the top line with William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault. There’s no word on how many games Smith is expected to miss.

Zibanejad missed Tuesday’s game vs. the Jets, but will draw back in tonight in Tampa Bay. Zibanejad will take his spot on the Rangers top line and return with 19 goals and 15 assists (34 points) in 57 games this season.

Varlamov allowed two goals on 27 shots in Colorado’s loss in Chicago on Tuesday. Varlamov has lost two in a row while allowing a combined six goals on 58 shots (.897 SV%). The 29-year-old will go head-to-head with Joonas Korpisalo in Columbus—he has gone 6-9-3 with a 3.32 GAA and .894 SV% on the road in 2017-18.

Tanev was a healthy scratch after being activated from IR but will draw in for Mark Scheifele tonight in New Jersey. Tanev will be playing in his first game since February 3rd and returns to the lineup with 12 points (4G / 8A) in 46 games this season.

There’s no word what is ailing Perreault but he is a game time decision for Thursday’s game in New Jersey. The Jets will already be without Mark Scheifele, so missing Perreault will put them down two top-9 forwards vs. the Devils.

Hutchinson will come up and backup Connor Hellebuyck in New Jersey after Steve Mason suffered a lower-body injury in today’s morning skate. Hutchinson’s stay with Winnipeg will be determined by how serious Mason’s injury is.

Mason posted a 31-save shutout in his return to the Jets crease on Tuesday but is already out with another injury after suffering a lower-body injury in Thursday’s morning skate. Michael Hutchinson has been recalled from the AHL and will backup Connor Hellebuyck in New Jersey.

Scheifele was hurt in New York on Tuesday and will not play tonight vs. the Devils. Scheifele’s injury will force the Jets to shuffle their lines, but Blake Wheeler will stay on the wing this time.

Hellebuyck allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Jets win in Carolina on Saturday. Steve Mason gave him the night off on Tuesday, so Hellebuyck will return to the crease tonight in New Jersey. Hellebuyck stopped 34 of 36 shots in a 5-2 win in his first start vs. the Devils in mid-November.

Rutta has had a nice offensive season, picking up six goals and 13 assists (19 points) in his first 43 NHL games. Rutta is also expected to return to the Blackhawks lineup on Thursday—he missed the last four games with a lower-body injury.

Hyka was up on an emergency recall last week but has been officially recalled for tonight’s game in Detroit. The 24-year-old has one goal and one assist in six games with the Golden Knights and 34 points (12G / 21A) in 35 games with the Wolves. Hyka will skate on a line with Erik Haula and David Perron.