NHL Hockey Player News

Lapierre was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Capitals not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Bogdan Trineyev will play in his place.

With Darcy Kuemper on injured reserve, the Kings will opt against giving Pheonix Copley his season debut and instead turn to Forsberg for the second time in as many nights. Forsberg and the Kings took the loss on Wednesday, with Forsberg allowing three goals on 28 shots. The Kings enter action on Thursday at +175 on the money line.

Vasilevskiy was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has not played since December 2nd, but his team has treaded water without him, going 2-4-1 in seven games. Before his injury, Vasilevskiy was having a season worthy of Vezina consideration, posting a 2.31 GAA and .916 SV% in 19 games (11-6-2). The Lightning enter action on Thursday at -200 on the money line.

Brandon Hagel (upper body) will not play on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings, allowing James to draw back into the lineup. The 23-year-old James has five points (2G / 3A) in 20 games this season.

Goncalves has not played in over a week, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 24-year-old forward has seven points (2G / 5A) in 29 games this season.

Rooney recently made his season debut with Utah, scoring a goal, but has been reassigned to Tucson (AHL). The 32-year-old veteran of 331 NHL games has seven points (6G / 1A) in 11 games with Tucson this season.

Santini has regularly been recalled when injuries arise on Tampa's blueline this season, but with Ryan McDonagh expected to returned from injury, he has been reassigned to Syracuse (AHL). The 30-year-old Santini has one assist in eight games with the Lightning this season.

Kirkland started the season with the Flames, but has been with the Wranglers (AHL) since mid November, where he has seven points (5G / 2A) in 14 games. The 29-year-old Kirkland scored eight points (2G / 6A) in a career-high 21 games last season. He has one assist through nine games in 2025-26.

Pettersson has not played since December 5th and remains day-to-day, likely to miss a sixth straight game on Friday against the New York Islanders. The 27-year-old Pettersson has 22 points (8G / 14A) in 28 games this season, but was held off the scoresheet in three straight before his injury.

Recently returned from a four-week absence due to a lower-body injury, it was widely believed that the Canucks might ease the injury-prone Demko back into the crease, but he will tend the twine for a fourth straight game on Friday. The Canucks played poorly in Demko's absence, so it has been difficult for them to part with his services, given his excellent 1.35 GAA and .938 SV% in three games (2-1-0) since returning. He is coming off his first shutout of the season, a 23-save performance in a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers.

Oettinger has lost two straight contests (0-2-0), allowing six goals on 52 combined shots (.885 SV%), and will return to the crease on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. He has a 2.54 GAA and .907 SV% in 22 games this season (14-6-2). The American goalie is celebrating his 27th birthday on Thursday and hopes to do so with a win against a Sharks team he helped defeat 4-1 two weeks ago. The Stars enter the game as sizable -193 road favorites.

Oettinger has lost two straight contests (0-2-0), allowing six goals on 52 combined shots (.885 SV%), and will return to the crease on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The American goalie has a 2.54 GAA and .907 SV% in 22 games this season (14-6-2). Oettinger hopes to celebrate his 27th birthday on Thursday with a win against a Sharks team they defeated 4-1 two weeks ago. The Stars enter the game as sizeable -193 road favorites.

Skinner was a healthy scratch numerous times with the Oilers last season and he hoped for more playing time with the up-and-coming Sharks this season, but seen more of the same, returning to the sidelines as a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 33-year-old Skinner has seven points (4G / 3A) in 22 games this season.

Dellandra is battling an upper-body injury, but will power through to play against his former team, the Dallas Stars. The 25-year-old bottom-six forward is averaging 14:52 time-on-ice and has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 34 games this season.

The Sharks have won three straight, and four of their last five (4-1-0), and will turn to Nedeljkovic to tend the twine on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old Nedeljkovic was solid in his most recent outing, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has been serviceable in a supporting role for the Sharks this season, posting a 2.50 GAA and .907 SV% in his last 13 games (5-7-1). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as +169 home underdogs against a Stars team that defeated them 4-1 two weeks ago.

Bean has not played since suffering an injury on December 6th and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery. The 27-year-old Bean has two points (1G / 1A) and is averaging 15:57 time-on-ice in 16 games this season.

Othmann has only played one game with the Rangers this season and will draw back into the lineup for the first time since October 26th. He has 10 points (4G / 6A) in 19 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack.