NHL Hockey Player News

Condon stopped all 31 shots that he faced in a shutout win over the Capitals on Tuesday. Not a bad way to follow up a seven-goal against performance on Sunday. Condon has now won four of his las five starts and has posted a .918 SV% with two shutouts in that stretch. He isn’t the best option, but you can do worse as he faces a struggling Flames team.

Budaj allowed one goal on 25 shots in the Kings’ win in New Jersey on Tuesday. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for Budaj, who is tied for eighth in the NHL with 21 wins on the year. Budaj has filled in admirably for Jonathan Quick and heads to Carolina with a 7-9-2 record despite posting a 1.89 GAA and .931 SV% in 21 road games.

Nilsson allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Sabres’ win over the Red Wings last Friday. Nilsson has gone 3-3-1 with a 2.59 GAA and .924 SV% in his last seven appearances and comes into Dallas with a 2-5-3 record on the road. Nilsson has been a more than serviceable backup this season, but is risky start tonight.

Hellebuyck was yanked after he gave up three goals on six shots in the Jets’ loss in Arizona on January 13th. After he was pulled twice in a row, allowing six goals on 13 shots (.538 SV%), Hellebuyck sat and watched six games in a row. Tonight he gets back in in Chicago and he is 3-0-0 with a 0.67 GAA, .977 SV% and one shutout against them this season.

Rowney, 27, has registered 10 goals and 11 assists (21 points) in 24 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. Rowney could make his NHL debut tonight if Patric Hornqvist (lower-body) can’t play.

Rinne allowed two goals on 23 shots in the Predators’ win in Minnesota on Sunday. Rinne has won four of his last five starts while posting a .943 SV%. The Predators will host a Blue Jackets team that has fallen back to the pack in recent weeks and Rinne comes in at 10-4-4 with a 2.13 GAA and .923 SV% on home ice this season.

Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 24 shots in the Blue Jackets’ loss in Brooklyn on Tuesday. The loss moved Bobrovsky to 4-3-0 with a 2.46 GAA and .914 SV%in seven starts this month. Bobrovsky’s play has fallen off a bit, but he remains 11-4-2 with a 2.34 GAA and .917 SV% on the road this season and a strong option whenever he gets the nod.

Smith surrendered two goals on 25 shots in the Coyotes win over the Panthers on Monday. Smith has now won two in a row and three of his last five, but remains a borderline fantasy option in standard leagues. Tonight he’ll take on a Canucks team that he has gone 0-2-0 with a 4.84 GAA and .829 SV% against so far this season.

Holtby allowed one goal on 26 shots in the Capitals’ win over the Hurricanes on Monday. Holtby has been dominant for most of January, winning eight games with a .935 SV% and three shutouts. He’ll look to carry his play into the All-Star break with a win over the Devils.

Elliott allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Flames’ loss in Toronto on Monday. Chad Johnson lost again on Tuesday, so they’ll go back to Elliott tonight in Ottawa. The Flames are sliding big time and Elliott comes in having allowed eight goals on 81 shots (.901 SV%) in his last three starts.

The Penguins called Hornqvist day-to-day on Wednesday, but he was on the ice for an optional morning skate and is now a game-time decision for tonight’s game. The Penguins could elect to hold him out and get him some rest over the All-Star break and if he sits, Carter Rowney will make his NHL debut.

Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Lightning’s win in Chicago on Tuesday. It was a great game for the young netminder, who was in need of a confidence boost. He will be rewarded with another game tonight in Florida. The 22-year-old is 4-7-0 with a 3.01 GAA and .908 SV% on the road this season.