NHL Hockey Player News

Korpisalo has sat for the last four games and eight of the last nine games so he heads to Cleveland to get some playing time. Korpisalo returning to the AHL for now, suggests that Sergei Bobrovsky could start both games of their back-to-back on Thursday/Friday.

Bobrovsky allowed two goals on 37 shots in the Blue Jackets OT win in Toronto on Monday. After a rough stretch, Bobrovsky has settled back in, winning three of his last four while posting a 1.70 GAA and .948 SV%. Bobrovsky looks poised to start both games of the Blue Jackets back-to-back before their bye week. Bobrovsky is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .955 SV% in two games v.s the Sabres this season.

Koivu missed practice on Monday but was on the ice for the morning skate and is expected to be in the lineup tonight. Koivu has picked up one goal and four assists in his last six games and has 21 points (6G / 15A) in 42 games this season.

Reimer stopped 46 of 48 shots in the Panthers overtime loosen Columbus on Sunday. Reimer has now lost three in a row while allowing a combined nine goals on 93 shots (.903 SV%). Tonight he will face the Blues, who have struggled without Jaden Schwartz, going 6-8-1 in 15 games without the winger.

Lehner allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Sabres loss in Philadelphia on Sunday. Lehner was banged up after taking a shot up high in Sunday’s game and missed Monday’s practice, but it looks like he’s good-to-go tonight vs. the Jets. Lehner has lost four of his last five starts while posting a 3.58 GAA and .892 SV%.

Auvitu played 8:10 TOI on Sunday but will come back out of the lineup tonight in Nashville. Drake Caggiula will take his spot on the fourth line.

Caggiula was a healthy scratch in Chicago on Sunday but will replace Yohann Auvitu on the Oilers fourth line tonight. Caggiula has just nine points (5G / 4A) in 31 games this season.

Davidson replaced Sekera during the second game of the Oilers back-to-back over the weekend but will head back up to the press box tonight with Sekera back in.

Sekera was a healthy scratch in the second game of the Oilers’ back-to-back over the weekend, but will be back in tonight in Nashville. Sekera has picked up just one assist while averaging 18:15 TOI/GM since returning to the Oilers lineup in late-December.

Rinne stopped 26 of 29 shots in the Predators win in Los Angeles on Saturday. Rinne has had a good year, but had been struggling as of late so getting back in the win column was big for the veteran. Tonight Rinne will take on a struggling Oilers team on home-ice, where he has gone 11-3-2 with a 2.98 GAA and .907 SV% this season.

Talbot fave up four goal on 29 shots in the Oilers loss in Chicago on Sunday. Talbot has been terrible as of late, losing six of his last seven starts (1-5-1) while posting a terrible 4.18 GAA and .882 SV%. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to trust the 30-year-old netminder, who should probably be avoided tonight in Nashville.

Sundqvist has been out of the lineup for the last six games, but will replace Chris Thorburn tonight vs. the Panthers. Sundqvist has just three assists in 29 games this season.

Lowry is still dealing with an upper-body injury that forced him out of the lineup on Sunday. With Lowry out, Jack Roslovic will remain in the lineup for the second consecutive game.

Smith allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Flames win over the Ducks on Saturday. Smith has won three straight while allowing a combined eight goals on 97 shots (.918 SV%). Smith will make his third start against Minnesota this season—he has gone 0-1-1 with a 1.93 GAA and .925 SV% in the first two meetings.

Seabrook has had a tough season, collecting just 11 points (1G / 11A) in 41 games this season. The veteran defenseman as been held pointless in nine straight games, posting a minus-4 in the process. The Blackhawks will give him a breather, but his contract is looking worse by the day—Seabrook has six years beyond this season remaining on his deal with a $6.875M AAV.

After a difficult first half of the season because of injury, Stempniak’s season debut will have to wait until later in the week. The veteran will sit as a healthy scratch tonight but will appear in one of the Hurricanes back-to-back games on Thursday/Friday.

Aho was hurt over the weekend but practiced on Monday and took part in today’s morning skate. Head coach Bill Peters said that Aho “should be good to go” so look for the talented second-year forward to play in Tampa Bay. Aho has six goals and four assists (10 points) in his last seven games.

Gustafsson, 25, has picked up three goals and 14 assists (17 points) in 25 games with the IceHogs this season. There is no word whether or not Gustafsson will make his season debut this week, but if Cody Franson couldn’t get into the lineup then Gustafsson will likely have a tough time as well.

Franson has had a nice year in Chicago but the emergence of Jordan Oesterle made him disposable to the Blackhawks. However, clearing waivers increases his trade value for a team interested in acquiring him because now he can be assigned to the AHL if need be. Don’t be surprised if he gets traded in the next few days.