NHL Hockey Player News

Staal missed Wednesday’s game for the birth of his child, but he will replace Dylan McIlrath in the lineup tonight. He has just 13 points (2G / 11A) in 56 games this season.

Raanta allowed five goal s on 34 shots in the Rangers win over the Kings on last Friday. This will be Raanta’s third start in 2016 and he comes in at 4-4-2 with a 2.57 GAA and .902 SV% on the season. In his first start against the Maple Leafs, Raanta allowed three goals on 26 shots in a 4-3 win, but that Maple Leafs team looked nothing like the one he’ll face tonight.

Spezza has missed the last six games with an upper-body injury, but he was a full participant in Thursday’s morning skate and is expected to play tonight in Arizona. Spezza has 40 points (18G / 22A) in 52 games this season.

Gibson stopped 16 of 17 shots before getting hurt in the Ducks win in Chicago last Saturday. Gibson is 1-1-0 with a 3.68 GAA and .877 SV% in three games since the All-Star break. Tonight he will make his second start vs. the Canucks—in the first meeting he stopped all 25 shots that he faced to record his first shutout of the season.

Gibson missed the last two games with an upper-body injury that he suffered last Saturday in Chicago. Gibson’s return was foreshadowed by Anton Khudobin’s return to San Diego (AHL) on Wednesday. He shut the Canucks out earlier in the year, so don't be surprised if he gets the nod tonight.

Quick allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Kings loss in Washington on Tuesday. It was a strong outing for Quick, who missed the three previous games. In his first start vs. the Blues, Quick allowed one goal on 16 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss. He comes in with a 14-5-1 with a 2.06 GAA and .932 SV% in 20 starts on the road this season.

Varlamov allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Avs’ win over the Canadiens on Wednesday. Varlamov has won three of his last four starts while posting a 2.85 GAA and .918 SV%. Tonight he faces the Canucks for the second time this month. Varly allowed three goals on 28 shots in a 3-1 loss to Vancouver back on February 9th.

Pickard allowed one goal on 18 shots after replacing Semyon Varlamov in the Avs’ 4-1 loss in Buffalo. Picked has gone 3-3-1 with a 2.75 GAA and .917 SV% this season, including 2-2-0 with a 3.35 GAA and .891 SV% on the road. He’ll take on an Oilers team that has lost six of their last seven games.

Talbot allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Oilers loss to the Ducks on Tuesday. Talbot has dropped four of his last five starts while posting a 3.62 GAA and .881 SV%. Tonight he will make his second start against the Wild—he allowed four goals on 28 shots in a 4-3 loss back in October, but the Wild have struggled as of late.

Smith has been out with an upper-body injury since December 8th, but will travel on their upcoming road trip. Smith’s return couldn’t come at a better time after Anders Lindback went down with an upper-body injury earlier in the week.

Talbot allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Oilers loss to the Ducks on Tuesday. Talbot has dropped four of his last five starts while posting a 3.62 GAA and .881 SV%. Tonight he will make his second start against the Wild—he allowed four goals on 28 shots in a 4-3 loss back in October, but the Wild have struggled as of late.

Rask stopped 28 of 29 shots in the Bruins win in Columbus on Tuesday. It was a nice bounce-back performance from Rask, who allowed five goals in his previous outing. Rask is 4-1-1 with a 3.20 GAA and .910 SV% in seven starts since the All-Star break. Tonight he faces a Predators team that has lost three of his last four.

Miller allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Canucks loss to the Maple Leafs last Saturday. Jacob Markstrom started on Monday and lost, so Miller will go tonight vs. the Ducks. Miller is 1-2-1 with a 1.74 GAA and .944 SV% in February and 1-1-0 with a 2.64 GAA and .914 SV% in two starts against Anaheim this season.

Niemi allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Stars win in Nashville on Monday. Kari Lehtonen started on Tuesday, but it looks like Niemi will go tonight in Arizona. Niemi is 3-1-0 with a 3.23 GAA and .871 SV% in February and comes in at 8-5-5 with a 2.81 GAA and .903 SV% on the road this season. The Coyotes come in having lost six of their last eight.

Holtby allowed four goals on 25 shots in the Capitals loss in Dallas on Saturday. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Holtby, who was given Tuesday night off. Holtby will make his 46th start of the season and he comes in at 35-6-3 on the season. The 26-year-old has gone 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .951 SV% in his first two start against the Islanders this season.

Kassian will miss a second straight game with an illness, which means Anton Lander will remain in the lineup. Kassian is day-to-day and is expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday.

Bailey, 20, did not have a point in four games with the Sabres. He heads back to Rochester where he has 23 points (10G / 13A) in 47 games this season.

Kane was a healthy scratch on Tuesday after missing Monday’s practice but he will be back in the lineup on Friday. Kane has three goals in his last two games and he has picked up six goals on 45 shots (13.3 shooting%) in his last eight games.

Schneider allowed five goals on 25 shots in the Devils loss to the Flyers on Tuesday. Tonight will be Schneider’s fourth start vs. the Islanders and he comes in at 3-2-1 with a 2.13 GAA and .926 SV% in February. In the three previous meetings with the Isles, the 29-year-old has gone 1-2-0 with a 2.77 GAA and .910 SV%.

Elliott stopped 17 of 18 shots in the Blues win over the Stars on Tuesday. Elliott extended his winning streak to three games, posting a 1.66 GAA and .943 SV% over that span. He has made 15 starts in a row, going 10-3-2 and turning himself into a No. 1 fantasy hockey netminder with Jake Allen sidelined. Tonight he faces an L.A Kings team that has lost three of their last four.