NHL Hockey Player News

Pyyhtia will be the odd-man out on Friday as James van Riemsdyk draws back into the Blue Jackets lineup. Pyyhtia has just one goal and one assist in 18 games this season.

Merzlikins will make his 17th start of the season when the Blue Jackets travel to Vancouver to take on the Canucks on Friday. Merzlikins took the loss his last time out, allowing two goals on 21 shots in a 3-0 defeat in Calgary on Tuesday. The 30-year-old netminder owns an 8-6-2 record to go along with an .894 SV% and 3.00 GAA on the season. Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets enter action in Vancouver on Friday at +185 on the money line.

The Maple Leafs are riding a three-game winning streak and will turn to Stolarz between the pipes on Friday against the Washington Capitals. Stolarz was excellent in his previous outing, saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, adding to his stellar 2.23 GAA and .924 SV% through 14 games this season (8-4-2). The Maple Leafs enter Friday's contest as -142 home favorites against a Capitals club coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks.

Lindgren has won his last two contests despite allowing nine goals combined and will return to the crease on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 30-year-old Lindgren has a 2.95 GAA and .890 SV% in 12 games this season (7-5-0). The Capitals are coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks and enter Friday's contest as +131 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs squad that defeated them 4-3 on November 13th.

Burakovsky will fill in for Yanni Gourde, who is out with an undisclosed injury, and is expected to play alongside Jaden Schwartz and Matty Beniers on the Kraken's first line. Burakovsky has just a single goal to go along with eight assists in 25 games this season.

Gourde was a late scratch on Friday with the team not announcing his absence until about an hour before puck drop. Andre Burakovsky will draw back into the lineup and is expected to take Gourde's place on the Kraken's top line.

Mahura will be the odd-man out on Friday as Ryker Evans is set to return from a hand injury. Mahura has no goals and just one assist in 21 games this season.

Evans will make his first appearance since November 30th when the Kraken travel to New Jersey on Friday. The second-year defenceman was off to a great start before the injury, scoring three goals and adding 13 assists across 25 games. Josh Mahura will come out of the lineup to make room for Evans.

The Kraken will hand the reigns over to Grubauer on Friday as they get set for the tail-end of their back-to-back. It's Grubauer's first appearance since a dreadful performance on November 29th when he surrendered seven goals on 26 shots in an 8-5 loss to the Sharks. The 33-year-old netminder has been relegated to the role of backup thanks to his woeful .862 SV% and 3.62 GAA on the season. He'll have his hands full again on Friday as the Kraken enter action at +225 on the money line.

Shesterkin's $11.5 million AAV makes him the highest paid goaltender in NHL history. The 28-year-old Shesterkin won the Vezina trophy in the 2021-22 season and has a 2.48 GAA and .920 SV% across 231 career games (143-68-18). Considered by many to be the best goalie in the NHL, Shesterkin has struggled lately, uncharacteristically allowing three or more goals in seven of his last nine (2-7-0), posting an ugly .882 SV%.

Eriksson Ek nearly made it through the entire game on Tuesday, exiting due to a lower-body injury in overtime after playing 21:11 time-on-ice, and has not played since. The 27-year-old Eriksson Ek was off to a slow start to the 2024-25 season, scoring only 13 points (5G / 8A) in 22 games, but had four points (0G / 4A) in his last four contests.

Gibson was solid in a losing effort, saving 29 of 32 shots (.906 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, and will return to the crease on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. The 31-year-old Gibson has been solid in the Ducks' crease this season, posting a 2.57 GAA and .915 SV% in seven games (4-2-1). Anaheim enters Friday's contest as +174 home underdogs against a Minnesota club riding a four-game winning streak.

Zegras left Wednesday's game vs. Vegas after just 6:08 TOI with an ugly-looking lower-body injury and did not return. It is a tough loss for the Ducks as the 23-year-old has been playing better as of late, with seven points (3G/4A) in his last nine games.

Whitecloud has been out of the lineup for a week and remains day-to-day. The 28-year-old Whitecloud was averaging 17:23 time-on-ice before his injury, recording two points (1G / 1A), 40 blocks, and 33 hits in 21 games.

Johnson will play his first game with Minnesota after signing with the team in the off-season. He scored two goals and added three assists in 42 games with the Blackhawks last season, and has totaled nine points in 18 AHL games this season.

Minnesota has won four straight and will roll with Gustavsson between the pipes on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. Gustavsson has been tremendous this season, making a case for the Vezina trophy with a sublime 2.04 GAA and .929 SV% through 19 games this season (12-4-3). Minnesota enters Friday's contest as -191 road favorites against an Anaheim club they defeated 5-2 on November 8th when Gustavsson saved 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%).

Trade talks have surrounded Trouba since the offseason and a deal has finally landed, sending him to the Anaheim Ducks. The 30-year-old Trouba was the captain of the Rangers, averaging 20:00 time-on-ice, and recording six points (0G / 6A), 68 blocks, and 39 hits in 24 games. Trouba will have one year remaining in his contract after the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.