NHL Hockey Player News

We should receive some sort of update on Tatar's status prior to New Jersey's game against the Capitals on Saturday. Tatar has three goals and five assists in 25 games this season.

Lafferty is officially considered unlikely to play against the Islanders on Saturday. Lafferty has just one goal and zero assists in 21 games this season.

Pickering was a late scratch on Wednesday due to an illness and will miss a second straight game on Friday. The 21-year-old rookie has one assist in four games this season.

The Penguins held on for a 5-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks in their previous outing, snapping a three-game losing skid. Jarry saved 25 of 29 shots (.862 SV%) and will return to the crease on Friday, looking to improve his 4.34 GAA and .868 SV% through seven games this season (2-3-1). The Penguins enter the action on Friday as +166 road underdogs against the Boston Bruins.

Lafferty exited Friday's game against the Vancouver Canucks after playing only 4:02 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. Lafferty has been held without a point in nine straight games.

Kirkland played only 1:05 time-on-ice before exiting Friday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old Kirkland has already played a career-high 20 games this season, averaging 10:08 time-on-ice and scoring eight points (2G / 6A).

Broberg has missed the last 12 games with a knee injury he suffered on November 2nd. The 23-year-old has been a full participant at practice this week and could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Granlund was a late scratch on Monday, with his absence being announced prior to warmups, and did not play on Wednesday. The 32-year-old Granlund has been excellent since joining the Sharks last season, scoring 84 points (21G / 63A) in 92 combined games.

Portillo was the third-round pick, 67th overall, of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. After a successful tenure with the University of Michigan, he has spent the last two seasons with the Ontario Reign (AHL). He has a 2.68 GAA and .906 SV% in six games with Ontario this season. The Kings enter the action on Friday as -209 road favorites against an Anaheim Ducks club with one of the least potent offences in the NHL, averaging only 2.6 goals per game.

Gibson missed the first five weeks of the season, recovering from an appendectomy, but has been terrific since making his debut. The 31-year-old goalie has a 2.57 GAA and .919 SV% in five games this season (4-0-1). The Ducks enter the action on Friday as +186 home underdogs against the Los Angeles Kings.

Grubauer will start for the first time since November 17th. The 33-year-old netminder has an ugly 3.11 GAA and .881 SV% in seven games this season (1-6-0). Seattle enters Friday's contest as -148 road favorites against the San Jose Sharks.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau was a last-minute scratch on Friday due to a lower-body injury, allowing Matt Martin to remain in the lineup after initially being announced out. The 32-year-old Pageau has 10 points (5G / 5A) in 23 games this season. He is considered day-to-day.

Ryan Winterton will draw into the lineup for his second game of the season, resulting in Sprong being a healthy scratch. Sprong has one goal in six games since joining Seattle earlier this month.

Daniel Sprong will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Winterton to re-enter the lineup. The 21-year-old Winterton has 10 games of NHL experience, one this season, but has yet to score a point. He has 15 points (7G / 8A) in 16 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) this season.

The Red Wings have struggled this season, posting a 10-10-2 record through 22 games, but Talbot has given them a chance to win on most nights. The veteran netminder boasts a 2.47 GAA and .923 SV% in 13 outings (6-4-2). The Red Wings enter the action on Friday as +167 home underdogs against the New Jersey Devils.

Markstrom struggled in his previous outing, allowing three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%), in a 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues. That said, he been solid lately, allowing three or fewer goals in 10 straight (7-3-0), posting a .915 SV%. The Devils enter the action on Friday as -187 road favorites against the Detroit Red Wings.

Vasilevskiy will not dress on Friday, the front end of a back-to-back, as Johansson will start for Tampa Bay and be backed up by recently recalled Matt Tomkins. The 29-year-old Johansson has been limited to only four appearances this season (1-1-1) and has struggled when called upon, posting an ugly 5.22 GAA and .856 SV%. Tampa Bay enters Friday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Nashville Predators club with the worst offense in the league, averaging only 2.3 goals per game.

Despite an absurdly disappointing season for the Nashville Predators, ranking dead-last in the Central Division (7-12-4), Saros has been solid between the pipes. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.58 GAA and .913 SV% in 19 games (6-10-3). The Predators enter the action on Friday as -131 home favorites against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Lankinen has a 2.56 GAA and .909 SV% in 15 games this season (10-3-2). The 29-year-old Lankinen has fallen off a bit from .923 SV% he had in his first nine games (7-0-2) but has still given the Canucks a chance to win on most nights. The Canucks enter the action on Friday as slight -108 road favorites against the Buffalo Sabres.

Luukkonen has bee solid between the pipes this season for the Sabres, posting a stellar 2.45 GAA and .914 SV% in 15 games (8-5-1). The Sabres enter the action on Friday as slight -102 home underdogs against the Vancouver Canucks.