NHL Hockey Player News

Orpik will miss a second straight game with a lower-body injury. He is listed as day-to-day.

Bolland missed the last eight games with a combination of an upper-body injury and illness. Bolland will start out as the fourth-line left wing tonight vs. the Jets.

Klingberg left last Saturday’s game early, but was able to play on Tuesday. In Tuesday’s game he suffered an upper-body injury and it doesn’t look like he will play tonight. Expect Jason Demers to be back in; replacing Klingberg.

Bouwmeester was expected to play on Tuesday but ended up being scratched for a second straight game. However, tonight it is official, he will be back. Bouwmeester has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 56 games.

Little came onto the ice in a no-contact jersey late in the Jets morning skate, which suggests he will miss his third straight game. Little remains day-to-day, so monitor his status before Saturday’s game in Tampa Bay.

Lack made 29 saves on 30 shots in the Canucks win over the Ducks on Monday. He has won back-to-back games while stopping 67 of 70 shots against the Ducks and Sharks. He’ll have another tough matchup tonight, but he has gone 4-1-1 with a 2.43 GAA and.927 SV% since Ryan Miller got hurt.

Miller is two and a half weeks into a 4-6 week timetable, so according to Willie Desjardins it is looking like he will be back closer to the end of that time frame than the beginning. Since he was injured, Eddie Lack has gone 4-1-1 with a 2.43 GAA and .927 SV%, so the Canucks appear to be in good hands.

Niemi allowed one goal on 40 shots in the Sharks 2-1 shootout win over the Penguins on Monday. It was a phenomenal outing for Niemi, who has enjoyed a nice start to March, going 2-1-0 with a 1.97 GAA and .941 SV%. Tonight marks his second start of the season vs. Nashville—he stopped all 29 shots that he faced for a 2-0 shutout win in their first meeting.

Varlamov missed Tuesday’s game vs. the Kings, but will be back in the crease tonight vs. New Jersey. He enters play having won three in a row while recording a 0.69 GAA and .981 SV%. Tonight is definitely a winnable game for Varly—the Devils have lost four of seven.

Bishop stopped all 19 shots that he faced in the Lightning’s 1-0 shutout win over the Canadiens on Tuesday. It was a statement win for the Lightning and Bihsop’s third shutout of the campaign. Bishop has won six of his last seven starts while posting a 1.57 GAA and .940 SV%.

Lehtonen stopped 25 of 26 shots in the Stars 2-1 win over the Flyers on Tuesday. In his first start against the Hurricanes he was shelled for four goals on 16 shots in a 6-4 loss. Carolina is a team he has historically struggled against, going 7-12-1 with a 3.44 GAA and. 893 SV% in 21 starts vs. the Canes.

Mason made 37 saves on 39 shots in the Flyers 2-1 loss to the Stars on Tuesday. He has now dropped three consecutive games while giving up 10 goals on 97 shots (.897 SV%). He draws a rough matchup vs. the Blues, but he was able to come away with the W after making 28 saves vs. St. Louis last Thursday.

Hammond stopped 24 shots on 26 shots in the Senators win over the Sabres last Friday. Craig Anderson started the last two games, but it will be Hammond tonight in Montreal. It won’t be any easy game, but Hammond has been excellent, going 7-0-1 with a 1.43 GAA and .954 SV% since being recalled.

Hutchinson was pulled after he allowed four goals on seven shots in the Jets 5-4 loss to the Blues on Tuesday. Tonight he will get the nod in Florida. In his first start against the Panthers, he made 25 saves in a dominant 8-2 win.

Ekblad missed Saturday’s game because of an illness, but he will be back in the lineup tonight vs.the Jets. Ekblad has 11 goals and 23 assists (34 points) in 65 games.

Ehrhoff will miss his sixth straight game, but he has been cleared and could be back in the lineup on Saturday vs. the Bruins.

Klein was injured while blocking a shot last night and will return to New York for evaluation. With Klein in New York it seems unlikely that he will play on Saturday in Buffalo. If he is out, Matt Hunwick will get back into the lineup.

Khudobin allowed three goals on 19 shots in the Hurricanes loss to the Wild on March 6th. He starts tonight vs. the Stars at home—Khudobin has gone 4-5-0 with a 2.01 GAA and .921 SV% at PNC Arena this season. Dallas has won three of their last four.

Fleury stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Penguins 2-1 shootout loss to the Sharks on Monday. He has stopped 60 of the last 61 (.984 SV%) shots that he has faced. Tonight will be his second start vs. the Oilers—he stopped all 22 shots that he faced in a 2-0 shutout win in their first meeting.

Brown has missed the last three games but will be back in the Lightning lineup tonight in Boston. He has five points (2G / 3A) in 39 games this season.