NHL Hockey Player News

Mrazek allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Red Wings overtime win against the Predators on Saturday. Mrazek has won two in a row despite allowing a combined eight goals on 64 shots (.875 SV%). The Red Wings had a lack of offence to start the season, but are now averaging 3.56 goals per game in their last nine games. The return of their offence and Montreal being on a back-to-back make Mrazek a solid start tonight.

Montoya made 22 saves on 23 shots in the Panthers win in Columbus last Friday. Montoya has gone 3-1-1 with a rock solid 2.09 GAA and .926 SV% on the season. Tonight will be the second time he faces the Capitals this season. In their first meeting he stopped 25 of 27 shots in a 2-1 OT loss. He catches a break tonight with Philipp Grubauer starting instead of Braden Holtby.

Bishop made 17 saves on 18 shots after coming in for Andrei Vasilevskiy in Sunday’s loss in Los Angeles. Bishop has played extremely well as of late and no longer appears to be in jeopardy of losing a bunch of starts to Vasilevskiy. Bishop has gone 5-1-0 with a 1.39 GAA and .952 SV% in his last seven appearances and should make for a good start tonight—he is 6-0-3 in his career vs. Ottawa.

Blandísi, 21, was a sixth round pick in the 2012 NHL draft. The 6-foot, 200 lbs. centre has registered seven goals and nine assists (16 points) in 18 games in his first season in the AHL. He had 52 goals and 60 assists (112 points) in 68 games with Barrie (OHL) last year. He could make his NHL debut on Friday vs. the Red Wings.

Zajac has missed the last two games and did not travel with the team to Toronto for Thursday’s game. His movement to IR made room on the roster to call up Joseph Blandisi from Albany (AHL). His movement to IR is retroactive to December 3rd, so he is eligible to return whenever he is healthy.

Hamhuis was hit right near the mouth by a Dan Boyle slapshot and immediately left the ice and was taken to hospital. He was held at the hospital overnight and will likely miss an extended period of time.

Landeskog was scratched in Wednesday's game against the Penguins. Landeskog was expected to play but did not come out for warmups and ended up being scratched with Mikhail Grigorenko returning to the lineup. Consider Landeskog as day-to-day until the Avalanche release more information.

Couture was playing in just his second game after missing 23 with a broken fibula. Exiting Wednesday's game sparks speculation that Couture may have suffered a setback. The details are limited at this point, so expect an update on Thursday or Friday.

McElhinney allowed two goals on seven shots after replacing Sergei Bobrovsky in the Blue Jackets OT loss to the Kings on Tuesday. Bobrovsky will miss three weeks with a groin strain, so McElhinney will become the starter, including tonight in Winnipeg. McElhinney has gone 0-4-1 with a 2.77 GAA and .905 SV% in four starts and three relief appearance this season.

Bobrovsky was injured late in Tuesday's overtime loss to the Kings and will be out three the month of December. Curtis McElhinney becomes the Blue Jackets' starter through the rest of December, beginning Thursday in Winnipeg.

Miller allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Canucks victory over the Sabres on Monday. Miller snapped a three-game losing streak, but was just his eighth win on the year. Miller has gone 4-4-3 with a 2.54 GAA and .915 SV% at home this season, but his recent struggles and tough matchup with Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers, make him a scary start tonight.

Miller allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Canucks victory over the Sabres on Monday. Miller snapped a three-game losing streak, but was just his eighth win on the year. Miller has gone 4-4-3 with a 2.54 GAA and .915 SV% at home this season, but his recent struggles and tough matchup with Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers, make him a scary start tonight.

Lundqvist stopped 23 of 24 shots in the Rangers win over the Senators on Sunday. Lundqvist has stopped 59 of the last 61 shots (.967 SV%) in his last two starts. Lundqvist has gone 5-3-2 with a 2.05 GAA and .938 SV% on the road this season and comes in with a 1.99 GAA and .938 SV% overall on the season.

Elliott allowed one goal on 25 shots in the Blues shootout loss in Brooklyn last Friday. Elliott has only started eight games this season but has appeared in relief three times. Overall, he has gone 4-2-2 with a 2.36 GAA and .909 SV% this season and tonight will be his third home start. Tonight he faces a Flyers team that has gone 4-2-0 while averaging 3.00 goals per game in their last six.