NHL Hockey Player News

Laurie is a 44-year-old goaltender who has one game of AHL experience and has not played since 2001-02 when he was with the El Paso Buzzards of Central Hockey League. He was an emergency backup for the Ducks last season. He will only be with the Canucks for tonight because of an injury to Roberto Luongo. Expect the Canucks to recall a goalie tomorrow if Luongo's injury is serious.

No word on the nature or severity of Higgins' injury, but he will not play tonight. Expect a full update on Monday.

Stalock allowed one goal on seven shots in a relief effort of Antti Niemi on Saturday night. It was the second time in the last three games that he has replaced Niemi, so he gets the start tonight in Chicago. Stalock has been solid when called upon this season, but this is an ugly matchup.

No surprise that Hiller will face the Canucks tonight, he has won 10 straight starts while posting a 1.97 GAA and .919 SV%. Vancouver enters tonight in the second game of a back-to-back and with their backup goalie between the pipes. Hiller could extend that winning streak to 11.

There is no word on the nature or severity of the injury but this is terrible news for the Canucks who just got Luongo back last night. Expect a full update on Monday. Vancouver have signed goalie Rob Laurie to a PTO contract for tonight's game.

Despite being activated from IR this afternoon, Harrison will not dress tonight. Having won three straight games, there is no reason for head coach Kirk Muller to shake up his D-pairings. The Hurricanes are in Buffalo on Tuesday, Harrison could return to the lineup then.

After Jonathan Quick showed no ill effects in returning from his Grade 2 groin strain in last night’s 3-1 win over the Canucks, the Kings have sent Jones back to Manchester. Because Ben Scrivens would have had to clear waivers to be assigned to Manchester – which had virtually no chance of happening, given his high level of play this season – Jones was always perceived as the player who would be designated for the AHL upon Quick’s return. Jones was excellent in Quick's absence going 8-3-0 with a 1.41 GAA and .950 SV% in 11 starts. He returns to the AHL where he is 9-2-2 with a 2.24 GAA and .927 SV%.

Khudobin stopped 38 of 40 shots in a win 3-2 win over the Islanders on Saturday. The the second straight start Khudobin has stopped 38 shots in a Hurricanes win. Since returning from his ankle injury he has taken the reigns as the Carolina starter. He will get his second start in as many nights when they take on the Predators tonight. It is a great matchup and he makes for a strong Sunday start.

Lack allowed four goals on 33 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Lightning on New Years day. With Roberto Luongo back, Lack returns to a back-up role. He gets the start in the second game of a back-to-back and will take on a good Ducks team in Anaheim. In his first start vs. the Ducks he allowed two goals on 22 shots in a 3-1 loss.

Peters has not started since December 27, when he allowed four goals on 26 shots in a loss to the Penguins. He has lost his last three starts while allowing 11 goals. Tonight he would face the Predators, who he beat 5-2 on December 5.

Staal should miss the next three games and could potentially miss four if he is not ready to go by Friday vs. the Blue Jackets. With Staal out, Muller expects to shuffle the lines and says Tuomo Ruutu and Jeff Skinner will both see time at centre.

Bobrovsky will start his first game since December 3. He missed more than a month with a groin injury that he suffered in that contest. Before getting hurt he was 10-11-2 with a 2.72 GAA and .909 SV%, not quite the year you would expect from the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. He will face a Rangers team who beat him 4-2 on November 7.

Giguere allowed seven goals on 24 shots before being yanked for the third period vs. Chicago on December 27. After winning his first seven starts, he has now lost his last three and sits at 7-3-0 with a 2.51 GAA and .918 SV%. He will face a Flames team who he is 2-0-0 against this season.

HIller has won 10 straight starts, tonight is a big game vs. a divisional foe and the Ducks are off on Monday - all signs point towards HIller getting the nod as they welcome Vancouver.

Ward will miss his third consecutive game tonight. His placement forces Ward to miss seven days, but he is expected to be out longer. He is eligible to come off IR for Thursday's contest vs. Toronto. The Hurricanes will continue to roll with Anton Khudobin and Justin Peters while Ward is sidelined.

Harrison has missed the last six games with a concussion that he suffered on December 21. He is expected to slide back onto the Hurricanes blueline tonight vs. Nashville. Harrison has recorded seven points (2G / 5A) with a plus-3 rating in 32 games. To make room for him the Hurricanes moved Cam Ward (lower-body) to IR.

Ferriero is in his first season with the Canucks organization. He has recorded 22 points (10 G / 12A) in 32 games with Utica and has totalled 23 points (14G / 9A) in 96 career NHL games. There is no word on if a forward is ailing which would have triggered Ferriero's recall.

Allen dressed in three games for the Rangers, he was held off the score sheet and was a minus-1. He returns to Hartford where he has 13 points (5G / 8A) in 29 games.

Florek played 10:14 on Saturday, recording no points and one shot. His return to the AHL means that Jordan Caron will be back in the lineup on Tuesday.

With Jake Allen being reassigned to Chicago (AHL) it suggests that Halak is back to full health and will dress on Tuesday. Whether it is as the starter or the back-up remains to be seen. Halak missed the last four games with an illness.