NHL Hockey Player News

There is no word on why Nyquist is absent from practice. It would be a terrible break for a team who is already down four forwards. We will get an update following the morning skate.

Rask allowed four goals on 23 shots before being yanked in Saturday's loss to the Canucks. Rask had missed practice time because of the flu and it showed. He looked rusty, but is obviously feeling better and ready to go tonight against the Flames. It is a great matchup for a great goalie.

Berra allowed two goals on 24 shots in a loss to the Bruins on December 10. He sat for the next three games, but returns to the cage tonight against the same Bruins squad he faced last Tuesday. Despite the strong outing last time, it is a terrible matchup and I would look elsewhere tonight.

Mason allowed four goals on 33 shots in a shootout loss to the Capitals on Sunday. Mason has really struggled recently going 2-3-0 with a 3.31 GAA and .890 SV% in his last five starts. He will be hoping for a better result tonight when he faces the Capitals again.

Price stopped all 21 shots in a 1-0 OT win over the Islanders on Saturday. It was his second shutout of the season and his eighth win in the last 10 games. In that span he has posted a 1.91 GAA and .934 SV%. Price has a tough matchup vs. a good Coyotes offence, but the way he is playing lately you should worry too much.

Lecavalier is skating for the second day in a row as he continues to work his way back from a non-displaced fracture in his lower-back. Consider him week-to-week for now.

This comes as no surprise as Iginla was able to finish Saturday's game after injuring his hand in a fight with Ryan Kesler. Iggy will face his former team tonight having registered four goals and two assists in his last nine games.

Nabokov allowed a single tally on 25 shots in a 1-0 OT loss to the Canadiens on Saturday. It was a nice return to the net for Nabby after missing the last 12 games. Tonight he will face the Lightning and their 15th ranked scoring offence.

O'Dell was the 39th overall pick in 2008 and has spent the last three years in the AHL. O'Dell has 12 goals and 17 assists (29 points) in 28 games with St. John's. He could make his NHL debut tonight against the Sabres.

Grabovski will miss his second straight game because of the flu. This is a tough break for a forward who had been heating up lately, Grabo has two goals and six assists in his last eight games. Expect Martin Erat to continue to centre the second-line while Grabovski is sick.

Wellman, 26, has appeared in 23 games for the Bears this season, registering 13 points (seven goals, six assists) and four penalty minutes. The 6’0”, 183-pound center recorded a hat trick against Charlotte on Nov. 14 and ranks tied for first among Hershey skaters in goals (7) and third on the team in points (13).

Porter has registered no points in nine games with the Sabres during a call-up earlier in the season. While in Rochester he had six goals and four assists in 13 games.

Ruhwedel is a 23-year-old defenseman who is in his first season with Rochester. He has recorded four goals and 10 assists with a plus-2 rating in 26 games. He appeared in seven games with the Sabres last season but failed to register a point.

McNabb shuffled in and out of the Sabres lineup playing in five of a possible 10 games during his call-up. He failed to record a point and had an EVEN rating while averaging 16:12 TOI.

Adam served as a healthy scratch on Saturday but had appeared in the previous nine games. He registered one goal and zero assists during his time with the Sabres. Kevin Porter has been recalled to take his place on the roster.

Pysyk had no goals and four assists with a minus-11 rating in 31 games with the Sabres this season. He was a healthy scratch on Saturday and will be replaced by Chad Ruhwedel who is coming up from Rochester.

As laid out in the collective bargaining agreement, the appeal first goes to Commissioner Gary Bettman. If Bettman upholds the suspension, Thornton and the NHLPA can then elect to appeal to a neutral arbitrator.

Giguere allowed three goals on 21 shots in a loss to the Canucks on December 8. It was his first loss of the season after winning his first seven starts. He is expected to make his third start at home tomorrow vs. the Stars, he is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .952 SV% in his first two starts in Colorado.

Luongo allowed two goals on 41 shots in a 6-2 win over the Bruins on Saturday. Luongo is sizzling right now having won his last five straight start with a GAA of 1.19 and .962 SV%. Tuesday's matchup is not great, but he is a must-start in all formats.

Lehtonen allowed four goals on 38 shots in a win over the Jets on Saturday. Despite giving up three-plus goals in five straight games, Lehtonen is 2-2-1. He will take on the Avalanche for the second time this season. In the first contest he gave up three goals on 29 shots in a 3-2 OT loss.