NHL Hockey Player News

Stezka has served as the backup to Joey Daccord the past couple games since Philipp Grubauer (undisclosed) has been sidelined with an injury. Stezka's reassignment to the AHL could be a sign that Grubauer is nearing a return, but could also just be a paper transaction ahead of Seattle's next game on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old Stezka has a 3.61 GAA and .881 SV% in six games with Coachella Valley (AHL) this season.

Montembeault saved all four shots he faced after entering Monday's exciting 7-5 victory over the Buffalo Sabres and was the goalie of record, recording the victory after relieving Cayden Primeau. The 28-year-old Montebeault has had an inconsistent 2024-25 season, recording a 3.42 GAA and .890 SV% in 12 games (4-7-1). Montembeault and the Canadiens will be heavily tested on Thursday, facing off against the Minnesota Wild and their top-10 offense, averaging 3.5 goals per game.

Hakanpaa has returned from a two-game conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and his Maple Leafs debut appears to be approaching. The 32-year-old Hakanpaa, in his first season as a Maple Leaf, missed an extended portion of last season with the Dallas Stars due to injuries that continued into the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign.

Samuelsson made his return to the lineup from a three-game absence on Monday but exited the contest after only 6:49 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. Before his injury, the 24-year-old Samuelsson was averaging 16:52 time-on-ice and had one point (1G / 0A) in 12 games this season. He is expected to be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis.

Luukkonen struggled in the Sabres' previous outing, allowing four goals on 18 shots (.778 SV%), before being relieved by Devon Levi in an eventual 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Luukkonen has a 2.83 GAA and .903 SV% in 12 contests (6-4-1) and had started five straight (3-2-0). If Luukkonen misses any time, expect Levi to control the Sabres crease in the interim.

Thompson scored a goal on Monday, extending his goal-scoring streak to four games, but exited the contest after only 6:49 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old Thompson has been off to a terrific start to the 2024-25 campaign, with 18 points (11G / 7A) in 15 games, and will be sorely missed by the Sabres if he misses any time.

Motte made his return from an upper-body injury on Saturday, playing 11:25 time-on-ice, but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Joe Veleno to draw back into the lineup. The 29-year-old Motte has been limited to only five games this season, averaging 11:18 time-on-ice, tallying six hits and 11 shots.

Tyler Motte will serve as a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Veleno to make his return from a one-game absence. The 24-year-old Veleno is averaging 11:14 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 13 games this season.

Helleson was the second-round pick, 47th overall, of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old made his NHL debut with the Ducks in the 2022-23 season, playing three games, but has played exclusively in the AHL since.

Harkins played one game with the Ducks earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign as an offensive powerhouse in the AHL. The 27-year-old Harkins has 17 points (5G ./ 12A) in 11 games with the San Diego Gulls (AHL) this season.

The Penguins are coming off a forgetful outing on Monday when they allowed six goals in the first period in an eventual 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Nedeljkovic entered the contest in relief and allowed four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%), lowering his season totals to a 3.25 GAA and .882 SV% in eight appearances (2-3-2). The Penguins enter Wednesday's contest as -137 home favorites against a Detroit Red Wings club riding a two-game losing skid.

The Penguins will shake up their defense on Wednesday after a debilitating 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in their previous contest, welcoming Shea back into the lineup in favor of Jack St. Ivany. The 27-year-old Shea is averaging 15:06 time-on-ice and has zero points in three games this season.

Despite recording an assist and an even plus/minus rating in a disastrous 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in their last outing, the Penguins will scratch St. Ivany on Wednesday in favor on Ryan Shea. The 25-year-old St. Ivany is averaging 16:02 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) through 14 games this season.

Milne was the third-round pick, 89th overall, of the Minnesota Wild in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Milne has yet to play an NHL game and has spent most of the season with the Iowa Wild (AHL), where he has eight points (4G / 4A) in 10 games.

The Penguins are coming off a forgetful outing on Monday when they allowed six goals in the first period in an eventual 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Nedeljkovic entered the contest in relief and allowed four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%), lowering his season totals to a 3.25 GAA and .882 SV% in eight appearances (2-3-2). The Penguins enter Wednesday's contest as -137 home favorites against a Detroit Red Wings club riding a two-game losing skid.

Wood has not played since October 28th but appears to be nearing an imminent return the the lineup. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. He and Jonathan Drouin (upper body) could both be options to return to the lineup on Friday.

Drouin has not played since the first game of the season, and will miss a 16th consecutive contest on Wednesday. After several forgetful seasons, the 29-year-old Drouin had a career-high 56 points (19G / 37A) in 79 games last season, and could return to the lineup on Friday against the Washington Capitals.

For the first time this season, the Capitals will stray away from their even goalie rotation and turn to Thompson between the pipes for consecutive games. The 27-year-old Thompson has been tremendous in his first season as a Capital, yet to lose a game (7-0-0), posting a solid 2.55 GAA and .910 SV%. The Capitals own a +19 goal differential through 14 games this season (10-4-0) and enter Wednesday's contest as -135 home favorites against a Toronto Maple Leafs club defeated 3-0 last night by the Ottawa Senators.

Loof was the third-round pick, 88th overall, of the St. Louis Blues in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Loof has one point (0G / 1A) in 11 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.

Wilsby was the fourth-round pick, 101st overall, of the Nashville Predators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old has spent the past three seasons exclusively in the AHL, including scoring three points (1G / 2A) through 11 games with the Milwaukee Admirals this season.