NHL Hockey Player News

Butler has one goal and one assist with a minus-6 in 14 games this season.

This will be Garon's fourth straight start in place of Anders Lindback but he hasn't won any of them and it doesn't get any easier as he will face a Penguins team who has Evgeni Malkin returning to their lineup tonight. Garon has a 3.05 GAA and .900 SV% in his last three starts.

This is great news for the Penguins who get one of the NHL's best players back in their lineup. He will play tonight vs. Tampa Bay, there will be no shortage of talent on the ice tonight with Malkin, Crosby and Stamkos. Malkin has four goals and 17 assists in 18 games this season.

The Maple Leafs just traded forward Mike Brown to the Oilers presumably to clear space for Frattin to return to the lineup tonight. Frattin has seven goals and three assists in 10 games this season.

Brown is not fantasy relevant but this move allows the Maple Leafs to activate Matt Frattin for tonight's game without having to make a roster move.

Malkin was cleared for contact yesterday and is on the ice this morning with his regular line with James Neal and Matt Cooke. He is also practicing on the power-play units so it looks like there is a chance that Malkin plays, but check back later to see if he will play for sure.

Reimer looked a little shaky in his return to the Maple Leafs crease but he still recorded the 5-4 overtime win vs. the Islanders. He stopped 24 of 28 shots (.852) he faced against the Isles and will look to improve on that number against the Devils tonight. He has a good matchup tonight vs. a Devils team without Martin Brodeur that has lost six of their last seven games.

This is a tough break for the Panthers who lose their starter for a minimum of six weeks. Theodore was 4-6-3 with a 3.29 GAA .893 SV% at the time of the injury. This will open the door for Jacob Markstrom to take over as the starter and prove to the Panthers he belongs in the NHL. Scott Clemmensen will also see his fair share of starts.

Ward was hurt in the second period of yesterday's contest vs. the Panthers when his own defenceman Justin Faulk slid into him. Ward stopped all 15 shots he faced and still recorded the win but this is terrible news for the Hurricanes. A 6-8 week injury means Ward will likely miss the rest of the season. The Hurricanes will now have to go with Dan Ellis and Justin Peters as their goaltenders.

Backstrom has won three of his last four starts while posting a great 1.76 GAA and .932 SV%. He has a good matchup tonight vs. an Oilers team without Taylor Hall. Backstrom should make for a good fantasy start tonight.

Ellis was scheduled to get the start today for the Hurricanes but Ward will be between the pipes with Ellis getting sick. Ward has won three of his last four starts with a 2.00 GAA and .931 SV%. He was on the winning end of a 6-2 win last night vs. Florida who is who they will face again tonight in the back-end of a home-and-home.

Clemmensen came in for the injured Jose Theodore yesterday and allowed six goals on 33 shots. He has struggled lately and has a tough matchup vs. a strong Carolina team. Look elsewhere.

Miller has won his last three consecutive starts with a 2.22 GAA and .933 SV%. He gets the nod again tonight vs. a Rangers team who looked much better with Rick Nash in the lineup. It isn't a good matchup for Miller especially with Vanek out.

Vanek missed yesterday's game with an upper-body injury and was expected to be ready to go today, but that is not the case. He will sit out today and should be back this week.

Zolnierczyk isn't fantasy relevant.

Ellis was scheduled to get the start today for the Hurricanes but it appears as if Ward may be between the pipes with Ellis getting sick. Ward has won three of his last four starts with a 2.00 GAA and .931 SV%. He was on the winning end of a 6-2 win last night vs. Florida who is who they will face again tonight in the back-end of a home-and-home. Check back for the starters confirmation.

Hedberg has lost five straight games with a 3.78 GAA and .853 SV%. He has struggled while filling in for Brodeur, but has a chance to get back in the win column against the Maple Leafs tomorrow.

In Luongo's last start he was lit up for eight goals by the Red Wings. He will be between the pipes tonight vs. the Flames which is a great matchup for Luongo making him a great fantasy start.

Varlamov is 6-8-2 with a 2.84 GAA and .908 SV% this season.

Lehtonen allowed five goals on 38 shots in his return after missing five games with a lower-body injury. He will be back between the pipes tonight when the Stars take on the Blues. It is a tough matchup for Lehtonen so I would look elsewhere if possible.