NHL Hockey Player News

The Ducks will turn to Dostal for the second straight game on Friday night when they visit the Colorado Avalanche. The 24-year-old Czech netminder has been outstanding to start the 2024-25 campaign, responsible for both Ducks wins, posting a tremendous 1.99 GAA and .933 SV%. That said, the Ducks enter action on Friday are sizeable +233 road underdogs against an Avalanche club that is desperate to snap their four-game losing skid to start the season.

Steel played 13:36 time-on-ice in Dallas' first loss of the season on Thursday against the Washington Capitals, but suffered an undisclosed injury in the waning minutes of the third period. Through five games this season, Steel has two points (1G / 1A0 while playing predominantly on the fourth line.

Maroon, in his his first season with the Blackhawks, the eighth stop of his 14-year career, is averaging 11:59 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) and 14 penalty minutes through 15 games. The 36-year-old's status for Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres is up in the air.

After playing 55 games with the Blackhawks last season, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A), the 26-year-old Anderson seems to have found a home in the NHL after being a journeyman for the first seven years of his career. He has one point (0G / 1A) in five games with the Blackhawks this season and his status for Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres is uncertain.

Despite a surprising 0-4-0 start to the season, the Avalanche, one of three teams without a win this season, will turn to Georgiev in the crease for the fifth straight game to start the season. Georgiev had a rough 2023-24 campaign, posting a pedestrian 3.02 GAA and .897 SV% in 63 games (38-18-5), but the 28-year-old netminder has been abysmal to start the 2024-25 season, showcasing an unsightly 5.79 GAA and .802 SV%. That said, the Avalanche enter Friday's matchup as sizeable -254 home favorites in search of their first win of the season when they host the Anaheim Ducks.

The Red Wings goalie carousel to start the season will continue on Saturday against the Nashville Predators when Lyon returns to the crease. Detroit has a 1-3-0 record to start the season and they have allowed three or more goals in three games and are desperate to find consistent goaltending. Lyon allowed three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%) in his only start of the season but was excellent in relief of Cam Talbot in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers when he saved all 15 shots he faced.

Motte suffered an upper-body injury after playing 9:33 time-on-ice in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers. Through four games this season, Motte has zero points, eight shots, and six hits. His status for Saturday's afternoon tilt against the Nashville Predators is up in the air.

Lundestrom played only 11:18 time-on-ice in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Utah Hockey Club before exiting the game with an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old Lundestrom has one point (1G / 0A) in three games this season.

Wood left Wednesday’s loss vs. Boston with an undisclosed injury after just 12:46 TOI but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. A myriad of injuries for the Avalanche thrust Wood onto their top line alongside Logan O'Connor and Nathan MacKinnon, where he should return on Friday night.

Vatrano will not play on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche due to the birth of his child. The 30-year-old Vatrano is coming off a career-best season, scoring 60 points (27G / 23A) in 82 games, but is off to a slow start in the 2024-25 season, with just one point (0G / 1A) in his first three.

Goldsmith was a fourth-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old defenseman is in his fifth season in the WHL. He had 15 points (3G / 12A) and 122 penalty minutes in 66 games with the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) last season.

The Sharks will continue their early-season goalie rotation and return to Blackwood between the pipes for the third time in their first five games. Blackwood was excellent in his last outing, despite a 3-2 losing effort in a shootout to the Dallas Stars, saving 36 of 38 shots (.947 SV%). The Sharks are one of three teams without a win this season (0-2-2) and enter Friday's contest as significant +317 road underdogs against the Winnipeg Jets, one of three clubs without a loss this season (3-0-0).

With William Eklund nursing an upper-body injury, Smith will draw into the lawn for his first game of the season. The 26-year-old Smith has 22 points (9G / 13A) in 155 career games and is in his first season with the Sharks organization.

Gushchin has not played since the opening night of the season but will re-enter the Sharks lineup on Friday as Will Smith will be a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Gushchin has four points (2G / 2A) in seven career NHL games..

As part of pre-planned play-management for the 19-year-old rookie, Smith will have the night off on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Smith is averaging 14:01 time-on-ice through his first four NHL games this season, with zero points and a -2 plus/minus rating.

Eklund played 21:45 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars but was unavailable for practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to an upper-body injury. The talented 22-year-old has one point (0G / 1A) in three games and is averaging a massive 22:27 time-on-ice.

Slafkovsky suffered a shoulder injury at practice on Friday but will still travel with the team to New York for the Saturday matchup against the Islanders. The 20-year-old Slovak is off to a strong start to the 2024-25 campaign, with four points (1G / 3A) in five contests.

Jiricek had 10 points (1G / 9A) in 43 games with the Blue Jackets last season. The talented 20-year-old offensive Czech defenseman had an impressive playoff run with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) last season, scoring 11 points (3G / 8A) in 14 games, and is trying to become a full-time NHLer this season.

Harkins spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, tallying four points (0G / 4A) in 45 games. The 27-year-old, in his first season with the Ducks organization, has 31 points (13G / 18A) in 199 career NHL games.

Ullmark did not dress for the last two Senators games (1-1-0), but could return to action as soon Saturday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 31-year-old net-minder just signed a four-year, $33 million contract extension with Ottawa days before the start of the season. He has a 2.58 GAA and .914 SV% through two games with the team so far (1-1-0).