NHL Hockey Player News

Laich has missed the last 11 games after suffering a groin injury in last November. He has four goals and two assists in 25 games. Laich will skate on the fourth line.

Grubauer stopped 39 of 41 shots in a win over the Hurricanes on Friday. He has been great since being recalled from Hershey. He has settled the Capitals crease going 4-0-1 with a 2.05 GAA and .940 SV% in four starts and six appearances. He takes on a tough Ducks squad tonight.

Nyquist has missed the last three games with a groin injury that he suffered on December 15. His return is important for a team who has been ravished by injuries.

Grubauer stopped 39 of 41 shots in a win over the Hurricanes on Friday. He has been great since being recalled from Hershey. He has settled the Capitals crease going 4-0-1 with a 2.05 GAA and .940 SV% in four starts and six appearances. He takes on a tough Ducks squad tonight.

Pysyk was sent down on December 17 but is back just six days later. He has recorded four assists and a minus-11 in 31 games with the Sabres.

Zibanejad missed Saturday's game after being banged up on Thursday. He was skating on the Sens top-line with Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. He has eight goals and seven assists in 29 games.

Calvert was injured in the second period of Saturday's game. He had recorded four goals and four assists in 17 games. This is a tough loss for the Blue Jackets who lose a high-engergy source along with their premiere sniper.

Gaborik’s injury almost certainly rules him out of playing for Slovakia in the Winter Olympics. The hockey tournament is set to begin on Feb. 12 — just 71/2 weeks from today. “He seemed like he was in decent spirits,” head coach Todd Richards said. “But I’m sure once it starts to settle in — the significance of the injury, obviously missing the time here from our lineup, plus all the work that he put in to get ready to come back … now to miss something that happens only every four years, that’s tough. You don’t get many shots at that.” -

Clemmensen allowed two goals on 34 shots in a win over the Senators on Thursday. He has won four straight starts while allowing just six goals. The career back-up has picked up the slack left by Tim Thomas' injury. He draws a solid matchup vs. the Lightning.

Halak stopped 25 of 26 shots in a win over the Canadiens on Thursday. He was given Saturday night off, but will be back in the cage tonight in Calgary. Halak is 7-3-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .914 SV% on the road.

Berra allowed two goals on 31 shots in a 2-0 loss to the Bruins last Tuesday. The loss was no fault of Berra's who played very well against one of the league's best. Berra draws another very difficult matchup with the Blues in town.

Raanta stopped 22 of 24 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Canucks on Friday. Raanta has played very well having started his NHL career 7-1-2 with a 2.22 GAA and .920 SV%. Playing behind a great Blackhawks team makes him a strong choice on most nights.

Luongo allowed four goals on 19 shots before being pulled in a loss to the Stars on Thursday. He will go tonight at home vs. the Jets. Bobby Lu is 5-1-1 with a 1.75 GAA and .943 SV% in December and 9-5-3 in Vancouver.

Pavelec allowed two goals on 23 shots in a win over the Panthers on Friday. He will get the call for the sixth time in the last seven games when the Jets travel to Vancouver. Pavelec is 2-4-1 with a 3.43 GAA and .877 SV% in December.

Granlund has missed 11 straight games and 13 of the past 14. In those 14 games, the Wild has scored 22 goals. It is not easy returning immediately from a concussion. "We'll be realistic with our expectations, but I think there's no better way of getting right back in there than to throw him back into the fire," Yeo said.

Anderson allowed four goals on 38 shots in the Sens 4-3 loss to the Coyotes on Saturday. Anderson has allowed eight goals in his last two games and is 3-1-2 with a 2.30 GAA and .905 SV% in December. He gets the call against a red-hot Penguins.

Backstrom had a somewhat suspect start against the Eastern's best Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens buried five on thirty-one shots on the Wild's now undisputed number one goalie with Josh Harding's recent trip to the injured reserve. Backstrom should make for a good Sunday start against a Rangers team who have lost six of their last seven.

Talbot allowed one goal on 14 shots in a relief effort on December 12. He continues to play well while Henrik Lundqvist struggles. He enters play Sunday with a 6-2-0 record, 1.74 GAA and .934 SV% in his first eight NHL starts.

General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Gaborik will be out indefinitely. Gaborik came off IR on Friday after missing 17 games with a sprained knee. He was sandwiched between Philadelphia players Braydon Coburn and Zac Rinaldo while taking a shot midway through the first period and appeared to be hit in the head by Rinaldo.

Thomas has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury, but his full participation suggests that he could start on Monday vs. Tampa Bay.