NHL Hockey Player News

With Darcy Kuemper (lower body) still sidelined, the Kings will roll with Rittich in the crease for the fifth straight game. Rittich has been serviceable in this stretch, winning two of four contests (2-2-0), but had a rough time in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 30 shots (.800 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, the Kings enter the action on Thursday as overwhelming -303 home favorites against the San Jose Sharks, the only team without a win this season (0-5-2).

Pinto didn't show any signs of an ailment in Tuesday's 4-0 win over Utah HC but was not present at practice on Thursday. The 23-year-old Pinto has three points and -3 plus/minus through six game this season.

Karlsson has not played yet this season after being injured late in the preseason. He has miss the first seven games of the season, will miss an eighth, but should make his season debut in game nine on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks. The 31-year-old Karlsson had 30 goals and 60 points in 70 games played in 2023-24.

The Hurricanes will continue their early-season goalie rotation and switch back to Kochetkov in the crease on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Kochetkov had a poor effort in his last outing, allowing four goals on 19 shots (.789 SV%) in a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, but was stellar in his only other outing, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. The Hurricanes enter the action on Thursday as sizeable -193 road favorites despite visiting a Flames squad that is one of four teams without a regulation loss (5-0-1).

Kylington has been limited to two games this season and will miss a third straight on Thursday night. The 27-year-old Kylington has only played 35 games over the past three seasons due to various injuries.

Sheary was placed on waivers on Wednesday and has been assigned to the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) after clearing on Thursday. The 32-year-old Sheary has zero points and a -2 plus/minus in three games this season. Sheary had 53 points (23G / 30A) in 61 games in his second NHL season in 2016-17 but has only recorded more than 40 points once in seven seasons since.

For the second time in eight games to start the season, Smith will serve as a healthy scratch as a means of easing him into his first NHL season. The 2023 fourth-overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft has zero points and a -4 plus/minus through his first six games.

For the first time this season, the Sharks will defer from their goalie rotation and turn to Blackwood for a second straight game. The Sharks continue to search for the first victory of the season (0-5-2) and will hope Blackwood can help them get there after an excellent performance in his last outing, saving 37 of 39 shots (.949 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. That said, the Sharks enter action on Thursday as significant +262 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings club looking to respond from a 6-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.

The Jets are the only team yet to lose this season (6-0-0) due in part to strong goaltending and will turn to Hellebuyck between the pipes again, his sixth start in seven games. Hellebuyck is making an early-season case to win his third Vezina trophy, boasting an outstanding 1.40 GAA and .948 SV% through five contests (5-0-0). That said, the Jets enter the action on Thursday as minimal -120 road favorites against a Seattle Kraken club sporting a 4-3-0 record.

Englund will exit the Kings' lineup on Thursday after playing four straight games and will be replaced by Kyle Burroughs. The 28-year-old Englund has one point (1G / 0A), two blocks, and 13 hits in four games this season.

Andreas Englund will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Burroughs to return to the lineup after a three-game absence. The 29-year-old Burroughs has one point (0G / 1A), two blocks, and eight hits in four games this season.

With Darcy Kuemper (lower body) still sidelined, the Kings will roll with Rittich in the crease for the fifth straight game. Rittich has been serviceable in this stretch, winning two of four contests (2-2-0), but had a rough time in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 30 shots (.800 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, the Kings enter the action on Thursday as overwhelming -303 home favorites against the San Jose Sharks, the only team without a win this season (0-5-2).

After serving as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev in their first five games (1-4-0), the Avalanche will roll with Annunen between the pipes for the third straight game. In his two starts (2-0-0), the only two games Colorado has allowed fewer than three goals, the 24-year-old Annunen has been terrific, saving 50 of 53 shots. Colorado enters action on Thursday, looking for their fourth straight victory, as -150 road favorites against the Utah Hockey Club.

Bains was averaging 12:38 time-on-ice, failing to record a point, through three games with the Canucks this season. He will return to the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), where he was a stalwart last season, producing 55 points (16G / 39A) in 59 games.

Brannstrom had been serviceable in a limited role for Vancouver, producing one points (0G / 1A) and a +2 plus/minus while averaging 13:23 time-on-ice in three games. The 25-year-old Brannstrom played two games with Abbotsford (AHL) earlier this season, recording three points (0G / 3A).

Kahkonen has not played a game in the AHL since the 2019-20 season. The 28-year-old Kahkonen had a poor 2023-24 campaign split between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, posting a 3.64 GAA and .898 SV%, but could get an opportunity at the crease in Colorado if Georgiev and Annunen are unable to provide consistent efforts.

Bortuzzo will serve as a healthy scratch on Thursday to welcome Maveric Lamoureux into the lineup for his NHL debut. The 35-year-old Bortuzzo has six penalty minutes and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 11:58 time-on-ice through three games this season.

Due to a decimated defensive core, namely Sean Durzi (shoulder) and John Marino (lower-back) being sidelined for the next several months, Utah HC recalled Lamoureux from the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL) to make his NHL debut. The 20-year-old Lamoureux was drafted 29th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, and is currently playing his first professional season, tallying three points (2G / 1A) in his first four games with Tuscon.

Bourque recorded his first career NHL point on Tuesday, an assist, but will serve as a healthy scratch on Thursday to allow Oskar Back to draw back into the lineup. The 22-year-old Bourque, last season's AHL point leader, had played the last four games for the Stars after missing the first three due to an injury.

Back was a healthy scratch for the first time this season on Tuesday, but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Boston Bruins, replacing Mavrik Bourque. The 24-year-old Back has one point (0G / 1A) and is averaging 9:57 time-on-ice through six games, playing exclusively on the Stars' fourth line.