NHL Hockey Player News

McGroarty recently made his NHL debut, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in eight games, but will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. The 21-year-old McGroarty was the 14th overall pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Merzlikins was practicing in the starter's crease at the Blue Jackets' morning skate on Thursday, but has suffered an undisclosed injury and will not play against the Buffalo Sabres. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 3.18 GAA and .892 SV% in 53 games this season (26-21-5).

Utah has given Vejmelka the heaviest workload of any netminder over the previous two months, and he will likely return to the crease for his 22nd consecutive start on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. Vejmelka was solid in his most recent outing, saving 18 of 19 shots (.947 SV%) in a 7-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. The 28-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.51 GAA and .907 SV% in 55 games this season (25-21-7). Utah enters Thursday's contest as sizeable -201 home favorites against a Nashville team coming off a back-and-forth 7-6 overtime win over the New York Islanders.

Colorado is coming off a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights and will likely turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Blackwood struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 21 shots (.810 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old netminder has a 2.23 GAA and .916 SV% in 35 games with Colorado this season (22-10-3). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as sizeable -223 home favorites against a Vancouver team coming off a roller coaster come-from-behind 6-5 overtime win over the Dallas Stars.

Soderblom has battled some injuries lately, playing only four games since March 18th, and could miss another contest on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 23-year-old Soderblom is averaging 13:22 time-on-ice and has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 26 games this season.

The Red Wings likely need a miracle to make the playoffs after their loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, but they will look for a victory on Thursday, rolling with Talbot between the pipes. Talbot has been excellent lately, posting a 2.00 GAA and .934 SV% in four April games (2-1-1). He has a 2.85 GAA and .904 SV% in 44 appearances this season (20-18-4). The Red Wings enter Thursday's contest as +176 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers team coming off a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Murphy is averaging 20:44 time-on-ice, recording 19 points (2G / 17A), a -2 plus/minus rating, 156 blocks, and 114 hits in 65 games this season. Louis Crevier will draw into the lineup as Murphy's replacement.

Connor Murphy (illness) will not play on Thursday against the Boston Bruins, allowing Crevier to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Crevier is averaging 17:30 time-on-ice and has four points (3G / 1A) in 30 games this season.

Del Mastro has not played since April 2nd but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 22-year-old Del Mastro is averaging 18:12 time-on-ice and has six points (2G / 4A) in 23 games this season.

Pat Maroon will draw back into Chicago's lineup on Thursday against the Boston Bruins, resulting in Reichel being a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Reichel is averaging 11:57 time-on-ice and has 21 points (7G / 14A) in 68 games this season.

Lukas Reichel will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Boston Bruins, allowing Maroon to re-enter the lineup. The 36-year-old Maroon is averaging 11:34 time-on-ice and has 19 points (5G / 14A) in 66 games this season.

Soderblom has not played since March 30th, when he allowed five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club, but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 25-year-old Soderblom has a 3.23 GAA and .897 SV% in 34 appearances this season (8-18-7). The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +154 road underdogs against a Bruins team coming off a 7-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.

The Hurricanes are coming off a disappointing 3-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres and will hope for a better result, with Andersen likely tending the twine against the Washington Capitals. Andersen struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. The 35-year-old goalie has a 2.11 GAA and .914 SV% in 19 games this season (13-6-0). The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as -150 road favorites against a Capitals team that has lost five of their last seven games (2-4-1).

Wagner played 25 games with the Avalanche this season, scoring one goal, but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 33-year-old veteran forward has 31 points (19G / 12A) in 42 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.

Seguin last played on December 1st and subsequently underwent hip surgery that has kept him out of the lineup for over four months. The 33-year-old Seguin had an excellent 2024-25 campaign before his injury, scoring 20 points (9G / 11A) in 19 games this season. He participated in a full-contact practice on Thursday and is expected to play at least one of the Stars' final four regular season games.

Oskar Back will draw back into the Stars' lineup on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, resulting in Blackwell being a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Blackwell is averaging 11:35 time-on-ice and has 15 points (5G / 10A) in 61 games this season.

The Sabres are among the hottest teams in the NHL, with an 8-2-0 record in their last 10 games, and will turn to Reimer, one of the NHL's hottest netminders. Reimer was tremendous in his most recent outing, saving all 33 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 37-year-old veteran netminder has a solid 2.40 GAA and .921 SV% in his last seven games (7-0-0). The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as +123 road underdogs against a Columbus Blue Jackets team coming off a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.

Colin Blackwell will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing Back to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Back is averaging 11:43 time-on-ice and has 16 points (4G / 12A) in 70 games this season.

The Stars are coming off a historic last-minute collapse in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks, and will hope to erase it from their memories on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. Oettinger was solid in his most recent outing, saving 38 of 41 shots (.927 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. The 26-year-old Oettinger has been excellent since the beginning of March, posting a 2.56 GAA and .919 SV% in 12 games (8-2-2). The Stars enter Thursday's division matchup against the Jets as -122 home favorites.