NHL Hockey Player News

The Blackhawks will turn to Soderblom between the pipes for the fifth time in the last 10 games after a stretch of eight games with only one start. Soderblom has won two of his last three outings but allowed four goals on 14 shots (.714 SV%) in his last contest, a 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Blackhawks enter action as slight +106 road underdogs against an Anaheim Ducks club that has failed to score in three of their last four games (0-4-0).

Suchanek has spent the 2023-24 season between Anaheim's affiliates in San Diego (AHL) and Tulsa (ECHL) and earned himself a three-year, entry-level contract on Thursday with the Ducks. The 20-year-old undrafted netminder has excelled in San Diego this season, with his 12-6-3 record, 2.56 GAA and .919 SV%.

Dorofeyev missed the Golden Knights' previous game due to an undisclosed injury but will return to the lineup on Thursday vs. Seattle as he replaces Paul Cotter. The 23-year-old rookie has impressed during his brief showings with the Golden Knights this year, with nine goals, 16 points, 69 SOG, and his +6 plus/minus through 33 games played.

Cotter has been held without a point in five straight contests and will head to the press box Thursday vs. Seattle as he is replaced by Pavel Dorofeyev (undisclosed). The 24-year-old Cotter is in his third NHL season and has already passed career highs in games played (65), points (22) and PIMs (39) in 2023-24.

Murray was recalled to backup Jake Oettinger on Wednesday as Scott Wedgewood was away from the team for the birth of his child. The 26-year-old Murray played one game for Dallas earlier this season and recorded his first career shutout.

Pearson will draw back into the Canadiens' lineup after being a healthy scratch in their last outing. The two-time 20-goal scorer has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 48 games this season.

The Canadiens have lost three straight and will turn to Montembeault to tend the twine for the second straight game on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Montembeault has failed to record a victory in five straight, including his most recent outing when he allowed three goals on 32 shots (.906 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The Canadiens enter action as sizeable +228 road underdogs.

Oleksiak played only 9:49 time-on-ice before exiting Monday's 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres with an undisclosed injury. The 31-year-old Oleksiak has 10 points (2G / 8A), 98 hits, and 150 blocks in 67 games this season.

Schwartz has not played since March 8th, missing four games with an upper-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The veteran forward has 23 points (11G / 22A) in 47 games this season.

The Blackhawks will turn to Soderblom between the pipes for the fifth time in the last 10 games after a stretch of eight games with only one start. Soderblom has won two of his last three outings but allowed four goals on 14 shots (.714 SV%) in his last contest, a 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Blackhawks enter action as slight +106 road underdogs against an Anaheim Ducks club that has failed to score in three of their last four games (0-4-0).

Bo Groulx will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Meyer to re-enter the lineup. Meyer has not played the last two games after playing five straight for the Ducks.

Ben Meyers will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, making Groulx a healthy scratch. Groulx failed to score a point while appearing in the last nine games for the Ducks.

The Ducks have been outscored 16-2, being shut out three times, during a four-game losing streak and rely on Dostal to tend the twine on Thursday. Dostal has lost three straight games, including his most recent, a 4-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues when he allowed four goals on 27 shots (.852 SV%). In a rare occurrence, the Ducks are -117 home favourites entering action against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Seattle will likely turn to Grubauer for the second time in three games on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Joey Daccord started the last game for Seattle and allowed three goals on four shots before being replaced by Grubauer, who allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in an eventual 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Grubauer and the Kraken are +156 road underdogs against a Golden Knights club that defeated them 5-4 less than two weeks ago.

Fleury played 12 games with Seattle last season but has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL), tallying 29 points (5G / 24A) in 57 games. The 25-year-old Fleury was the third-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Jacob MacDonald will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Thrun to remain in the lineup. Thrun has two points (1G / 1A) and six shots on goal in his last four games.

Blackwood has been out of the lineup since suffering a groin injury on February 27th. Magnus Chrona has served predominantly as the starting netminder recently due to Blackwood's injury and Kaapo Kahkonen's trade to the New Jersey Devils. With Chrona reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), Blackwood will likely take control of the Sharks' crease. Blackwood has a 3.48 GAA and .899 SV% in 35 games this season (9-18-3).

Tampa Bay is riding a four-game winning streak and will return to Vasilevskiy in the crease for the ninth straight game in a favourable matchup against the San Jose Sharks where they are -375 road favourites. In his last outing, Vasilevskiy saved 24 of 27 shots in a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. He has allowed three or more goals in seven of his last eight games.

The Hurricanes will search for their fifth straight win on Thursday and will turn to Andersen between the pipes. Andersen has been sensational since returning to the lineup after a multi-month absence dealing with a blood clot, winning all four games, allowing only five total goals, and posting a dazzling .949 SV%. The Hurricanes enter action as sizeable -231 home favourites against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Lukas Rousek will replace Robinson on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. Robinson has been a regular in the lineup for the Sabres over the last month and has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 42 games this season.