NHL Hockey Player News

Burakovsky did not practice on Wednesday due to an undisclosed injury. He played 18:15 time-on-ice in Seattle's last outing, a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins, recording one assist and two shots on goal. He has three points (0G / 3A) in his last four games after being held without a point in seven games straight.

Cal Petersen was placed on waivers by the Flyers earlier on Wednesday, prompting the team to recall Sandstrom from the Lehigh-Valley Phantoms of the AHL. The 27-year-old Sandstrom had a 20-game stint with the Flyers last season but has played exclusively in the AHL this season, posting a 3.23 GAA and .882 SV% in 20 games (11-6-2).

Khusnutdinov was the 37th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old Khusnutdinov has played exclusively in Europe to this point and has 20 points (6G / 14A) in 49 games with Sochi HC of the KHL.

Petersen has struggled in limited action with the Flyers this season, notably allowing seven goals on 32 shots (.781 SV%) in his last outing, a 7-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. In five appearances with the Flyers, Petersen has an ugly 3.90 GAA, .864 SV%, and 2-2-0 record. The Flyers will continue to rely on Samuel Ersson down the stretch.

Mackenzie Blackwood suffered an undisclosed injury on Tuesday, forcing him to exit the Sharks 7-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils in the first period with an undisclosed injury. Blackwood has been placed on IR, prompting the Sharks to recall Chrona for the second time this season. Chrona has struggled immensely in limited action with the Sharks this season, posting a 9.50 GAA and .724 SV% in two appearances (0-1-0).

Blackwood had a perfect game going on Tuesday night, saving all 13 shots he faced, but exited late in the first period with an undisclosed injury in an eventual 7-2 loss to his former club, the New Jersey Devils. The Sharks have not provided a concrete update on Blackwood's status, but he will be out of the lineup for at least the next week as he has been placed on IR. Magnus Chrona has been recalled from the San Jose Baracuda (AHL) to back up Kaapo Kahkonen in the interim.

Tucker has played 16 games with the Blues this season, tallying two points (1G / 1A) and 27 penalty minutes but has not played since January 30th, his only contest in the last two months. Tucker will draw into the lineup in favour of Scott Perunovich.

Alexandrov has not played since February 15th, his only game in February, and will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Alexandrov has one point (0G / 1A) in 18 games this season. Kasperi Kapanen will be the odd man out of the lineup.

Kapanen played only 9:22 time-on-ice last night but recorded a -3 plus/minus and will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Kapanen has zero points in his last seven games.

Perunovich played only 14:19 time-on-ice yesterday, recording a -1 plus/minus. Since returning from a lower-body injury last week, Perunovich has been held without a point in three games, recording a -2 plus/minus, two shots, and three hits.

Binnington had the night off yesterday on the front end of a back-to-back but will occupy the crease for the Blues on Wednesday night. The 30-year-old Binnington had a forgettable performance in his last outing, allowing four goals on 14 shots (.714 SV%) in an eventual 6-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. That said, Binnington was tremendous against the Edmonton Oilers less than two weeks ago, saving 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%) in a 6-3 victory.

Monteumbeault tended the twine on Tuesday when the Canadiens snapped their five-game losing skid with a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. The 27-year-old Montembeault was tremendous, saving 36 of 38 shots (.947 SV%) for his first victory in his last four outings (1-3-0). The Canadiens will be hard-pressed to continue their winning ways on Thursday when they visit a Florida Panthers team that defeated them 4-1 in their last meeting two months ago.

The red-hot Red Wings will turn to Lyon between the pipes on Thursday as they attempt to extend their six-game winning streak. Lyon has been terrific lately, posting an impressive 2.00 GAA and .931 SV% across his last four outings (4-0-0). Lyon and the Red Wings will face off against a New York Islanders club with a 2-3-2 record in their last seven and has scored fewer than three goals four times.

Skinner will return to the crease for the third straight game when the Oilers host the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday evening. Skinner showcased his best performance since the All-Star break on Monday, saving 38 of 40 shots (.950 SV%) in a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, snapping a three-game losing skid for the Oilers. The Oilers enter action as sizeable -260 home favourites on Wednesday night against a Blues club that defeated them 6-3 two weeks ago.

Merzlikins was terrific against the New York Rangers on Sunday, saving 38 of 40 shots (.950 SV%) in a 4-2 victory, and will return to the crease in a rematch on Wednesday night. The Latvian netminder has a 3-2-0 record and a .920 SV% in his last five starts (3-2-0) while allowing three or fewer goals in all but one contest. That said, Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets are significant +211 road underdogs heading into action on Wednesday night.

Shesterkin had the night off in a 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday but will tend the twine in a rematch on Wednesday night. After an uncharacteristically inconsistent start to the season, Shesterkin has flipped a switch since the All-Star break, allowing fewer than two goals in four of six games (6-0-0), posting an impressive .951 SV%. Despite losing to them less than a week ago, the Rangers are sizeable -251 home favourites against the Blue Jackets on Wednesday.

Blackwood had a perfect game going, saving all 13 shots he faced, but exited late in the first period on Tuesday with an undisclosed injury in an eventual 7-2 loss to his former club, the New Jersey Devils. The Sharks should provide an update on Blackwood's status ahead of their next game on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks.

Norris collided with the net in the second period and exited Tuesday's contest with an upper-body injury after playing only 6:03 time-on-ice. Norris, who missed most of the previous two seasons with a shoulder injury, will receive imaging to determine the severity of this most recent ailment.