NHL Hockey Player News

Ersson will continue to patrol the Flyers' crease as he makes his third straight start in the Stadium Series vs. New Jersey on Saturday. The 24-year-old has been handed the starting reigns after Carter Hart left the team due to personal reasons and has been enjoying a strong season in part, with his 15-9-4 record, 2.55 GAA and .900 SV%. He will take on the New Jersey Devils, who have lost three of their last five games but are ninth in the NHL in goals per game (3.34).

Wheeler fell awkwardly after being hit by Jayden Struble in Thursday's game against the Montreal Canadiens and was unable to put any weight on his right leg as he left the ice. This injury that will keep Wheeler out for the remainder of the season is a devastating blow as the veteran forward was starting to come around offensively, scoring 15 points (7G / 8A) in his last 28 games after being limited to six points (2G / 4A) in his first 26.

Matthew Phillips had predominantly been an AHL player but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Washington Capitals before being placed on waivers on Thursday. In 27 games with the club, he registered five points (1G / 4A) while averaging 10:16 time-on-ice.

Zub played every game for the Senators since January 11th before missing Tuesday's contest with a lower-body injury and has been quietly productive from the blueline in that span, scoring seven points (0G / 7A) in his last 11 games. He has spent most of his time lately on the top defensive pair alongside Thomas Chabot.

With Connor Ingram out of the lineup due to an injury, Vejmelka will start on Friday for the Coyotes and be their go-to option between the pipes. Vejmelka saved 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%) in relief on Wednesday in a 3-1 losing effort to the Minnesota Wild. The Coyotes will need Vejmelka to be stellar on Friday night, a tall task for a struggling netminder behind a team riding a seven-game losing streak that is a +178 home underdog against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Guenette made his season debut with the Senators on Thursday, his second career NHL game, registering one shot and two hits in 11:53 time-on-ice. The 22-year-old Guenette was the Senators' seventh-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has 23 points (4G / 19A) in 41 games with the Belleville Senators (AHL) this season.

Michael Carcone will draw back into the Coyotes lineup on Friday, sending Ruzicka to the press box as a healthy scratch. Ruzicka played his first two games as a Coyote earlier this week and was held off the scoresheet while averaging 9:06 time-on-ice.

Carcone has not played since February 8th, missing three games, but will re-enter the lineup on Friday. The 27-year-old Carcone has 20 points (15G / 5A) in 46 games this season but has been held off the scoresheet in his last five.

With Connor Ingram out of the lineup due to an injury, Vejmelka will likely start on Friday for the Coyotes and be their go-to option between the pipes. Vejmelka saved 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%) in relief on Wednesday in a 3-1 losing effort to the Minnesota Wild. The Coyotes will need Vejmelka to be stellar on Friday night, a tall task for a struggling netminder behind a team riding a seven-game losing streak that is a +178 home underdog against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Luukkonen was originally projected to start on Thursday for the Sabres but was a late scratch in favour of Eric Comrie as Luukkonen tended to a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old netminder has taken over the Sabres' starting crease this season with his strong play and 13-13-2 record, 2.51 GAA and .913 SV%. He will face a hot Minnesota Wild club on Saturday that is riding a four-game winning streak.

After their franchise-best 16-game win streak ended on February 6th, the Oilers have lost two of four (2-2-0), including a disappointing 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blue on Thursday with Stuart Skinner between the pipes, and will turn to Pickard on Saturday afternoon. Pickard last played on February 9th, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The 31-year-old Pickard will attempt to extend his win streak to six games against the Dallas Stars.

Minnesota claimed Chisholm from waivers at the end of January and he will make his debut with the team on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 24-year-old has a one-year, $775,000 contract and had appeared in two games for the Jets this season, collecting one assist, and a +1 plus/minus.

Minnesota has rotated between Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes lately but will turn to Gustavsson on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. Gustavsson has won two straight contests and saved 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday. Minnesota will look to extend their winning streak to five games on Saturday.

Mermis has been a regular in the lineup for the last six weeks but will be a healthy scratch on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 30-year-old Mermis has seven points (2G / 5A) in 37 games this season while primarily playing on a defensive pair with Jon Merrill.

Beauvillier has been out of the lineup since the beginning of January but appears to be nearing a return to the Blackhawks' lineup with the possibility of returning on Monday. Beauvillier had scored six points (2G / 4A) in 15 games since joining the Blackhawks.

Lundkvist exited Thursday's 9-2 win over the Nashville Predators with only 1:34 time-on-ice after being on the receiving end of a controversial hit from Jeremy Lauzon. The 23-year-old Lundkvist has 15 points (2G / 13A) in 43 games this season.

Paul was limited to only 9:37 time-on-ice in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche before exiting the game with an undisclosed injury and is expected to be a game-time decision on Saturday in Florida after also missing practice on Friday. Before his injury, Paul had four points (2G / 2A) in his last five games.

Luukkonen was originally projected to start on Thursday for the Sabres but was a late scratch in favour of Eric Comrie as Luukkonen tended to a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old netminder has taken over the Sabres' starting crease this season with his strong play and 13-13-2 record, 2.51 GAA and .913 SV%.