NHL Hockey Player News

Murray returned to backing up Scott Wedgewood on Wednesday after recording a shutout on Monday in his season debut against the Minnesota Wild. Murray has been involved in paper transactions daily since being recalled from the Texas Stars (AHL) after Jake Oettinger was injured as part of salary cap gymnastics. It is unclear if Murray's most recent demotion is permanent or if he will be recalled again ahead of their next contest as Oettinger nears his return.

Robertson scored a goal while playing 14:54 time-on-ice in his return to action from a two-game absence on Tuesday but will be a healthy scratch for the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Robertson has three goals in his last four games while averaging less than 12 minutes per night.

Jonsson-Fjallby has played 13 straight games for the Jets but could be at risk of that streak coming to an end as he is battling an illness. The 25-year-old has zero points in his last five games while averaging less than 10 minutes per night on a line with Dominic Toninato and Morgan Barron.

Norris finished Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Calgary Flames but will be unavailable for Thursday's tilt against the Buffalo Sabres as he is being evaluated for an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old Norris is amid a seven-game pointless skid but was having a decent season before then with 20 points (8G / 12A) in his first 26 games.

The red-hot Kraken will turn to Daccord for the fifth straight game as they look to extend a season-best seven-game winning streak. Daccord has been sensational since taking the reigns between the pipes due to a Philipp Grubauer injury, helping his team record at least a point in his last 10 games (8-0-2) while posting an other-worldly .957 SV%. More impressively, during that stretch, Daccord has limited his opposition to two or fewer goals in nine of 10 games. With that in mind, the Kraken are -122 road favourites against a Washington Capitals club that has lost six of their last eight games (2-4-2).

McGinn has been held without a point in 13 straight games and will return to the lineup on Thursday after being a healthy scratch for the Ducks in their previous contest. The 2023-24 campaign has been disappointing for the 29-year-old McGinn, who is pacing for the worst offensively output of his nine-year career with only two points (1G / 1A) in 19 games.

After playing two straight games, Groulx was a healthy scratch in the last two for the Ducks but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday. The 23-year-old has one point (0G / 1A) while averaging 12:44 time-on-ice through 22 games this season.

Johnston has played 29 games for the Ducks this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A) while averaging only 7:28 time-on-ice. The Ducks are expected to welcome Brock McGinn and Bo Groulx back into the lineup on Thursday as Johnston will be a healthy scratch.

Okposo has not played since New Year's Eve, missing three straight games, but has practiced the last few days and will return to the lineup on Thursday. The 35-year-old Okposo has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 38 games this season, averaging 13:59 time-on-ice while playing most recently on a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Peyton Krebs.

Talbot will likely start for the third straight game as the Kings attempt to snap a season-worst six-game losing streak (0-4-2). After posting an otherworldly .931 SV% in his first 18 games (12-4-2), Talbot has fallen off in a big way, with a more pedestrian .903 SV% in his last nine outings (2-5-2). The Kings will be hard-pressed to snap their losing skid on Thursday as they are +121 road underdogs against one of the league's hottest teams, the Florida Panthers, who will be searching for their eighth-straight victory.

The 28-year-old Hagg has spent the entirety of this season with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in 22 games. He will make his season debut with the Ducks on Thursday skating on the third defensive pair with Ilya Lyubushkin.

Juulsen stepped in on Tuesday for Ian Cole, who has a healthy scratch for maintenance reasons but will return to the lineup on Thursday. Juulsen played 14:43 time-on-ice, had a -1 plus/minus, and one hit.

Knies left practice early on Wednesday after suffering an apparent leg injury but appears no worse for wear and will suit up for the Maple Leafs on Thursday. On Tuesday, Knies played 15:16 time-on-ice and recorded one assist, his first point in six games.

Forsberg will likely return to the crease for the Senators on Thursday as they attempt to snap their four-game losing skid. Forsberg has been wildly inconsistent this season but has salvaged a .914 SV% in his last four games (2-2-0) despite allowing three or more goals in three of them. The Senators are +116 road underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team defeated 5-2 by the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.

Despite consecutive excellent performances for Binnington, the Blues turned to Joel Hofer between the pipes on Tuesday, a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. Binninton has won two straight and allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last three contests (2-1-0), boasting a sparkling .949 SV%. Binnington will look to extend his win streak to three games but has a difficult task ahead as the Blues are +145 home underdogs on Thursday against the New York Rangers, who have lost two straight (0-1-1).

Pickard has settled nicely into his role as the Oilers' backup netminder and has been serviceable in limited action when called upon. The Oilers are riding an eight-game winning streak, with two wins courtesy of Pickard, in which he saved 51 of 56 shots (.911 SV%). The Oilers have an excellent opportunity to extend their winning streak to nine games as -160 road favourites on Thursday against a Detroit Red Wings club that is suddenly surging, winning four of their last five games (4-1-0).

Cole was replaced by Noah Juulsen on Tuesday as he was a healthy scratch for maintenance reasons. Cole had appeared in every game this season for Vancouver at the age of 34 and has a goal, six assists, 32 SOG and 36 PIMs in 40 games played.

Vanecek will start for only the third time in the last six games for the Devils when they face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. Vanecek was great in his last contest, albeit against a low-scoring Chicago Blackhawks team, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 4-2 victory. Vanecek has tallied consecutive quality starts only once this season and will be hard-pressed to do so on Thursday as the Devils are +136 road underdogs.