NHL Hockey Player News

Brossoit will start on Thursday for a Jets team that is among the league's best over the last month and is riding a seven-game winning streak. Brossoit and the Jets have a favourable matchup as enormous -409 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that defeated them 2-1 on December 27th, their only loss in their last 10 games. The Jets' crease has belonged to Hellebuyck, but Brossoit has been terrific lately when called upon, allowing two or fewer goals in each of his last five starts (4-1-0), posting a gaudy .952 SV%.

Cizikas exited the Islanders' Tuesday night contest against the Vancouver Canucks in the first period with a lower-body injury after playing only 3:54 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Cizikas had been limited to only one point (0G / 1A) in his last 11 games while registering 25 hits.

Walman was battling an illness that prevented him from practicing on Wednesday but he will be ready to play on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. In his last five games, Walman has four points (1G / 3A) while averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per night.

Oshie has missed 17 of the last 21, including the last 11 with a lower-body injury, but will return on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. Oshie has struggled this year with only four points (2G / 2A) in 26 games but was on a two-game point streak, scoring two points (1G / 1A) in his last two outings.

Wilson did not practice on Tuesday but could be ready to play in Thursday's contest against the Seattle Kraken. Wilson played 15:13 time-on-ice in his last game, tallying four shots and two hits, matching his lowest hit output in nine games.

Despite an overall disappointing season for the future Hall-of-Famer, Ovechkin is riding a five-game point streak, scoring six points (2G / 4A) in that span. The 38-year-old will be a game-time decision for the Capitals on Thursday and, if he is unavailable to play, could be an opportunity for Max Pacioretty to establish himself more offensively.

Due to some strong play, Nedeljkovic has become a fixture in the Penguins' crease over the last month and will start for the fourth time in the last six games on Thursday. Nedeljkovic allowed five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%), a 6-5 victory over the Boston Bruins on January 4th, but has been nearly unbeatable otherwise, allowing only one goal in three of his last four starts, posting a .933 SV%. The Penguins are -126 home favourites against the Vancouver Canucks, who are riding a three-game winning streak, outscoring their opposition 17-9.

Kirkland has spent most of his eight-year professional career in the AHL, making his NHL debut last season with the Anaheim Ducks, being held without a point in seven contests. Kirkland has 13 points (1G / 12A) this season in 12 games with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL).

Despite scoring two points (1G / 1A) for the Sabres on Tuesday night, Skinner suffered an upper-body injury at some point and, after receiving an MRI on Wednesday, has been deemed week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Expect JJ Peterka to be the main beneficiary, as he was stellar earlier this season during a brief stint where Skinner was out of the lineup.

After allowing six goals on 26 shots (.769 SV%) in a 7-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, Vasilevskiy responded with a solid performance in his last outing, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. Despite salvaging a 6-6-0 record, Vasilevskiy has failed to record consecutive quality starts since December 4th and 6th, posting a .895 SV% in that stretch. Tampa Bay is a -150 home favourite on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, who are without several star players, most notably Jack Hughes.

Bobrovsky had the night off on Tuesday, but it was no issue for the Panthers as they won their eighth straight game in a convincing 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. The red-hot Panthers have excelled regardless of who is between the pipes lately, but Bobrovsky has been especially impressive, allowing fewer than three goals in four of his last six games (6-0-0), posting a .920 SV%. The Panthers are -136 home favourites against a struggling Los Angeles Kings team riding a six-game losing streak (0-4-2).

Luukkonen will likely start for only the third time in the last seven games for the Sabres despite being terrific in his last two. Luukkonen has saved 58 of the last 61 shots he's faced (.951 SV%), winning both contests, snapping a previous skid of six straight losses (0-5-1) where he had an abysmal .839 SV%. The Sabres are -120 home favourites on Thursday against an Ottawa Senators club that has lost four straight, scoring three or fewer goals in each contest.

Sorokin will continue his hold on the Islanders' crease on Thursday, marking appearances in eight straight games as Semyon Varlamov remains out of the lineup due to an injury. However, his increased workload has not resulted in improved play. In his last seven games (2-4-1), Sorokin has allowed four or more goals four times, posting a subpar .888 SV%. Sorokin and the Islanders are +115 home underdogs on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite defeating them 4-3 less than a month ago when Sorkin saved 37 of 40 shots (.925 SV%).

A well-rested Kochetkov, who has not played since January 5th, will likely return to the crease on Thursday in search of his fifth straight victory. The 24-year-old Kochetkov has been tremendous during his four-game winning streak, allowing two or fewer goals in each contest, posting a terrific .936 SV%. Kochetkov and the Hurricanes have a favourable matchup as -335 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks squad that snapped a five-game losing streak in their most recent contest, a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators.

Scott Sabourin will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Labanc to re-enter the Sharks' lineup. Labanc will appear in only his third game since the Christmas break and has been held without a point in four straight contests, recording a -5 plus/minus and six shots on goal.

Ty Emberson will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Vlasic to play for only the second time since the Christmas break. In his last contest, Vlasic played under 12 minutes, recorded a -1 plus/minus, and fired two shots on goal.