NHL Hockey Player News

With Filip Gustavsson still out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, Minnesota will turn to Wallstedt as they hope to reverse their fate against the Dallas Stars after being defeated by them 4-0 on Monday. The 21-year-old Wallstedt was the 20th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has been terrific for the Iowa Wild in the AHL this season, posting a 2.54 GAA and .917 SV% in 20 games (11-9-0). That said, Minnesota is a +166 road underdog against a Dallas Stars team that has pummelled them this season, outscoring them 12-3 through two games (0-2-0).

Wedgewood received the night off on Monday after starting 11 consecutive games and watched Matt Murray record a shutout in a 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild in his fourth career NHL game. The Stars hope the rest helped Wedgewood reset as he was beginning to falter between the pipes, allowing four or more goals in four of his last five games (2-2-1), posting an abysmal .858 SV% after posting a more respectable .906 SV% in his previous six games (4-1-1). The Stars have a rematch against the Wild on Wednesday and are -186 home favourites.

Trouba did not participate in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday due to personal reasons but will likely play on the Rangers' upcoming two-game road trip. The 29-year-old Trouba has been an effective producer for the Rangers lately, scoring three points (1G / 2A), registering 19 hits, and 18 shots in his last five games.

Zibanejad did not practice on Wednesday due to an illness but is expected to play at some point on their upcoming two-game road trip. Zibenejad has only two points (0G / 2A) in his last four games but has been consistent all season, scoring 39 points (14G / 25A) in 39 games.

Fast has missed the last three games due to an upper-body injury but appears set to return on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks. Fast has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 37 games this season while playing predominantly on a line with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook.

One week after joining the Maple Leafs, Hildeby has been reassigned to the Marlies (AHL) in correspondence to Illya Samsonov being recalled. Hildeby served as the backup to Martin Jones in the entirety of his duration with the Maple Leafs but the 22-year-old was Toronto's 2022 fourth-round pick (122th overall) and had an impressive 7-5-3 record, .919 SV% and 2.20 GAA with the Marlies (AHL) in 2023-24 before his call up.

Just one week after clearing waivers and being assigned to the Marlies (AHL), the Maple Leafs reversed their transaction, reassigning Dennis Hildeby to the Marlies. Samsonov's reassignment to the Marlies was originally intended so that he could re-find his form, but given that he did not make it into any game action in the AHL, it is unclear if the Maple Leafs have recalled him because they intend him to play or so that Hildeby can get some game-action before being recalled again. In any event, the Maple Leafs will be rolling with Martin Jones and Ilya Samsonov as their goaltending tandem for the time being.

The Blackhawks will be without rookie phenom Bedard for the next 6-8 weeks after successfully undergoing surgery on Monday. Bedard took a heavy open-ice hit from the Devils' Brendan Smith in the first period of Friday's game and did not return. In addition to being out for the next several weeks, Bedard will also be unable to compete at the All-Star game. Bedard's absence further hurts an already injury-depleted Blackhawks roster, whose active scoring leader is now Philipp Kurashev, who has only 23 points (8G / 15A) in 34 games.

Wood did not play on Saturday, was a game-time decision on Monday, and is again doubtful on Wednesday as he battles an illness. Wood was very effective in a top-six role in his last outing, scoring one point (0G / 1A) and firing three shots on goal in 15:31 time-on-ice.

Sam Malinski drew into the lineup on Monday for Manson, who will again be a game-time decision on Wednesday. Manson has been an effective contributor over the last couple of weeks with five points (3G / 2A), 18 shots on goal, and 24 hits in his last seven games.

Deslauries played in each of the last three games for the Flyers but will be a healthy scratch on Monday. In his last outing, he played 7:43 time-on-ice, recorded three hits, and two shots on goal while playing on a line with Garnet Hathaway and Ryan Poehling.

After a very busy December for Ersson, due in part to Carter Hart being out of the lineup because of an illness, Ersson will make only his second January start on Wednesday. Despite being winless in his last two starts, Ersson has been terrific lately for the Flyers, boasting a stellar .926 SV% in 12 games (8-2-2) since mid-November. The Flyers, who have lost five of their last six (1-3-2), have a favourable matchup as -175 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens club that has scored three or fewer goals in five of their last six games (2-4-0).

Valimaki will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as Michael Kesselring draws back into the lineup. Valimaki has no goals and six assists in 30 games this season.

Kesselring will take the place of Juuso Valimaki, who is the odd-man out on Tuesday. Kesselring has an impressive return of four goals and five assists in 21 games this season.

Ullmark will be back between the pipes for the Bruins on Tuesday after Jeremy Swayman got the nod in last night's shootout loss to the Avalanche. Ullmark picked up his third consecutive win in his last time out, allowing three goals on 26 shots as the Bruins defeated the Lightning by a score of 7-3. He owns an impressive 13-5-2 record on the season along with a .915 SV% and a 2.74 GAA. The Bruins find themselves as -165 favourites in Arizona on Tuesday despite being on the tail-end of a back-to-back..

Zub didn't practice on Monday but was a game-time decision on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. In 28 games this season, Zub has 11 points (3G / 8A), 46 hits, and 49 blocks while averaging 20:49 time-on-ice.

van Riemsdyk will play on Tuesday after sitting out the last two gamse with an undisclosed injury. He has seven goals and 18 assists in 35 games this season.

Steen will take a seat on Tuesday as James van Riemsdyk is set to return from an undisclosed injury. Steen has just one goal and no assists in 24 games this season.

Hellebuyck will return to the crease for the red-hot Jets on Tuesday as they search for their seventh straight victory. Hellebuyck has played a large part in helping the Jets skyrocket up the standings to first place in the Western Conference and has undeniably been the best goaltender in the league for the last two months, allowing fewer than three goals in 16 of his last 17 outings (13-2-2), boasting a sensational .939 SV%. The Jets are -232 home favourites on Tuesday in a favourable matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have scored three or fewer goals in each of their last four games (1-1-2).