NHL Hockey Player News

With several injuries on Toronto's blueline, Benoit has been thrust into a larger role lately. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:02 time-on-ice and has two assists in 23 games this season. Dakota Mermis will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Benoit's return from a one-game absence.

Simon Benoit (personal) will return to the lineup on Tuesday, resulting in Mermis being a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Mermis is averaging 13:16 time-on-ice and has one goal in 10 games this season.

The Maple Leafs' struggles continue this season, as they sit in the basement of the Eastern Conference with an 11-11-3 record. Struggles aside, they have received adequate netminding from Joseph Woll lately. The 27-year-old Woll has played only six games (2-3-1) since making his season debut earlier in November, but has given the team a chance most nights he has tended the twine, posting a 2.80 GAA and .914 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter Tuesday's contest as +143 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers team on a two-game losing streak (0-2-0).

Arvidsson has not played in two weeks, but should receive prime offensive deployment when he returns to the lineup on Tuesday, with David Pastrnak sidelined due to injury. The 32-year-old Arvidsson has 10 points (6G / 4A) and 52 shots in 20 games this season. He is expected to suit up in the top-six and play on the top powerplay unit.

Appleton has played every game for the Red Wings this season, but will be sidelined for at least a week, beginning with Tuesday's game against the Boston Bruins, because of an undisclosed injury. The 30-year-old Appleton is averaging 13:34 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) through 26 games in his first season in Detroit.

Carlo has not played since November 13th due to a lower-body injury. He was seemingly nearing his return, but suffered a setback and will be out indefinitely. The 29-year-old defenseman was averaging 20:04 time-on-ice and scored two assists in 18 games before his injury.

The Red Wings have been abysmal defensively lately, outscored 28-12 in their last six games (1-4-1). They have lacked stability between the pipes, especially from John Gibson, who has allowed five goals in three straight games (0-2-1). Still, the 32-year-old Gibson will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins, looking to improve an ugly 3.59 GAA and .865 SV% through 13 games (4-7-1). The Red Wings enter Tuesday's contest as -180 home favorites against an injury-depleted Bruins team that defeated them 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday.

The Rangers are a dreadful 2-8-1 on home ice this season and will turn to Shesterkin to tend the twine on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old Shesterkin has played well lately, posting a 2.30 GAA and .921 SV% in his last four games (3-1-0). He has a solid 2.48 GAA and .911 SV% in 21 games this season (10-9-2). That said, the Rangers enter the action on Tuesday as +114 home underdogs against a red-hot Stars team that only has one regulation loss in their last 12 games (10-1-1).

Kochetkov has not played since November 17th, when he reaggravated an injury that kept him sidelined for the first month of the season. The 26-year-old Kochetkov had been outstanding between the pipes since making his season debut at the beginning of November, posting a 1.70 GAA and .926 SV% in five appearances (4-0-0). That said, injury concerns mixed with a potential three-goalie carousel in Carolina limit Kochetkov's fantasy value this season.

Kotkaniemi has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on November 14th, but was a full participant at practice on Tuesday as he nears his return. The 25-year-old Kotkaniemi scored five points (2G / 3A) in 15 games before his injury.

The Panthers have lost two straight and will attempt to return to the win column on Tuesday with Bobrovsky between the pipes against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bobrovsky had an impressive 32-save shutout in a 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on November 20th, but has otherwise struggled in recent games, posting a sub-.900 SV% in four of his last five (2-3-0). The 37-year-old veteran netminder has a 2.88 GAA and .882 SV% in 17 games this season (10-7-0). The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as -150 home favorites against a Maple Leafs team coming off an explosive 7-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Islanders have lost three straight (0-2-1) and will turn to Sorokin to tend the twine on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 30-year-old Sorokin was having a terrific November before ending it on a sour note, allowing five goals on 31 combined shots (.839 SV%) in his last two games (0-2-0). He has a 2.67 GAA and .901 SV% in 17 games this season (7-8-2). The Islanders enter Tuesday's contest as +122 home underdogs against a Lightning team riding a seven-game winning streak.

After playing a career-high 47 games with the Vancouver Canucks in the 2022-23 season, Studnicka has only played 22 games since. The 26-year-old forward has predominantly been an AHL player, and has six points (1G / 5A) in eight games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) this season.