NHL Hockey Player News

Despite scoring in Tuesday's win in Seattle, Kemell will be the odd-man out in Vancouver on Thursday. Ozzy Wiesblatt will dress in his place.

Seattle allowed four unanswered goals in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators as they suffered their third straight loss (0-3-0). The 29-year-old Daccord will return to the crease on Thursday, looking to improve on some inconsistent play since returning from the Olympic break, posting a 3.02 GAA and .903 SV% in six games (3-3-0). Seattle enters the action on Thursday as +185 home underdogs against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, who are coming off a disappointing 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

Stone has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on March 1st, but will return for Thursday's game against the Penguins. For the Golden Knights, Stone's return can't come soon enough, as they have gone 1-5-0 since his injury. The 33-year-old forward has been having a tremendous season, producing at a career-best rate with 60 points (21G / 39A) through 43 games.

The Predators will hand Saros his 50th start of the campaign when they travel to Vancouver to take on the Canucks on Thursday. Saros was outstanding in his last start, turning away 43 of the 45 shots he faced in a 4-2 win in Seattle on Tuesday. Nashville's franchise netminder carries a 23-19-6 record and an .893 SV% into Thursday night's game, where the Preds enter action at -165 on the money line.

Matthews left the game in the second period after taking an ugly looking knee-on-knee hit from Ducks captain Radko Gudas. Gudas was assessed a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct on the play. We should get an update on Matthews' status ahead of the Maple Leafs game in Buffalo on Saturday.

Sergachev has not played in over a week, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old Sergachev is having a terrific season with Utah, scoring 42 points (10G / 32A) in 61 games, and will reclaim his spot on the top powerplay unit when he returns.

Vejmelka had a troubling performance in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild, allowing five goals on 30 shots (.833 SV%). The 29-year-old Czech goalie has a sub. 900 SV% in four of six games since returning from the Olympic break (3-3-0), posting a subpar 3.50 GAA and .871 SV%. The Mammoth enter Thursday's contest as -221 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has been trending upwards, collecting at least a point in five straight games (3-0-2).

Fabbri will draw into the lineup on Thursday in place of the injured Bobby Brink. Fabbri has one goal and three assists in 17 games this season split between the Blues and Wild.

Stachowiak was acquired as part of an AHL trade and will report to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Stachowiak appeared in 38 games for Syracuse (AHL) this season, registering nine goals and eight assists.

Milne was acquired as part of an AHL trade and will report to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Milne appeared in 19 games for Syracuse (AHL) this season, registering zero goals and one assist.

Mitchell was acquired as part of an AHL trade and will report to the Syracuse Crunch. Mitchell appeared in 45 games for Grand Rapids (AHL) this season, tallying four goals and 16 assists.

Minnesota acquired Brink in a trade from Philadelphia last week, but he is battling an upper-body ailment and will miss Thursday's game against his former team. The 24-year-old has played three games with Minnesota so far and scored a goal for his first point with the team in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Utah Mammoth.

The Rangers seem to have a firm hold on last place in the Eastern Conference (26-30-8), despite the solid netminding they have received from Igor Shesterkin (20-12-6). The 30-year-old Shesterkin has given his team a chance on most nights and has continued that consistency since returning from the Olympic break, posting a 2.73 GAA and .908 SV% in five games (3-0-2). The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as +133 road underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets team coming off a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks will hand Dostal his 44th start of the season when they travel to Toronto on Thursday. Dostal was sharp in what admittedly amounted to very little work in his last start, stopping 12 of the 13 shots he faced in a 4-1 win in Winnipeg on Thursday. The 25-year-old netminder brings a 26-14-2 record and an .893 SV% into Thursday night's matchup, where the Ducks enter action at -105 on the money line.

Sabourin will re-enter the Lightning lineup on Thursday, slotting in for Connor Geekie. Sabourin has one goal and three assists in 17 games this season.

Geekie will take a seat on Thursday in favour of Scott Sabourin. Geekie has zero goals and two assists in 11 games this season.

Eklund was absence from practice on Wednesday and his status for Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins was up in the air. The 23-year-old Swedish forward has 38 points (11G / 27A) in 58 games this season, but has been held off the scoresheet in three straight.

The Lightning will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the 44th time this season when they host the Red Wings on Thursday. Vasilevskiy was tagged with a rare defeat in his last start, surrendering four goals on 31 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The Vezina Trophy favourite still boasts an impressive 29-11-3 record to go along with a .912 SV% on the season. Vasilevskiy and the Lightning enter action on Thursday at -225 on the money line.

While Bussi has an absurd 25 wins in his first 30 NHL games, he has battled some adversity in recent outings. The 27-year-old rookie goalie has allowed four or more goals in three straight games (2-1-0), posting an ugly 4.38 GAA and .827 SV%. The concerning play dates back to before the Olympic break, where Bussi has a 3.15 GAA and .859 SV% in his last seven (6-1-0). That said, Bussi and the Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as -278 home favourites against a St. Louis Blues team with points in five straight games (4-0-1).