NHL Hockey Player News

Carrick has been in and out of the lineup this season and has missed the last week due to a mid-body injury. The 34-year-old Carrick is averaging 7:23 time-on-ice and has a -3 plus/minus in four games this season.

Helenius recorded an assist in Buffalo's previous game, a 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks, but he will not play on Thursday as he tends to an upper-body injury. The 20-year-old Finnish forward is averaging 13:00 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 11 games.

Leevi Merilainen has struggled in recent games, but he will return to the crease for a third straight outing, an unfortunate testament to his counterpart, Kevin Lankinen's abysmal play. The 24-year-old Merilainen remains the preferred choice in Vancouver's crease, despite allowing 14 goals on 100 shots (.860 SV%) in his past three games (1-2-0). Merilainen has a 3.35 GAA and a .900 SV% in nine appearances this season (2-3-1). The Canucks enter Thursday's outing as +148 road underdogs against a San Jose Sharks team coming off a 2-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

The Blue Jackets signed Carson Soucy off a PTO during the preseason as a replacement for Dante Fabbro (hand). However, Fabbro made his season debut in Columbus' previous game, resulting in Soucy being placed on waivers and ultimately being assigned to Cleveland (AHL). The 32-year-old Soucy averaged 14:45 time-on-ice and had one assist in seven games with Columbus.

Doughty did not play in the Kings previous game due to an undisclosed injury, but he will be back in the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The 36-year-old Doughty is averaging 21:02 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 10 games. Cody Ceci will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Doughty's return.

Perry has battled some lingering injuries this season, missing two games so far, but he will be back in the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The 41-year-old forward is averaging 11:30 time-on-ice, recording one assist and a -3 plus/minus in nine games.

Drew Doughty (undisclosed) will return to the Kings lineup on Thursday, with Ceci being the odd man out as a healthy scratch. The veteran 32-year-old Ceci is averaging 16:40 time-on-ice and has one assist in seven games this season.

Kuemper had a forgettable season debut, allowing eight goals on 29 shots (.724 SV%) in an 8-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, but has been solid since. The 36-year-old veteran goalie has won three straight games, posting a 2.26 GAA and .931 SV%. Still, the Kings enter Thursday's game as slight +105 home underdogs against an Ottawa Senators team that has lost three of their last five games (2-3-0).

With Alex Lyon (upper body) still out this season, the Sabres have leaned heavily on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but they will turn to Ellis for back-to-back starts on Thursday. The 26-year-old Ellis earned another start after a tremendous performance in Buffalo's previous game, stopping all 23 shots in a 2-0 shutout win over the San Jose Sharks. The Sabres enter Thursday's action as -131 road favourites against a struggling Anaheim Ducks team that has lost six of their last seven games (1-5-1).

Leevi Merilainen has struggled in recent games, but he will return to the crease for a third straight outing, an unfortunate testament to his counterpart, Kevin Lankinen's abysmal play. The 24-year-old Merilainen remains the preferred choice in Vancouver's crease, despite allowing 14 goals on 100 shots (.860 SV%) in his past three games (1-2-0). Merilainen has a 3.35 GAA and a .900 SV% in nine appearances this season (2-3-1). The Canucks enter Thursday's outing as +148 road underdogs against a San Jose Sharks team coming off a 2-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

The Senators have not released details about Foegele's injury, but he will be out for the foreseeable future, beginning with Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old forward is averaging 12:06 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 13 games this season.

Chabot has missed the past four games with an upper-body injury, but will return on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 29-year-old Chabot is averaging 25:20 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in nine games this season. Carter Yakemchuk will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Chabot's return.

Thomas Chabot (upper body) will re-enter the lineup on Thursday, resulting in Yakemchuk being a healthy scratch. Yakemchuk, the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, has shown some promise, but has yet to establish himself at the NHL level fully. He has three points (1G / 2A) and a -6 plus/minus in 13 games this season.

With Linus Ullmark (lower body) expected to miss another week, the Senators will continue to roll with Samuel Ersson and Jonas Johansson, turning to Johansson on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Johansson was solid in Ottawa's previous game, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Senators enter Thursday's game as -116 road favourites against a low-scoring Kings team that scored fewer than two goals in six of their last nine games (3-5-1).

With Jared Spurgeon (undisclosed) out of the lineup, Spacek will fill in on Minnesota's blueline. The 23-year-old Spacek is averaging 13:02 time-on-ice, recording zero points, seven blocks, and four hits in six games.

Crotty hasn't seen much NHL action this season, playing three games with the Senators, and was placed on waivers, ultimately claimed by Minnesota. The 27-year-old Crotty played six games for Ottawa last season, averaging 14:55 time on ice and scoring one assist.

Olofsson has not played in nearly three weeks, but appears to be inching closer to a return after practicing in a non-contact jersey. The 31-year-old Swedish forward was off to a strong start to the 2026-27 season, scoring five points (4G / 1A) in four games, including deployment on the team's top powerplay unit.

Artem Duda will draw into Utah's lineup for his NHL debut on Thursday, resulting in DeSimone being a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old DeSimone is averaging 12:46 time-on-ice and has zero points in four games.