NHL Hockey Player News

Mathieu Joseph will draw back into the Blues' lineup on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, sending Fabbri to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Fabbri has averaged 13:03 time-on-ice and scored three assists in eight games with the Bleus this season.

Jordan Binnington's abysmal season continued in a 6-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, and the team will revert to Hofer on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 25-year-old Hofer started the 2025-26 season on a low note but has been outstanding in recent weeks, posting an excellent 1.84 GAA and .931 SV% in his last 11 games (6-5-0). The Blues enter Friday's contest as +125 home underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has lost six of their last seven games (1-3-3).

Dostal's recent struggles for the Ducks continue, losing five of six (1-4-1) while posting an ugly 3.83 GAA and .810 SV%. The 25-year-old Czech goalie was having a solid season before that, with a 2.72 GAA and .905 SV% in his first 19 games. He hopes to return to his early-season form on Friday, tending the twine against a Minnesota Wild team with points in four straight (2-0-2). The Ducks enter Friday's contest as +114 home underdogs.

Podkolzin did not practice on Friday due to an illness and it is unclear if he will be ready to suit up on Saturday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 24-year-old Podkolzin is averaging 15:28 time-on-ice and has 16 points (9G / 7A) in 41 games this season.

Demko has struggled in recent games, posting an ugly 4.33 GAA and .876 SV% in his last three (0-3-0), but will likely return to the crease on Friday against the Seattle Kraken. The 30-year-old Demko has a 2.72 GAA and .905 SV% in 17 games this season. The Canucks enter the action on Friday as -139 home favorites against a Kraken team that played last night and extended its point streak to six games (5-0-1) with a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators.

With Radko Gudas (illness) returning to Anaheim's blueline, Helleson will be the odd-man out of the lineup on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old Helleson is averaging 18:12 time-on-ice and has nine points (2G / 7A) in 36 games this season.

Gudas missed Anaheim's previous two games due to an illness, but will draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. The 35-year-old Czech defenseman has eight points (1G / 7A), 49 blocks, and 94 hits in 27 games this season.

Injuries on Tampa Bay's blueline gave D'Astous a chance to draw into the lineup, and he has impressed with his opportunity in his first NHL season, earning a one-year, $875,000 contract extension. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 19:05 time-on-ice and has 13 points (3G / 10A) in 33 games this season.

Gostisbehere has not played in the Hurricanes' previous three games, but was back at practice on Friday and could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 32-year-old Gostisbehere has already missed several stints due to injuries this season, missing 12 total games, but has been outstanding when in the lineup, scoring 29 points (4G / 25A) in 28 games. He ranks third amongst all defenseman, averaging 1.04 points-per-game, trailing only Cale Makar and Zach Werenski.

Sorokin has not played since December 19th due to a lower-body injury. He will serve as David Rittich's backup on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but could return to the crease on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year-old Sorokin has a 2.55 GAA and .910 SV% in 24 games this season (12-10-2).

Ilya Sorokin (lower body) has been activated from Injured Reserve, but he will serve as Rittich's backup on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 33-year-old Rittich has been solid this season, but is coming off a forgetful outing, allowing five goals on 14 shots (.643 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has a 2.46 GAA and .909 SV% in 17 games this season (10-5-2).

Horvat just recently returned from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury and will return to the sidelines. The injury is not expected to affect the 30-year-old's availability for the Olympics, meaning he should be back, at the latest, before the end of the month. Horvat has 33 points (21G 12A) in 36 games this season.

With Marco Rossi (lower body) on Injured Reserve, Vancouver has recalled Bains from Abbotsford (AHL). Bains was recently assigned to Abbotsford, where he has six points (3G / 3A) in five games.

Rossi exited Vancouver's previous game midway through the third period due to an lower-body injury, and will be sidelined for at least a week. The 24-year-old has two points (1G / 1A) in eight games since joining the Canucks in a trade with Minnesota.

Warren's first exposure to the NHL was successful, scoring three assists in his first eight games, but he will return to a familiar place in the AHL. The 24-year-old Warren was a sixth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the majority of the previous three seasons in the AHL.

Howard spent the first portion of the season with the Oilers, scoring three points (2G / 1A) in 17 games. The 21-year-old forward has excelled since being assigned to the AHL, scoring 23 points (10G / 13A) in 16 games with the Bakersfield Condors.

Hutson played three games with the Oilers earlier this season, scoring his first career goal, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 24-year-old undrafted forward has 32 points (19G / 13A) in 26 games with Bakersfield (AHL).

The Kraken will turn to Grubauer between the pipes for a second consecutive game when they host the Predators on Thursday. Grubauer was excellent in his last start, stopping 32 of the 33 shots he faced in a 4-1 win over the Flyers on Sunday. The 34-year-old netminder is enjoying a bit of a renaissance for the Kraken this season, posting an impressive .917 SV% across 12 appearances. Grubauer and the Kraken enter action on Thursday at -105 on the money line as they look to start off 2026 in the win column.

The Predators will turn to Saros between the pipes for the 31st time this season when they travel to Seattle on Thursday. Saros secured the victory in his last start, stopping 28 of the 31 shots he faced in a 4-3 win in Utah on Monday. Nashville's franchise netminder carries a 15-12-3 record and an .898 SV% into Thursday night's matchup with the Kraken, where the Preds enter action at -115 on the money line.