NHL Hockey Player News

Melanson will be the odd-man out when the Kraken travel to Tampa Bay on Thursday. He will replaced by the recently recalled Oscar Fisker-Molgaard.

Fisker-Molgaard made his NHL debut earlier this season, scoring one assist in three games, and has been recalled by a Seattle team desperate for an offensive uptick. The 21-year-old second-round pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has 32 points (10G / 22A) in 46 games this season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL).

Amid a five-game losing streak (0-4-1), Seattle will try to right their ship by turning to Grubauer on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 34-year-old Grubauer didn't provide much optimism in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 25 shots (.800 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the same Lightning team. Since returning from the Olympic break, Grubauer has a 3.49 GAA and .875 SV% in five appearances (1-3-0). Seattle enters Thursday's contest as sizable +248 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay team on a five-game point streak (4-0-1).

George will take a seat on Thursday when the Islanders host the Stars. He'll be replaced by Ryan Pulock, who is returning from a lower-body injury.

Pulock has not played the past two games for the Islanders due to a lower-body injury, but is ready to return on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 31-year-old defenseman is averaging 20:59 time-on-ice and has 25 points (3G / 22A) in 67 games this season.

Sabourin will immediately exit the lineup after drawing in for Tuesday's game against the Wild. Oliver Bjorkstrand will dress in his place.

Bjorkstrand will draw right back into the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game against the Wild. Scott Sabourin will sit in his place.

Dobes has become the most reliable netminder for the Canadiens over the past few weeks and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In his last six games (4-2-0), the 24-year-old Czech goalie has dazzled with a solid 2.20 GAA and .926 SV%. The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as slight -112 home favourites against a Blue Jackets team that is 5-1-0 in their last six games.

Veleno will slot into the lineup on Thursday in place of Alexandre Texier. Veleno has two goals and two assists in 51 games this season.

Texier will take a seat on Thursday in favour of Joe Veleno. Texier has appeared in 46 games this season, tallying eight goals and 12 assists.

Vasilevskiy did not need to be spectacular in Tampa Bay's previous outing, saving 21 of 24 shots (.875 SV%) in a 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. The 31-year-old goalie has not been his dominant self lately, going 6-5-0 with a pedestrian 3.02 GAA and .886 SV% in 11 games (6-5-0) since the end of February. Tampa Bay, in a race for the top seed in the Atlantic Division, enters Thursday's contest as significant -296 home favourites against an offensively challenged Seattle Kraken team that has scored two or fewer goals in five of its last eight games (2-5-1).

With Cam Talbot battling an undisclosed injury, the Red Wings have opted to recall Postava from the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). Postava has been excellent in his first AHL season, posting a 1.86 GAA and .932 SV% in 21 games (13-6-0), but his recall is somewhat surprising given that Grand Rapids' starting goalie, Sebastian Cossa, is largely considered to be the Red Wings' goalie-of-the-future.

Emil Andrae will draw back into Philadelphia's lineup on Thursday, sending Juulsen to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Juulsen is averaging 13:44 time-on-ice and has 10 points (1G / 9A) in 50 games this season.

With the Flyers battling to stay in playoff contention, they will need a big game out of Ersson on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 26-year-old Swedish goalie was victorious in his most recent outing, saving 22 of 25 shots (.880 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings. He has played well in limited action since returning from the Olympic break, posting a 1.74 GAA and .920 SV% in four appearances (3-0-0). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as -147 home favourites.

With Conor Timmins (lower body) returning from a prolonged absence, Metsa will be the odd man out of the lineup and loaned to Rochester (AHL). The 27-year-old Metsa has been effective in his first NHL season as a bottom-pair defenseman, recording six points (2G / 4A) and a +20 plus/minus in 38 games.

Eklund was a first-round pick of the Islanders in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and will be poised to make his professional North American debut with the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL). The 19-year-old forward scored 24 points (6G / 18A) this season in 43 games with Djurgardens IF (SweHL).

Knight was solid in his previous outing, saving 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%), but came up short in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators. That said, the 24-year-old Knight, who has been serviceable all season in Chicago, has been reliable since returning from the Olympic break, posting a 2.71 GAA and .913 SV%, but unfortunately, it has not translated into a winning record: 2-3-3 in eight games. The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +145 road underdogs against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has points in six of its last seven games (5-1-1).

For the third time in the last seven games, the Ducks will turn to Husso to tend the twine when they face the Calgary Flames on Thursday. The 31-year-old Finnish goalie allowed five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in his most recent outing, but salvaged a 6-5 overtime victory over the Buffalo Sabres. He has a 2.81 GAA and .918 SV% in four games this month (2-2-0). The Ducks enter Thursday's contest as -128 road favourites against a Flames team that has been surprisingly competent since losing several key players at the trade deadline, going 6-4-0.

Thompson has had a heavy workload lately as Washington desperately battles to stay in playoff contention, and he will return to the crease on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. The 29-year-old goalie has been outstanding lately, but he finds himself amid a two-game losing skid (0-1-1). That said, he has a stellar 2.09 GAA and .924 SV% in his last 12 games (6-4-2). The Capitals enter Thursday's contest as +122 road underdogs against a Mammoth team that is 1-2-0 in their last three games.

Dries has gone without a point in five games with the Red Wings this season and will return to Grand Rapids (AHL), where he has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign. The 31-year-old forward has 27 points (20G / 17) in 48 games with Grand Rapids this season.