NHL Hockey Player News

Drouin has not played in over a week due to a lower-body injury, but has practiced the past several days and should return to the lineup on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 30-year-old Drouin has 15 points (3G / 12A) through 26 games in his first season with the Islanders. He has only one assist in his last nine games and was recently demoted to the team's second powerplay unit before his injury.

An NHL veteran of over 600 games, Kulak was a regular presence this season on the Oilers' third defensive pair, averaging 17:42 time-on-ice through 31 games. The 31-year-old defenseman will add a veteran presence to a Penguins defensive core with several inexperienced blueliners.

After speculations had regularly circulated around the Oilers organization about a change between the pipes, a move was finally made on Friday in a deal that sent Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old Skinner was unable to consistently be a reliable goaltending option for the Oilers and hopes a change of scenery can help him flourish with the Penguins. Skinner had a 2.83 GAA and .891 SV% in 23 games with Edmonton this season (11-8-4), and was ironically moved after his most consistent stretch, posting a solid 2.15 GAA and .913 SV% in his last seven games (4-2-1).

Poulin was a first-round pick of the Penguins in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but has yet to make an impact at the NHL level, appearing in only 15 career games. The 24-year-old forward had 20 points (9G / 11A) in 22 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) this season.

With the Oilers struggling to find consistency in net with Stuart Skinner, rumors have regularly circulated about the team looking to improve the position. They hope to have found that improvement in Tristan Jarry. The 30-year-old Jarry had a forgetful 2024-25 season, including a lengthy demotion to the AHL, posting an ugly 3.12 GAA and .892 SV% in 36 games with Pittsburgh (16-12-6). He was off to a semi-resurgent 2025-26 season, posting a 2.66 GAA and .909 SV% in 14 games before being traded (9-3-1). Jarry has battled inconsistency throughout his career and has a limited, but troubling playoff history, appearing in only 8 total games (2-6-0) while posting a 3.00 GAA and .891 SV%.

Stastney was a fifth-round pick of the Nashville Predators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old defenseman became an NHL regular for the first time this season, averaging 14:52 time-on-ice and scoring nine points (1G / 8A) in 30 games. He will likely suit up on the Oilers' third defensive pair, replacing Brett Kulak, who was sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade earlier today.

The Bruins have had trouble staying healthy this season, with new players being injured seemingly as soon as another returns to the lineup. Arvidsson has already missed seven games this season due to injuries and returns to the sidelines with a lower-body ailment. The 32-year-old Arvidsson has been productive in a middle-six role for the Bruins this season, tallying 14 points (7G / 7A) and 65 shots in 25 games.

Hintz took a Miro Heiskanen slapshot off the foot in the final minutes of the game and was visibly in pain afterwards. He needed help being taken off the ice. Stars' Head Coach Glen Gulutzan did not provide an update following the game.

With Alex Tuch (illness) unavailable, Kuntar will immediately make his NHL debut after signing his first NHL contract earlier on Thursday. Kuntar has appeared in 24 games with Rochester (AHL) this season, registering nine goals and four assists.

Tuch was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Sabres not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Trevor Kuntar will draw into the lineup and make his NHL debut in place of Tuch.

The Canucks, already expected to be without Elias Pettersson (upper body), will thankfully have Boeser in the lineup on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old Boeser has 16 points (9G / 7A) in 28 games this season, but has been held off the scoresheet in eight of his last 10 games.

Lyon unexpectedly entered Buffalo's most recent game late in the first period after Colten Ellis suffered an injury. The 33-year-old Lyon went on to save 21 of 24 shots (.875 SV%) in an eventual 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers. The 33-year-old Lyon has a 3.22 GAA and .899 SV% in 15 appearances this season (4-6-3). The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as slight -111 road favorites against a struggling Canucks team coming off a 4-0 shutout loss to the Detroit Red Wings.