NHL Hockey Player News

Thompson will be looking to snap a personal three-game losing skid when the Capitals travel to Calgary on Friday. Thompson was tagged for four goals on 25 shots in his last start, as the Capitals were defeated in Vancouver on Wednesday by a score of 4-3. Thompson brings a 17-15-4 record and a .913 SV% into Friday night's matchup, where the Caps enter action at -130 on the money line.

Rantanen was a late omission from the Stars' lineup on Tuesday because of an illness, and remained sidelined on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Ranatnen has 63 points (19G / 44A) in 48 games this season.

The Stars will turn to Oettinger between the pipes for the 33rd time this season when they host the Blues on Friday night. Oettinger secured the victory in his last outing, making 16 saves on 18 shots in a 6-2 win over the Bruins on Tuesday. Dallas' franchise netminder now owns an 18-10-4 record on the year to go along with a .902 SV% and 2.67 GAA. Oettinger and the Stars enter action on Friday at -170 on the money line.

Rantanen was a late omission from the Stars' lineup on Tuesday because of an illness, and remained sidelined on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Ranatnen has 63 points (19G / 44A) in 48 games this season.

The Golden Knights will continue their goalie rotation on Friday as Hill gets the nod in Toronto. Hill was tagged with just his second regulation loss of the season in his last start, allowing two goals on 17 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Flyers on Monday. The 29-year-old brings a 7-2-1 record and an .873 SV% into Friday night's matchup against the Maple Leafs, a team Hill defeated just eight days ago. The Golden Knights enter action on Friday at -120 on the money line.

The Blackhawks are on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Friday, so it will be Soderblom who gets the unfortunate task of taking on the Lightning. Soderblom struggled in his last start, surrendering five goals on 23 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Bruins on Saturday. The 26-year-old netminder brings a 5-8-1 record and an .868 SV% into Friday night's matchup, where the Hawks enter action at +240 on the money line.

The Lightning will hand Vasilevskiy his 32nd start of the campaign when they travel to Chicago on Friday. Vasilevskiy delivered another stellar performance in his last start, turning away 22 of the 23 shots he faced in 4-1 win over the Sharks on Tuesday. The former Vezina Trophy winner owns an impressive 21-7-3 record on the season to go along with a .916 SV% and 2.18 GAA. He's a great bet to stay in the win column tonight, as the Lightning enter action at -300 on the money line.

Dickinson did not play in Chicago's previous game because of an illness, but he will re-enter the lineup on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 30-year-old Dickinson has 10 points (6G / 4A) in 36 games this season.

Sasson has been a regular in the lineup this season, already playing a career-high 47 games, but he will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the New Jersey Devils. He has 12 points (10G / 2A) and is averaging 11:25 time-on-ice this season.

Lankinen was solid in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals, saving 29 of 32 shots (.906 SV%), to help the Canucks snap a miserable nine-game losing streak (0-9-2). Despite the team's recent struggles, Lankinen hasn't been a detriment between the pipes, posting a serviceable 3.08 GAA and .902 SV% in his last nine appearances (3-4-1). The Canucks enter Friday's contest as +129 home underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that has won four of their last five games (4-1-0).

With Anthony Stolarz being activated off IR and returning to Toronto's roster, Matt Benning has been reassigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL). The 31-year-old appeared in one game with the Maple Leafs this season and failed to pick up a point. He returns to the Marlies, where he has two goals and 10 points in 16 games played this season.

With Anthony Stolarz returning from IR on Friday, Dennis Hildeby was the odd man out on Toronto's roster and has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL). The 24-year-old towering netminder played incredibly well during his time filling in for Stolarz, with a 5-6-4 record, 2.90 GAA and .912 SV% in a career high 19 appearances.

Sabourin did not appear in any games during his current call up and will return to Syracuse (AHL) on Friday. The 33-year-old has appeared in nine games this year, picking up a goal, 3 points and 63 PIMs.

McTavish has returned to Anaheim after missing the Ducks' previous game with an upper-body injury and is unsure if he will be able to return on Anaheim's current road trip. The 22-year-old had been starting to heat up with three goals in his previous five games to add to his 13 goals and 30 points in 49 games on the season.