NHL Hockey Player News

Vanecek has only played once in the last two weeks, but will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. The 29-year-old Vanecek has been inconsistent early in his Utah tenure, but is coming off a solid 21-save performance (.955 SV%) in a 2-0 loss to the Calgary Flames. He has a 2.87 GAA and .878 SV% in nine games this season (2-6-1). The Mammoth enter Tuesday's contest as -113 road favorites against a Bruins team coming off a 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, snapping a four-game winning streak.

Vladar has been a leading force behind the Flyers' solid 16-9-6 record this season, posting a solid 2.48 GAA and .908 SV% through 19 games this season (11-5-3). He was excellent in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Philadelphia's most recent outing, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%). The Flyers enter Tuesday's contest as +111 road underdogs against a Montreal Canadiens team coming off an impressive 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers.

Pesce has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on October 26th, but appears to nearing a return to the lineup. The 30-year-old defenseman has been a stabilizing force on New Jersey's blueline when healthy, averaging 19:39 time-on-ice and scoring three points (0G / 3A) in nine games.

Minnesota has been one of the top teams in the NHL over the past month, is riding a four-game winning streak, and has kept its goalies fresh by alternating starts regularly. Gustavsson will tend the twine on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals, looking to build on a 2.61 GAA and .908 SV% through 21 games this season (10-8-3). He is coming off a 29-save performance (.935 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Minnesota enters Tuesday's contest as -111 home favorites against a Capitals team that is 7-1-2 in its last 10 games.

Brodin exited Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars late in the third period and has not played since. He will remain out of the lineup on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. The 32-year-old defenseman is averaging 22:05 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) in 30 games this season.

Johansson exited Sunday's 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins after only 7:57 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. The 35-year-old Johansson is pacing for a career yet with the Wild, scoring 26 points (11G / 15A) through 33 games. He will not play on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals.

Artyom Levshunov will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, allowing Del Mastro to re-enter the lineup. The 22-year-old Del Mastro has only played one game with Chicago this season. He has six points (2G / 4A) in 27 career games.

Strong play from Levshunov rewarded him with overtaking a role on Chicago's top powerplay unit, but he has cooled down lately and will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday. He has 14 points (1G / 13A) in 31 games this season, but has only one assist in his last seven games. Ethan Del Mastro will draw into the lineup as Levshunov's replacement.

Foligno has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on November 26th, but he should return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. The 34-year-old Foligno has a -10 plus/minus and is off to the worst offensive start to his career, with only two points (0G / 2A) in 23 games.

The Islanders have won six of their last seven (6-1-0) and can largely credit their success to strong play from Sorokin between the pipes. The 30-year-old Sorokin has an outstanding 2.00 GAA and .942 SV% in his last five games (5-0-0). He boasts a 2.50 GAA and .912 SV% in 22 games this season (12-8-2). The Islanders enter Tuesday's contest as +116 road underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings team that is 5-1-2 in their last eight games.