NHL Hockey Player News

Carlile will return to the lineup on Thursday as the Lightning opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Emil Lilleberg will sit in his place.

Lilleberg will take a seat on Thursday as the Lightning opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Declan Carlile will play in his place.

Edvinsson will draw back into Detroit's lineup after sitting out their last few games before the break. The 22-year-old Swedish defenseman has emerged as an effective top-pair defenseman for the Red Wings. He is averaging 22:35 time-on-ice and has 17 points (6G / 11A) in 48 games this season.

Ersson will get the tail-end of Philadelphia's back-to-back on Thursday after serving as Dan Vladar's backup in last night's loss to the Capitals. Ersson struggled in his last start way back on January 29th, allowing five goals on 20 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Bruins. The 26-year-old has been amongst the worst goaltenders in the league this season, posting an ugly .856 SV% and 3.51 GAA across 24 appearances. The Flyers enter action on Thursday at +120 on the money line.

Gibson will unsurprisingly get the nod between the pipes when the Red Wings return from the Olympic break on Thursday. Gibson entered the break on a sour note, allowing three goals on 24 shots in a 4-1 loss in Utah on February 4th. The 13-year-veteran owns a 22-12-2 record to go along with a .904 SV% on the season. Gibson and the Wings enter action on Thursday at +130 on the money line.

McAvoy played an integral shutdown role for Team USA during their Gold Medal performance at the Olympics, and will be ready to suit up when Boston returns to action on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old McAvoy is pacing for career-best offensive totals this season, scoring 39 points (4G / 35A) through 39 games. He had a career-high 56 points (10G / 46A) in 78 games in the 2021-22 season.

Stutzle played well for Team Germany at the Olympics, scoring six points (4G / 2A) in five games, and is healthy enough to return to the Sens lineup on Thursday. The 24-year-old Stutzle is having a terrific season, with 61 points (28G / 33A) through 57 games. He had 10 points (6G / 4A) while riding a seven-game point streak heading into the Olympic break.

Bussi established himself as one of the feel-good stories of the NHL this season, and will hope to continue his success when Carolina returns from the Olympic break on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 27-year-old rookie recorded a 16-save shutout, his second of the season, in Carolina's final game before the break, a 2-0 win over the New York Rangers. He has won seven straight games while posting a 1.70 GAA and .921 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as -141 home favourites against a Lightning team that defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 last night.

The Lightning are on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Thursday, so Andrei Vasilevskiy will get the night off in favour of Johansson. Johansson got shelled in his last start way back on January 24th, allowing six goals on 29 shots in an 8-5 loss in Columbus. The 30-year-old netminder brings a 10-7-1 record and an .890 SV% into Thursday night's matchup, where the Lightning enter action at +125 on the money line.

Markstrom will make his first post-Olympic start on Thursday as Jake Allen got the nod in Wednesday's loss to the Sabres. Markstrom has struggled to maintain any sort of consistent form this season, logging a 15-13-1 record and an .882 SV% across 30 appearances. He and the Devils enter action on Thursday as slight underdogs at +130 on the money line.

Derek Joshua (lacerated kidney) will return from an extended absence on Thursday against the Florida Panthers, sending Jarnkrok to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 34-year-old Jarnkrok is averaging 11:23 time-on-ice and has seven points (6G / 1A) in 38 games this season.

Joshua has been sidelined since late December due to a kidney laceration, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 29-year-old is in his first season with the Maple Leafs, recording 10 points (6G / 4A) and 127 hits in 36 games this season. Calle Jarnkrok will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Joshua's return.

The Maple Leafs lost 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning last night and will hope for better results in the tail end of their back-to-back, with Woll tending the twine on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 27-year-old Woll entered the Olympic break with a 5-3-2 record in his last 10 games, posting a 3.05 GAA and .907 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter Thursday's contest as +138 road underdogs against a Panthers team desperate to make a late-season push to return to the playoffs.

After clearing waivers, Milano will report to the Hershey Bears (AHL). The 29-year-old Milano had a solid first two seasons in Washington, scoring 56 points (26G / 30A) in 113 games, but has not been able to replicate that success in season four, scoring only eight points (4G / 4A) through 31 games.

Wolf has had an inconsistent 2025-26 campaign and hopes the extended Olympic break can help him reset and return to the form that saw him finish as the runner-up for the Calder Trophy in the 2024-25 season. The 24-year-old Wolf entered the break by allowing four or more goals in seven of his last 10 games (2-7-1), posting an ugly 3.51 GAA and .881 SV%, and was largely outplayed by counterpart Devin Cooley. The Flames enter Thursday's contest as +112 road underdogs against a Sharks team they defeated 3-2 in their previous meeting.

In their first game back from the Olympic break, the Sharks will turn to Askarov to tend the twine on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. The 23-year-old Askarov battled some adversity heading into the break and hopes the extended rest can help him return to form. Since the beginning of December, Askarov has allowed fewer than three goals only once in 19 appearances (8-9-1), posting an ugly 4.07 GAA and .868 SV%. The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as -123 home favourites against a Flames team that already had the least potent offence in the NHL (2.54 GF / GP) and is now without Jonathan Huberdeau (hip) for the remainder of the season.

Faber played an important shutdown role in Team USA's Gold Medal performance at the Olympics, scoring two points (1G / 1A) in six games, and is set to return to Minnesota's lineup on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. Minnesota's recent acquisition of Quinn Hughes has helped Faber elevate his game to new heights, as he had 16 points (5G / 11A) in 16 games leading up to the Olympic break.

Hughes was impressive while representing Team USA during their Gold Medal performance at the Olympics, scoring eight points (1G / 7A) in six games, and is set to return to Minnesota's lineup on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 26-year-old Hughes has been outstanding since being traded to Minnesota earlier this season, averaging a career-high 28:18 time-on-ice and scoring 34 points (3G / 31A) in 26 games.

Boldy scored a crucial goal for Team USA in Sunday's 2-1 overtime win over Team Canada to help capture the Gold Medal. The 24-year-old Boldy will return to action for Minnesota on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, looking to improve on an already impressive season, with 62 points (32G / 30A) through 54 games.

Regenda was impressive while representing Team Slovakia in their fourth-place finish at the Olympics, scoring five points (3G / 2A) in six games, but he will be scratch by the Sharks when they return to action on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. The 26-year-old Regenda has nine points (8G / 1A) in 16 games with the Sharks this season.