NHL Hockey Player News

The Kraken will be without one of their top offensive contributors in recent weeks, as Eberle was absent from the team's morning skate on Thursday. The 35-year-old veteran forward has turned back the clock lately, with 14 points (7G / 7A) in his last 17 games.

Tolvanen is battling an illness, but will play on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 26-year-old has zero points in his last four games, but is otherwise having a great season, with 25 points (7G / 18A) in 40 games.

After four dreadful seasons with Seattle, posting a 3.07 GAA and .890 SV% in 156 games (57-78-12), Grubauer finally looks like the goalie that the team signed to a six-year, $35.4 million contract ($5.9M AAV) in 2021. The 34-year-old Grubauer saved 41 of 42 shots (.976 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames. He has an excellent 2.21 GAA and .926 SV% in 14 games this season (8-3-1). The Kraken enter Thursday's contest as +133 home underdogs against a Minnesota Wild team that has lost five of its last eight games (3-2-3).

Merilainen will somewhat surprisingly get the nod in goal for the second time in as many nights when the Sens travel to Denver on Thursday. Merilainen took the loss last night, giving up three goals on 21 shots in a 3-1 loss in Utah. The 23-year-old netminder has appeared in 15 games for the Senators this season, logging a 6-8-0 record and an .868 SV%. As you might expect, Merilainen and the Senators enter action on Thursday as massive underdogs at +225 on the money line.

Saros had been playing well lately but had a forgetful night in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 43 shots (.860 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Oilers. Before his recent blip, the 30-year-old Finnish goalie had a 2.72 GAA and .906 SV% in his last 13 games (9-4-0). The Predators enter the action on Thursday as -119 home favorites against a New York Islanders team coming off a monstrous 9-0 win over the New Jersey Devils.

Malkin has not played in over a month, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 39-year-old Malkin was having a renaissance season before his injury, scoring 29 points (8G / 21A) through 26 games. The future Hall of Famer has not finished a season above a point-per-game pace since the 2022-23 season.

The Maple Leafs have been rolling lately, with points in seven straight games (5-0-2), and will turn to Hildeby on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 24-year-old Swedish goalie was solid in his most recent outing, entering the contest in relief of Joseph Woll, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 6-5 win over the Winnipeg Jets. He has a 2.90 GAA and .912 SV% in 15 appearances this season (3-5-4). The Maple Leafs enter the action on Thursday as slight +108 road underdogs against a Flyers team that has scored five or more goals in three of their last four games (3-1-0).

The Devils will unsurprisingly turn to Allen between the pipes tonight after Jacob Markstrom was tagged for nine goals in Tuesday's embarrassing loss on Long Island. Allen himself took the loss in his last start, allowing three goals on 29 shots in a 3-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday. The 35-year-old netminder is enjoying another successful season as New Jersey's backup, logging an 11-9-1 record and a .911 SV% across 22 appearances. Allen and the Devils enter action on Thursday at -105 on the money line.