NHL Hockey Player News

Gajan has played well on the international stage for the Slovak U-20 team and has translated that success to the collegiate level, posting a 2.25 GAA and .908 SV% this season in 33 games (19-13-1) with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The 21-year-old goalie was drafted 35th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, making him the highest-drafted goalie in that draft class.

Blackwood is coming off a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, allowing three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%), and will look to rebound on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old Blackwood has been protected defensively lately, facing fewer than 25 shots in 10 consecutive appearances (5-3-0), which has translated to a pedestrian 2.77 GAA and .868 SV%. Colorado enters Wednesday's contest as an enormous -450 home favourite against a Vancouver team that has been outscored 29-11 during a six-game losing streak (0-6-0).

With Bryan Rust (upper body) being a late scratch for Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Hayes drew into the lineup as his replacement. The 23-year-old forward has three goals in 13 games with Pittsburgh this season.

Rust was a late scratch ahead of Tuesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings, and it is unclear what his status will be on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 33-year-old Rust has 61 points (27G / 34A) in 67 games this season, and is just four points short of the career-high 65 points he had a season ago. Rust has been impressive offensively lately, scoring 20 points (8G / 12A) in 16 games in March.

Carrick suffered an upper-body injury in a fight with Anders Lee of the New York Islanders and did not return to the game. The 34-year-old has 16 points (9G / 7A) and 65 penalty minutes in 73 games this season.

Schwartz has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on March 7th, but will return to the lineup on Tuesday. The 33-year-old veteran forward has been productive offensively in a middle-six role and has been sorely missed for a Seattle team that struggles to generate offence and has gone 3-6-2 in his absence. Schwartz has 21 points (10G / 11A) in 42 games this season.

Wright entered action on Tuesday as a game-time decision after leaving Saturday's game with an upper-body injury. It's the first missed game of the season for Wright, who has 11 goals and 15 assists in 72 games this season.

The Kraken will somewhat surprisingly hand Grubauer a third consecutive start when they travel to Edmonton on Tuesday. To be fair, Grubauer was unfortunate to not come away with a victory in his last start, as he turned away 34 of the 36 shots he faced in a 3-2 shootout loss in Buffalo on Saturday. The 34-year-old netminder has enjoyed a bounce-back season, posting a 13-9-4 record and a .911 SV% across 29 appearances. The Kraken enter action on Tuesday just two points behind the Nashville Predators for the final Wild Card spot in the West with two games in hand.

Harkins suffered a hand injury early in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, exiting the game after only 2:05 time-on-ice. The 28-year-old Harkins is averaging 9:35 time-on-ice and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 44 games this season.

Samuel Montembeault has been an afterthought in Montreal lately, with Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler leading the way between the pipes. The 24-year-old Dobes was tremendous in his most recent outing, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He has won six of his last eight games (6-2-0) while posting an outstanding 1.90 GAA and .937 SVV%. Still, the Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as +146 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team with points in eight straight games (6-0-2).