NHL Hockey Player News

Bernard-Docker will immediately re-enter the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game against the Blue Jackets. Axel Sandin-Pellikka will sit in his place.

Sandin-Pellikka will take a seat on Thursday in favour of Jacob Bernard-Docker. Sandin-Pellikka has seven goals and 14 assists in 66 games this season.

Hayes was a surprise addition to Thursday's lineup as he'll fill in for Connor Dewar (lower-body). Hayes will skate with Noel Acciari and Elmer Soderblom on Pittsburgh's fourth line.

Dewar was a surprise scratch on Thursday as the Penguins did not announce his absence prior to warmups. Avery Hayes will dress in his place.

Greenway will immediately re-enter the lineup after serving as a healthy scratch on Wednesday. Tanner Pearson will sit in his place.

Pearson will immediately draw back out of the Sabres lineup after slotting in on Wednesday. Jordan Greenway will re-enter the lineup in his place.

Perry is battling an undisclosed injury and his status for Thursday's game against the Montreal Canadiens was uncertain. The 40-year-old Perry is averaging 12:02 time-on-ice and has eight points (5G / 3A) in 18 games since joining Tampa Bay at the trade deadline.

Cirelli has not played in Tampa Bay's past two games due to an undisclosed injury, but will return on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 28-year-old Cirelli had a career-high 59 points (27G / 32A) in 80 games in the 2024-25 season, and is producing at a similar rate this season, with 52 points (23G / 29A) through 68 games.

Dobes has been excellent in recent weeks and has made his case to be the team's go-to option to start the postseason. The 24-year-old Czech goalie saved 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in Montreal's previous game, a 4-3 shootout win over the Florida Panthers. Over the last month, Dobes has allowed three or fewer goals in 11 consecutive games (9-2-0), posting an outstanding 1.97 GAA and .936 SV%. The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as slight +107 home underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that likely needs to win to keep their hopes of finishing atop the Atlantic Division alive.

Tampa Bay is in a zero-margin-for-error battle with the Buffalo Sabres for the top seed in the Atlantic Division, and will turn to Vasilevskiy on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 4-2 losing effort to the Buffalo Sabres in his previous outing. In his last 10 games (7-2-1), Vasilevskiy has a 2.42 GAA and .897 SV%. Tampa Bay enters the action on Thursday as -114 road favourites against a Montreal team that defeated them 4-1 less than two weeks ago.

With their playoff position firmly secured, the Hurricanes will give a handful of players the night off on Thursday. Brind'Amour, Bradly Nadeau, and Legault will all slot in after being recalled on Wednesday.

With their playoff position firmly secured, the Hurricanes will give a handful of players the night off on Thursday. Skyler Brind'Amour, Nadeau, and Charles-Alexis Legault will all slot in after being recalled on Wednesday.

With their playoff position firmly secured, the Hurricanes will give a handful of players the night off on Thursday. Brind'Amour, Bradly Nadeau, and Charles-Alexis Legault will all slot in after being recalled on Wednesday.

With their playoff position firmly secured, the Hurricanes will give Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis the night off on Thursday. Bradly Nadeau, Skyler Brind'Amour, and Charles-Alexis Legault will all slot in after being recalled on Wednesday.

With their playoff position firmly secured, the Hurricanes will give Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov the night off on Thursday. Bradly Nadeau, Skyler Brind'Amour, and Charles-Alexis Legault will all slot in after being recalled on Wednesday.

With their playoff position firmly secured, the Hurricanes will give Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, and Sebastian Aho the night off on Thursday. Bradly Nadeau, Skyler Brind'Amour, and Charles-Alexis Legault will all slot in after being recalled on Wednesday.

The Hurricanes are on the tail-end of a back-to-back, so Andersen will get the start when they travel to Chicago on Thursday. Andersen struggled in his last start, surrendering five goals on 30 shots in a 6-3 loss in Ottawa on Sunday. The 13-year-veteran has endured an up-and-down season between the pipes, posting a 14-14-5 record and an .870 SV% across 33 appearances. Luckily for Andersen, he does draw a favourable matchup on Thursday, as the Hurricanes enter action at -210 on the money line.

Tampa Bay is in a zero-margin-for-error battle with the Buffalo Sabres for the top seed in the Atlantic Division, and will turn to Vasilevskiy on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 4-2 losing effort to the Buffalo Sabres in his previous outing. In his last 10 games (7-2-1), Vasilevskiy has a 2.42 GAA and .897 SV%. Tampa Bay enters the action on Thursday as -114 road favourites against a Montreal team that defeated them 4-1 less than two weeks ago.

Stecher has been in and out of the lineup lately, and will return from a one-game absence to play on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 32-year-old defenseman has zero points and a concerning -7 plus/minus rating in his last four games.

Lyon is battling a lower-body injury that will keep him sidelined week-to-week and award Colten Ellis with his first start in over two months. The 33-year-old Lyon has struggled in recent outings, resulting in his starting only one of the team's last five games. The team hopes Lyon will be back in time for the playoffs and that the extended off-time can help him reset and return to his early-season form.