NHL Hockey Player News

Vladar allowed five goals on 17 shots (.706 SV%) last week in a disappointing 6-4 loss to the Washington Capitals, but has quickly returned to form, winning three straight while saving an impressive 62 of 65 shots (.954 SV%). The 28-year-old Czech goalie has won 10 of 16 games (10-5-1) since returning from the Olympic break, posting a solid 2.27 GAA and .911 SV% to help his team battle for a playoff spot. The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as slight +106 road underdogs against a struggling Detroit Red Wings team that last won 4-2 against the Flyers one week ago.

With Stuart Skinner (upper body) out of the lineup, Murashov will return to the Penguins' crease for the first time since December. The 22-year-old Murashov, touted as Pittsburgh's goalie of the future, has been excellent in the AHL this season, posting a 2.13 GAA and .922 SV% in 35 games (23-8-3). The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as slight -101 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that is 1-1-1 in their last three games.

Knight has been a steadying force in his first full season with a defensively porous Blackhawks team, but he struggled to keep the team afloat in recent weeks. The 24-year-old goalie has a sub- .900 SV% in six of his last nine games (1-5-3) and has just three wins in his last 18 outings (3-10-5) while posting a 3.05 GAA and .897 SV%. The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +185 home underdogs against an Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes team that has scored four or more goals in four of its last five games (4-1-0).

The Blues are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche that all-but-ended their hopes for making the playoffs. The team's late-season push was spearheaded by strong goaltending, primarily from Joel Hofer, but the veteran Jordan Binnington was also impressive in less frequent action. The 32-year-old Binnington has only played seven of 20 games since returning from the Olympic break, but has won four of those outings (4-2-1) while posting an excellent 1.74 GAA and .925 SV%. The Blues enter Thursday's contest as slight -107 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that is two points ahead of them in the standings and hope to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Vladar allowed five goals on 17 shots (.706 SV%) last week in a disappointing 6-4 loss to the Washington Capitals, but has quickly returned to form, winning three straight while saving an impressive 62 of 65 shots (.954 SV%). The 28-year-old Czech goalie has won 10 of 16 games (10-5-1) since returning from the Olympic break, posting a solid 2.27 GAA and .911 SV% to help his team battle for a playoff spot. The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as slight +106 road underdogs against a struggling Detroit Red Wings team that last won 4-2 against the Flyers one week ago.

Exiting the Olympic break, there was a three-week stretch where Jacob Markstrom played every game for the Devils, but they have relied on Allen more steadily in recent weeks. The 35-year-old Allen saved 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in his previous outing, but was on the losing end of a 4-3 shootout against the Montreal Canadiens. In his last five games (3-1-1), Allen has a 2.76 GAA and .904 SV%. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as slight -102 home underdogs against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has scored five or more goals in four of their last five games (4-1-0).

Jake Christiansen will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Zamula to re-enter the lineup against the Buffalo Sabres. The 26-year-old Zamula is averaging 13:00 time-on-ice and has two assists in 18 games with the Blue Jackets this season.

Egor Zamula will re-enter the Blue Jackets' lineup on Thursday, sending Christiansen to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Christiansen is averaging 10:11 time-on-ice and has two assists in 38 games this season.

Greaves was excellent in the Blue Jackets' previous game, saving 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%) in a come-from-behind 4-3 shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings to keep their playoff hopes alive. The 25-year-old Greaves has been excellent in his first NHL season, but has battled some adversity in recent weeks, losing five of his last seven games (2-4-1) despite posting an impressive 2.41 GAA and .915 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as slight +105 road underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team coming off a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers last night.

Dobes has been excellent in recent weeks and has likely 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.

Joe Veleno will re-enter Montreal's lineup on Thursday, sending Bolduc to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Bolduc has 28 points (11G / 17A) in 76 games this season, but has been nearly invisible offensively in recent weeks, being held off the scoresheet in 14 of his last 15 games.

Zack Bolduc will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Veleno to re-enter Montreal's lineup. The 26-year-old Veleno is averaging 12:07 time-on-ice, recording just four points (2G / 2A) and a -12 plus/minus in 58 games.

With the surprising return of Thomas Chabot (forearm), Crotty will be the odd man out of Ottawa's lineup as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Crotty recently made his season debut with Ottawa, averaging 14:47 time-on-ice and tallying one assist in four games.

Losing five of their last six games (1-4-1), the Red Wings have likely squandered their chance at returning to the postseason, but they will keep their slim hopes alive with Gibson tending the twine on Thursday in a pivotal meeting with the Philadelphia Flyers. Gibson saved 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) on Tuesday, but allowed the game-tying goal in the final seconds of an eventual 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Overall, the 32-year-old Gibson has had a solid inaugural season with the Red Wings, but has struggled in recent outings, posting a 3.63 GAA and .878 SV% in his last five appearances (1-3-1). The Red Wings enter Thursday's contest as -117 home favourites against a Flyers team that has outscored their opposition 11-3 in their last three games (3-0-0).

DeAngelo has not played in over two weeks due to a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 30-year-old DeAngelo has 33 points (5G / 28A) in 72 games this season.

Gustafsson Nyberg is an undrafted 22-year-old defenseman that recently made his professional debut, tallying one assist in two games with the Iowa Wild (AHL). He has three seasons of collegiate hockey under his belt, including an 11-point (0G / 11A) campaign in 2025-26 with the University of Connecticut.

Currently sitting in the second Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference, the Senators control their own fate and will attempt to inch closer to securing a ticket to the postseason on Thursday, with Ullmark tending the twine against the Florida Panthers. The 32-year-old Swedish goalie had an abysmal showing in a game last week against the Panthers, exiting late in the first period after allowing five goals on 16 shots (.688 SV%) in an eventual 6-3 loss. That said, he has rebounded in four games since (3-1-0), posting a 2.50 GAA and .903 SV%. The Senators enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -284 home favourites against an injury-depleted Panthers team on a three-game losing streak (0-2-1).

Alscher was drafted by Florida in the third-round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft Draft, but he has yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old Czech defenseman has 11 points (3G / 8A) this season in 51 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Only two weeks into his initial four-to-eight week recovery timeline after undergoing surgery, Chabot will make a surprising return to Ottawa's lineup on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. With Ottawa's playoff hopes on the line, they will up their chances of securing a spot in the postseason with the 29-year-old Chabot, who has 31 points (7G / 24A) in 55 games this season.