NHL Hockey Player News

Helleson will slot right back into the lineup after sitting out Monday's game against the Maple Leafs. Helleson will take the place of Pavel Mintyukov, who is out with a lower-body injury.

Dellandrea will slot into the lineup in place of Igor Chernyshov, who is out with an illness. Dellandrea has two goals and nine assists in 42 games this season.

Mintyukov just recently returned to the lineup after missing time with a lower-body injury, but will be sidelined again on Wednesday. The 22-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:26 time-on-ice and has 20 points (8G / 12A) in 68 games this season.

Chernyshov recently made his return from a multi-game absence due to concussion, but will return to the sidelines on Wednesday due to an illness. The 20-year-old Chernyshov has been productive in a small sample size during his first NHL season, scoring 14 points (5G / 9A) in 20 games.

Dostal has played well lately, but is coming off a 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers despite saving 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%). The 25-year-old Czech goalie will look to begin April the way he ended March, with a solid 2.60 GAA and .914 SV% in his last five games (3-1-1). The Ducks enter Wednesday's contest as slight -107 road favourites against a San Jose Sharks team that has gone 2-0-1 in its last three games, keeping itself within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

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).

Forsberg will make his 26th start of the season when the Kings host the Blues on Wednesday. The 33-year-old netminder will be looking to secure his first victory since March 9th after going winless in his last three appearances. Forsberg carries an 11-11-5 record and a .902 SV% into Wednesday night's matchup, where the Kings enter action at -140 on the money line.

Jiricek was drafted sixth-overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but has had trouble being a permanent fixture at the NHL level. The 22-year-old defenseman has been traded twice in the last two years, with stints in Columbus, Minnesota, and now Philadelphia. He has yet to play a game with the Flyers, but has been effective at the AHL level, scoring 10 points (2G / 8A) in 10 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Hovorka made his NHL debut earlier this season, recording a -3 plus/minus in 11:27 time-on-ice. The undrafted 24-year-old Czech defenseman has 16 points (4G / 12A) this season in 53 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).