NHL Hockey Player News

After a subpar start to the season, the Rangers have seemingly turned a corner, with points in seven of their last eight games (5-1-2), and will turn to Shesterkin to tend the twine on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old Shesterking has been excellent lately, with quality starts in his last seven games (5-1-1), posting a 2.30 GAA and .923 SV%. He has a 2.46 GAA and .913 SV% in 24 games this season (12-9-3). The Rangers enter Wednesday's contest as -135 road favorites against a Blackhawks team that has scored just six goals in its last four games (1-2-1).

Brzustewicz was a third-round pick, 75th overall, of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old defenseman played one game with the Flames last season, his only NHL game. He has 12 points (4G / 8A) in 23 games this season with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL). Brayden Pachal will be the odd man out of the lineup to accommodate Brzustewicz's debut.

Hunter Brzustewicz will draw into Calgary's lineup to make his season debut on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings, resulting in Pachal returning to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Pachal has been in and out of the lineup lately. He has three assists in 21 games.

Jake Evans (personal) will not play on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing Beck to re-enter the lineup. The 21-year-old Beck has been limited to only two games this season. He has one assist in 15 career games.

Evans is away from the team, tending to personal matters, and will not play tomorrow against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but should be back in the lineup on Saturday against the New York Rangers. The 29-year-old Evans has eight points (4G / 4A) in 29 games this season. Owen Beck will draw into the lineup as Evans' replacement.

Cooley controlled the Flames' crease for the latter part of November, regularly putting together tremendous efforts, but had a poor 12-save performance (.750 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on December 2nd, and has not played since. The 28-year-old Cooley returns to the crease on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings, hoping to rediscover the heroic play that earned him an elite 1.66 GAA and .934 SV% in seven November appearances (3-1-1). The Flames enter Wednesday's contest as slight -101 home underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings team with points in five straight games (3-0-2).

Woll has not played since suffering a lower-body injury late in a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He was given a roughly one-week recovery timeline, which seems to hold true after returning to practice on Wednesday. Dennis Hildeby will likely tend the twine for the Maple Leafs on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, but Woll will be eligible to return on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers.

With Evgeni Malkin (upper body) and Blake Lizotte (undisclosed) placed on Injured Reserve, Pittsburgh has recalled Danton Heinen and Samuel Poulin from Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AHL). Neither drew into Pittsburgh's lineup on Tuesday, but Heinen will remain with the team while Poulin returns to the AHL. The 24-year-old Poulin has been excellent in the AHL this season, with 20 points (9G / 11A) in 21 games.

Ellis was perfect, saving all six shots he faced, before exiting Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers later in the first period due to an upper-body injury. The severity of Ellis' injury is unclear, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon should control the Sabres' crease during his absence.

Rielly is battling an illness, and it is unclear if he will be ready to suit up when the Maple Leafs return to action on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Already battling a myriad of injuries on their blueline, the Maple Leafs can ill-afford to be without their icetime leader, Morgan Rielly. The 31-year-old Rielly is putting together an excellent season, with 22 points (5G / 17A) in 28 games.

With Dakota Mermis (lower body) placed on Injured Reserve, the Maple Leafs have recalled Thrun from the Marlies (AHL). The 24-year-old Thrun was a regular on San Jose's blueline the past two seasons, but has spent the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL, where he has nine points (3G / 6A) in 19 games with the Marlies.

Mermis exited Monday's 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning after only 10:34 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. The 31-year-old defenseman has one goal in 11 games and will be sidelined for at least one week.

After an outstanding start to his first full season with the Blackhawks, posting a solid 2.50 GAA and .924 SV% in 13 games (7-3-3), Knight has struggled to maintain that excellence, posting a 3.0 GAA and .889 SV% in his last seven (2-3-2). He has a sub- .900 SV% in five of his last seven games, but will be motivated to have a strong performance with his team trying to break a two-game slump where they have been outscored 13-1. The Blackhawks enter Wednesday's contest as +122 home underdogs against a New York Rangers team with points in four straight games (2-0-2).