NHL Hockey Player News

The Stars are desperate to snap a six-game losing skid (0-3-3) and will turn to DeSmith on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. The 34-year-old DeSmith entered yesterday's 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in relief of Jake Oettinger and saved 16 of 17 shots (.941 SV%). DeSmith has been solid in a supporting role this season, posting a 2.41 GAA and .913 SV% in 16 games (9-2-4), but his play has dipped recently, mirroring the Stars' struggles, with a 3.74 GAA and .864 SV% in his last three starts (1-1-1). The Stars enter Wednesday's contest as +106 road underdogs against a Capitals team coming off a 7-4 win against the Anaheim Ducks.

With Mason Marchment (upper body) placed on Injured Reserve, Columbus has recalled Pyyhtia from the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 24-year-old Pyyhtia has 22 points (7G / 15A) in 23 games with Cleveland this season.

Marchment left Tuesday's morning skate early due to an upper-body injury and will be out for the foreseeable future after being placed on Injured Reserve. The 30-year-old Marchment has been terrific since being traded to the Blue Jackets last month, with seven points (5G / 2A) in seven games. Columbus recalled Mikael Pyyhtia from Cleveland (AHL) in a corresponding move.

Lyon has missed three straight because of a lower-body injury and is likely still more than a week away from returning. The 33-year-old goalie has a 2.82 GAA and .906 SV% in 21 games (10-6-3), and was excellent before his injury, posting a 2.15 GAA and .919 SV% during a seven-game winning streak. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has seen all of the action between the pipes during Lyon's absence.

Michkov did not play in the Flyers win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, but he will likely return to the lineup tomorrow against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a 63 point rookie season, Michkov has faced some adversity in his sophomore season, with only 23 points (9G / 14A) in 40 games. That said, he has played better lately, with seven points (1G / 6A) in his last 10 games.

After an ugly 1-8-0 stretch, the Blackhawks have rebounded by going 4-1-1 in their last six games, and will turn to Knight to tend the twine on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues. Knight was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win over the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old goalie has a 2.60 GAA and .910 SV% in 29 games this season (12-11-6). The Blackhawks enter the action on Wednesday as +104 home underdogs against a Blues team on a two-game winning streak.

Stromgren was drafted in the second round, 45th overall, by the Flames in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Swedish forward has yet to play an NHL game and has 29 points (6G / 23A) in 33 games with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) this season.

After an ugly 1-8-0 stretch, the Blackhawks have rebounded by going 4-1-1 in their last six games, and will likely turn to Knight to tend the twine on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues. Knight was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win over the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old goalie has a 2.60 GAA and .910 SV% in 29 games this season (12-11-6). The Blackhawks enter the action on Wednesday as +104 home underdogs against a Blues team on a two-game winning streak.

Hryckowian is an undrafted forward who impressed in the AHL last season, winning the rookie of the year, scoring 60 points (22G / 38A) in 67 games with the Texas Stars (AHL), ultimately earning himself a roster spot with Dallas in training camp this season. The 24-year-old has played all but one game for Dallas this season, primarily in a bottom-six role, scoring 13 points (6G / 7A) in 42 games.

After a horrendous 2-9-2 start to the season, the Flames have played reasonably well, going 16-11-2, and miraculously find themselves only five points shy of a playoff spot midway through the season. Wolf's performance has also seen an uptick during that time, posting a 2.45 GAA and .908 SV% in 22 games (12-8-1). That said, the 24-year-old sophomore goalie has allowed four goals in two straight (0-2-0) and hopes to rebound on Wednesday when the Flames visit a Montreal Canadiens team with points in eight of their last nine games (6-1-2). Montreal enters the game as a +131 road underdog.

The Rangers are battling a myriad of key injuries and can ill afford to be without Lafrenier, who is under the weather and unable to practice on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Lafreniere has been held off the scoresheet in 28 of 44 games this season and continues to be unable to live up to the expectations he garnered when he was drafted first overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has 24 points (9G / 15A) in 44 games this season.

van Riemsdyk has been in and out of the lineup regularly this season and will return to a familiar place on the sidelines as a healthy scratch on Wednesday when the Capitals host the Dallas Stars. The 34-year-old defenseman is averaging 15:38 time-on-ice and has six points (1G / 5A) in 33 games this season.

Leason is no stranger to the NHL, with 54 points (25G / 29A) in 220 career games, but has spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 26-year-old forward has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 20 games with Hershey (AHL) this season.

Marchment left Tuesday's morning skate early due to an upper-body injury and will miss at least three games before he is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve. The 30-year-old Marchment has been terrific since being traded to the Blue Jackets last month, with seven points (5G / 2A) in seven games.

Henrique was injured early in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Nashville Predators, exiting the game after only 2:26 time-on-ice because of an undisclosed injury. The 35-year-old forward is averaging a career-low 13:50 time-on-ice in a mostly defensive role for the Oilers this season, scoring 10 points (2G / 8A) through 43 games.

Fowler is coming off consecutive losses for the second time in his young NHL career, but he was solid in his most recent outing, saving 17 of 19 shots (.895 SV%) in a 2-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 21-year-old goalie will look to build on his 2.57 GAA and .903 SV% through his first seven NHL games (3-2-2) when he tends the twine on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. The Canadiens enter Wednesday's contest as -145 home favorites against a Flames team on a two-game losing streak (0-2-0).

Thompson has been outstanding for the Capitals this season, but finds himself amid a tough stretch, allowing three or more goals in five of his last six games (1-4-1), posting an ugly 3.84 GAA and .880 SV%. That said, the 28-year-old goalie still sports an impressive 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% through 30 games (15-11-4) that he will look to build on when he returns to the crease on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars. The Capitals enter Wednesday's contest as -117 home favorites against a struggling Stars team that lost 6-3 last night to the Carolina Hurricanes, extending their season-worst losing streak to six games (0-3-3).

Leason is no stranger to the NHL, with 54 points (25G / 29A) in 220 career games, but has spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 26-year-old forward has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 20 games with Hershey (AHL) this season. Aliaksei Protas (undisclosed) has been placed on Injured Reserve in a corresponding move.

Protas has not played Washington's previous two games due to an undisclosed injury and will miss at least one more before he is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old forward has 31 points (16G / 15A) in 41 games this season.