NHL Hockey Player News

Kupari will take the place in the lineup of Mark Scheifele, who is out with an illness. Kupari is expected to centre Morgan Barron and Cole Perfetti on the Jets' fourth line.

Scheifele's absence is a surprise, as the team did not make any mention of a potential injury prior to warmups. The Jets have had a number players miss due to illness over the last few games, so it's possible Scheifele is the next in that unfortunate line. Rasmus Kupari is expected to take his place in the lineup on Wednesday.

The Predators will hand Saros the start for a league-leading 53rd time this season when they travel to Winnipeg to take on the Jets on Wednesday. Nashville's workhorse took the loss his last time out, allowing four goals on 33 shots in a 4-3 overtime defeat at the hands of the Wild. Despite the loss, Saros was able to earn his team a point for the ninth consecutive game. He could have a hard time keeping that streak alive on Wednesday, however, with the Predators being +130 underdogs in Winnipeg.

The team has not given an update about the undisclosed injury but it's been speculated that Eriksson Ek could be forced to miss a couple games. The Wild can ill afford to be without Eriksson Ek, who has been enjoying a career year. The Wild's number-one centreman has 29 goals and 31 assists in 66 games on the season while playing over 20 minutes a night.

Talbot had the night off on Monday, a 3-0 shutout victory for David Rittich and the Kings, but he will return to the crease on Wednesday. The 36-year-old Talbot was on the losing side in his last outing, allowing three goals on 34 shots (.912 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars, but has been excellent overall lately, boasting a .940 SV% in his last eight games (5-2-1). The Kings enter action as -151 road favourites against a Blues club that snapped a three-game losing skid on Monday.

Hayton was a late scratch on Tuesday due to a lower-body injury and unfortunately is expected to miss more time than originally planned as he is out longer than a day-to-day prognosis while he continues to get tested by team doctors. The 23-year-old has had a season to forget as its been riddled with injuries which has led to very disappointing production with his three goals, 10 points, 66 SOG, 26 PIMs and -13 plus/minus in 33 games played.

Willman last appeared for the Devils' on February 6th and has spent the last month and a week in Utica (AHL) but was recalled to meet the team in Dallas on Wednesday. The 29-year-old centre is in his first season in New Jersey and has a goal, an assist, 14 SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 13 games played so far.

Wotherspoon has earned his first call-up of the season after it was announced Jonas Seaganthaler (concussion) would be out indefinitely and will meet the Devils in Dallas. The 31-year-old defenseman makes a great story as his last NHL appearance was in 2016-17 with Calgary. He succeeded on Utica's back-end so far this season, with four goals, 19 points, 18 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 54 games played.

Pyyhtia has earned his first call-up of the season on an emergency basis after putting up seven goals and 27 points in 57 games with Cleveland (AHL). The 22-year-old left-winger made a brief appearance with the Blue Jackets' in 2022-23 and had an assist and two PIMs in two games played.

The red-hot Islanders saw their six-game winning streak snapped on Monday in a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, but will return to Sorokin between the pipes on Thursday. Sorokin played well in the loss, allowing only two goals on 24 shots (.917 SV%), but did not receive any goal support from his team. He has allowed three or fewer goals in seven straight games (6-2-0).

McMann has been rewarded with a two-year, $2.7 million contract extension for his diligent work in a complimentary role for the Maple Leafs this season. In 40 games, the 27-year-old McMann has 18 points (10G / 8A), 83 shots, and 83 hits.

Marchenko did not play on Tuesday due to an illness but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, providing a sizeable boost for a team already without Sean Kuraly and Yegor Chinakhov. Marchenko has four points (1G / 3A) in his last eight games while being a healthy scratch once in that stretch.

Kuemper has not played since February 26th, but after the Capitals suffered a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets in their last outing, he will return to the crease on Wednesday. Despite his lack of activity between the pipes, Kuemper is riding a two-game winning streak, including saving 18 of 21 shots (.857 SV%) in his last game, a 6-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. The Capitals enter action as +260 road underdogs against the Edmonton Oilers.

Chinakhov exited Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens after playing only 4:57 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 23-year-old forward has struggled lately, scoring only one point (1G / 0A) in his last eight games.

Kuraly exited Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens after playing only 9:21 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. The 31-year-old Kuraly already missed an extended period of the season with an abdominal injury. He has 17 points (9G / 8A) in 51 games this season.

Myers has been out since February 29th due to a lower-body injury but was a full participant in Tuesday's practice and is expected to return on Saturday against the Washington Capitals. The 34-year-old towering defender will make a welcome return as he has enjoyed a strong fifth season in Vancouver with four goals, 23 points, 67 SOG, 63 PIMs and a +12 plus/minus through 62 games played before his injury.

Fehervary played only 1:36 time-on-ice in his last game on February 17th before exiting the game with a lower-body injury and has missed 10 games since but could return to the lineup on Wednesday. The hard-hitting Slovak defenseman had 12 hits and one assist in his last four games before his injury.

Dowd has been on injured reserve since suffering a lower-body injury on February 20th. The 33-year-old centre has been solid in his usual bottom-six role this season, with eight goals, 16 points, 45 SOG, 30 PIMs and +8 plus/minus through 45 games before his injury.