NHL Hockey Player News

Grubauer did not play in Seattle's 2-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday but will likely return to the crease on Monday as he searches for his first victory in his last three appearances. Grubauer has an ugly 3.37 GAA and .882 SV% through 14 games (5-7-1) and ranks among the worst in the league with only three quality starts (.214 QS %). A win is likely for Grubauer on Monday as the Kraken are -152 road favourites, but don't expect much else from him, even against the low-scoring Montreal Canadiens (2.75 GF / GP), as he has a sub-.895 SV% in his last eight contests (3-3-1).

Lindholm is dealing with an illness preventing him from participating in practice on Monday and will be a game-time decision on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. Lindholm scored two points (2G / 0A) on Saturday, his first two-goal performance of the season, snapping a three-game pointless skid. Lindholm's 17 points (7G / 10A) in 24 games have him pacing for his lowest point total since joining the Flames in the 2018-19 season.

Oettinger's play has been somewhat up and down lately but has saved 59 of 60 shots (.983 SV%) over his last two games (2-0-0) and will return to the crease on the road, where he has been tremendous all season. On home ice this season, Oettinger has a lacklustre 3.00 GAA and .894 SV% in eight games (4-3-1), night and day, compared to his sensational 1.87 GAA and .942 SV% in eight road games (6-1-1). Oettinger and the Stars are -116 road favourites against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that has lost four straight, including an 8-1 loss to the Stars on Saturday.

Kane has been ruled out of Tuesday's game against the Buffalo Sabres but his Red Wings' debut seems imminent as he was a full participant at practice for the first time on Monday. Kane skated alongside Joe Veleno and former Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat on the Red Wings' second line. Kane seems to be a lock, at least for the time being, with DeBrincat, but there will likely be some line shuffling, especially since J.T. Compher was not at practice, as Kane reacclimates himself to gameplay.

Hinostroza played on 5:16 time-on-ice in the Penguins' 4-3 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday and will be a healthy scratch in a rematch between the two teams on Monday night. Hinostroze has been in and out of the lineup in his first season with the Penguins, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in nine games.

Balinskis has spent most of the season with the Panthers but is returning from a one-game stint with the Charlotte Checkers, where he scored one point (1G / 0A). In 15 games with the Panthers, the Latvian defender has two points (1G / 1A), six penalty minutes, and a +1 plus/minus rating.

Studenic played two games for the Kraken, recording zero points, one shot, two penalty minutes, and three hits. The Slovak forward will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Max McCormick to make his season debut.

McCormick will make his season debut after being recalled from Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL on Friday. The 31-year-old McCormick has 17 points (8G / 9A) in 16 games with the Firebirds this season and is expected to play on the fourth line with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Kailer Yamamoto.

Burakovsky participated in his first full practice on Monday after not playing since October 21st. Burakovsky had two points (0G / 2A) in six games before suffering an upper-body injury and will be a huge boost for a Seattle Kraken offence that ranks fourth-worst in the league (2.68 GF / GP).

Nedeljkovic will start for the first time since November 24th and has been terrific when called upon this season, especially since returning from a 10-game absence due to a lower-body injury two weeks ago. In his last two games (1-1-0), Nedeljkovic has saved 69 of 72 shots (.958 SV%) and has one shutout. The Penguins have struggled lately, losing six of their last nine (3-4-2), but will hope to get back on track as they are -113 road favourites in a rematch of Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Raanta will start for the first time since a monumentally poor performance on November 24th when he allowed eight goals on 14 shots (.429 SV%) in an 8-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Raanta is posting a career-worst GAA (3.47) and save percentage (.854), well below the usually-dependable netminder's career average of 2.47 GAA and .916 SV%. The 11-year veteran is undoubtedly struggling between the pipes this season, but there is very little room for error being a goaltender for the Hurricanes, who lead the league in shot suppression (24.7 SA / GP). The Hurricanes are -141 road favourites against a Jets team held to three or fewer goals in each of their last six games (3-3-0).

Workhorse Connor Hellebuyck will have the day off on Tuesday when Laurent Brossoit suits up for the Jets against the Carolina Hurricanes. Brossoit has been serviceable but unspectacular in limited action this season, posting a 2.97 GAA and .877 SV% in five games (2-2-1). He owns a sub-.900 SV% in each of his five games and will be hard-pressed to break that trend on Tuesday as the Jets are +127 home underdogs against the Hurricanes, who have scored four or more goals in five of their last seven contests (5-1-1).

Lettieri has seen his ice-time plummet, including several healthy scratches since John Hynes has taken over as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild. Before the coaching change, Lettieri averaged 11:04 time-on-ice, nearly two and a half minutes more than the 8:48 he has averaged since. In a corresponding move, Minnesota has recalled Dakota Mermis from Iowa (AHL).

Vinni Lettieri has been reassigned to the Iowa Wild (AHL) in favour of 29-year-old journeyman Mermis. Mermis spent 13 games wild Minnesota earlier this season, scoring five points (2G / 3A) and 21 penalty minutes.

Montembeault has unquestionably been the strong netminder for the Canadiens this season and will get his first opportunity to tend the twine since signing a three-year, $9.45 million contract extension on Friday. In 10 games this season (5-3-1), Montembeault owns half of the Canadiens' 10 victories and is sporting an impressive 2.73 GAA and .910 SV%. Montembeault has been even more impressive lately, posting a 3-1-0 record and .929 SV% in his last five outings. The Canadiens are +134 home underdogs against a Seattle Kraken team that has lost four straight (0-3-1), scoring only seven goals in the process (1.75 GF / GP).

Greig has missed the last 10 games with a lower-body injury but anticipates playing on Tuesday. The Senators most recently played with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation, meaning that Erik Branstrom or Jacon Bernard-Docker are the likely candidates to be healthy scratched for Greig's return. Before his injury, the 21-year-old Greig had seven points (2G / 5A) in nine games, playing predominantly with Vladimir Tarasenko and Mathieu Joseph.

In his first full season with the Jets, Niederreiter is pacing for his best offensive output in over five years and has been rewarded with a three-year, $12 million contract extension. Niederreiter has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 23 games and is firing 2.7 shots on goal per game, the largest volume of his career and well above his career average of 2.0 shots per game. He has played this season predominantly on the third line with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton.

Dobson ranks seventh in the league with 25:09 average time-on-ice per game and did not participate at the Islanders' practice on Monday for maintenance. Dobson is sixth amongst all defensemen with 21 points (5G / 16A) in 23 games, recording five (0G / 5A) in his last three alone. He is currently on pace to shatter his career-high 51-point output from the 2021-22 season.

Nelson scored two points (0G / 2A) on Saturday against the Florida Panthers but exited the game with an undisclosed injury after playing 15:04 time-on-ice. Nelson did not participate in practice on Monday and is considered day-to-day ahead of the Islanders' next contest on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. Nelson's two-point outburst on Saturday ended a three-game pointless skid for the 11-year veteran.

Chabot was not able to complete Saturday's game, his second game after a 10-game absence due to a hand injury, exiting late in the third period after playing 22:29 with an undisclosed injury. In the two games, Chabot scored one point (0G / 1A) and eight shots on goal while quarterbacking the Senators' top powerplay unit. He did not participate in practice on Monday, but is expected to dress for Ottawa's matchup Tuesday vs. the New York Rangers.