NHL Hockey Player News

Foudy has been unable to make the desired impact for the Predators this season, scoring only three points (0G / 3A) in 13 games. As a result, he has been placed on waivers, a move at least partially made to allow Tommy Novak to return to the lineup.

Despite being held without a point, Olausson was active in his season debut for the Avalanche, firing two shots and taking one hit. His reassignment to the Eagles (AHL) coincides with Jared Bednar announcing that Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Bowen Byram will all play tonight.

Georgiev has quality starts in three of his last four outings and will look to continue his strong play on Thursday when the Avalanche welcome the Winnipeg Jets. In his past four games (2-1-1), Georgiev has a stellar .929 SV%, allowing only 10 total goals in that stretch. The Avalanche are -130 home favourites in their first game this season against the Jets, who are averaging only 2.0 goals per game over their last seven contests (4-3-0).

Talbot has been used between the pipes much more sparingly lately but will likely return to the crease for the fourth time in the last seven games when the Kings visit the Montreal Canadiens. The Kings have won eight of their last nine (8-1-0) and are significant -208 road favourites against a Canadiens team they defeated 4-0 two weeks ago with Phoenix Copley as their goaltender. Talbot has been a steadying presence for the Kings all season and has an outstanding .945 SV% over his past 10 games (8-2-0).

Crevier was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' previous game but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Anaheim as he replaces Jarred Tinordi (concussion). The 22-year-old towering defence man (6'8") will make only his second career NHL appearance Thursday and is expected to be on Chicago's third pairing alongside Nikita Zaitsev.

Wolf was recalled earlier this week after Jacob Markstrom suffered a fractured finger that will keep him out of the lineup for several weeks. Wolf began as the backup on Tuesday but entered the net in relief of Daniel Vladar early in the second period and went on to save 11 of 13 shots (.846 SV%) in an eventual 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Albeit unspectacular in his one full game with the Flames earlier this season, allowing four goals on 34 shots (.895 SV%) in a losing effort, the high-pedigree Wolf will have the opportunity to make a name for himself at the NHL level. With the Calgary Wranglers (AHL), Wolf has been excellent, boasting a 2.50 GAA and .920 SV% in 13 games (10-3-0).

Mrazek has allowed nine goals on 63 shots (.857 SV%) over his past two games but will look to put together a stronger performance as the starter for the Blackhawks in one of their more favourable matchups this season. The Blackhawks, losers of four straight (0-3-1), are slight -102 home underdogs against an Anaheim Ducks team that has lost nine of their last 10 (1-9-0) and ranks fifth worst in the league offensively (2.72 GF / GP).

After a stint with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL), posting 14 points (10G / 4A) in eight games, Bemstrom will return to the Blue Jackets lineup for the first time since November 14th. Before his demotion to the AHL, Bemstrom had four points (3G / 1A) in 12 games with the Blue Jackets. He is expected to skate on the third line alongside Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson.

With Erik Gudbranson missing his second straight game due to an illness, Blankenburg will make his season debut for the Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old Blankenburg has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 18 games with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL this season.

Wolf was recalled earlier this week after Jacob Markstrom suffered a fractured finger that will keep him out of the lineup for several weeks. Wolf began as the backup on Tuesday but entered the net in relief of Daniel Vladar early in the second period and went on to save 11 of 13 shots (.846 SV%) in an eventual 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Albeit unspectacular in his one full game with the Flames earlier this season, allowing four goals on 34 shots (.895 SV%) in a losing effort, the high-pedigree Wolf will have the opportunity to make a name for himself at the NHL level. With the Calgary Wranglers (AHL), Wolf has been excellent, boasting a 2.50 GAA and .920 SV% in 13 games (10-3-0).

Andrew Peeke will fill in for Gudbranson again as he will miss his second consecutive game. Gudbranson has played 26 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A), averaging 19:47 time-on-ice, and registering a -11 plus/minus.

Martin will start the front end of a back-to-back for the Blue Jackets on Thursday when they visit the New York Islanders. Martin has been decent when called upon this season, posting a 3.20 GAA and .902 SV% through 10 games (2-6-1). That said, he has a .876 SV% and only one win in his past five games (1-4-0), an inevitability when netminding for the ninth-worst offence in the league (2.85 GF / GP). The Blue Jackets are +160 road underdogs against the Islanders, who defeated them 3-0 in their only other matchup this season.

Glass will miss his ninth straight game, out of the lineup since November 20th, but appears to be nearing a return after returning to practice on Thursday. Glass, the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, has only one point (0G / 1A) in nine games this season, averaging 13:46 time-on-ice.

Carrier will miss his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury but appears to be nearing a return after participating at practice on Thursday. Before his injury, Carrier was a steadying presence on the Predators' blue line, averaging 18:08 time-on-ice and scoring eight points (1G / 7A) in 22 games.

Novak has not played since November 11th, battling an upper-body injury, but is expected to make his return on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Before his injury, Novak had 12 points (6G/ 6A), averaged 16:02 time-on-ice, and played predominantly on a line with Kiefer Sherwood and Luke Evangelista.

Barrie returned to the lineup Tuesday after being a healthy scratch for consecutive games but will return to the press box as a healthy scratch on Thursday. Reports have circulated that Barrie's time with the Predators could be coming to an end as he and his agent search for a suitable trade partner. The 32-year-old defenseman has 10 points (0G / 10A) in 23 assists with the Predators this season.

Blackwood allowed six goals on 36 shots (.833 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 6-5 loss to the New York Rangers, an outlier in a mostly positive stretch of play for the Sharks Netminder. In his three games before (1-1-1), Blackwood allowed only six total goals and posted a .937 SV%. That said, the Sharks are considerable +251 road underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings team that ranks third-best in the league offensively (3.79 GF / GP) and will welcome Patrick Kane to the lineup for his debut with the team.

Bussi is unlikely to see any action while he is with the Bruins but will likely serve as the backup on Thursday as Jeremy Swayman is dealing with an illness. Bussi has a 2.58 GAA and .917 SV% in 12 games with Providence (AHL), posting a 6-4-2 record.

Brandon Bussi will likely serve as the Bruins' backup on Thursday as Swayman is dealing with an illness. Swayman's absence from the lineup shouldn't linger much longer, which is great news for the Bruins since he has been tremendous lately, saving 50 of the last 51 shots he has faced (.980 SV%) during a two-game winning streak.