NHL Hockey Player News

Shesterkin allowed one goal on 26 shots in the Rangers' win in Calgary on Tuesday. Shesterkin was given Thursday night off, so he'll face the Canucks tonight in Vancouver. The Canucks come into the night with the fourth-most goals/60 (4.00) in the NHL.

Brossoit allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Jets' loss to the Golden Knights on October 19th. It was a rough season debut for Brossoit, who will give Connor Hellebuyck a night off on Saturday. Montreal is 21st in xGF/60 (3.02) and the Jets are -147 favourites, making Brossoit a decent spot-start option.

Swayman stopped all 23 shots that he faced in the Bruins' shutout win in Chicago on Tuesday. Swayman and Linus Ullmark have alternated starts to begin the season and tonight Swayman will face a Red Wings team that got off to a quick start but have dropped their last two games (1-0-1).

Clifton delivered an illegal check to the head of Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils in the Sabres' 5-4 loss on Friday night. He received a match penalty on the play and has subsequently been suspended for two games. Hischier was forced to leave the game for the Devils and has already been ruled out for their next contest on Sunday. In eight games this season, Clifton has one point (0G / 1A) and has racked up 28 penalty minutes along with a -6 plus/minus rating.

Lindgren was unable to dress for the Capitals' last six games because of an upper-body injury but is expected to return to backup duties on Sunday against the San Jose Sharks. In his only game this season, the Capitals season-opener, Lindgren allowed four goals on 35 shots in an eventual 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Shepard recently made his NHL debut with the Capitals, saving 18 of 22 shots in a 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils. With Charlie Lindgren set to return from an upper-body injury, Shepard is being returned to the Bears (AHL), where he had a 2.88 GAA and .885 SV% in two games this season (2-0-0).

With Eric Comrie and Devon Levi both still unavailable due to lower-body injuries, the Sabres will turn to Luukkonen on Sunday. Luukkonen stopped 18 of the 21 shots he faced in relief of Comrie in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils. The 24-year-old netminder will need to string together some stronger performances if he wants to continue challenging for starts following the returns of Levi and Comrie. Luukkonen owns an .881 SV% and a 4.78 GAA through two appearances this season.

Kuemper is fresh off his finest start of the season after turning away 39 of the 41 shots he faced in Friday's 3-2 shootout victory over the Wild. The 33-year-old will be hoping it's a sign of things to come after enduring a rocky start to his 2023-24 season. Kuemper owns an .890 SV% and a 3.29 GAA to go along with a 2-2-1 record through his first five starts of the season. He's in a great spot to pick up another win on Sunday with the Capitals being -220 home favourites over the winless Sharks.

Hischier was hit in the head by Connor Clifton of the Buffalo Sabres on Friday before exiting the game with only 11:11 time-on-ice. Clifton was issued a match penalty on the play. Hischier, whose status beyond Sunday is still unknown, has been off to a slow start this season, tallying only two points (0G / 2A) through seven games.

McCartney was recalled from the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL where has been held pointless in five games this season. The 22-year-old, seventh-round pick from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has not played at the NHL level since the 2021-22 season.

With Devon Levi and Eric Comrie both injured, Devin Cooley has been recalled from the Rochester Americans of the AHL to back up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. In four games with Rochester (3-0-1), Cooley has a 3.46 GAA and .903 SV%.

Comrie had filled in as the starting goalie with Devon Levi already sidelined and recorded a 2.45 GAA and .914 SV% in three games (1-1-0) but will now be sidelined for at least a few weeks with a lower-body injury. With Levi still unavailable, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely take on the majority of goaltending duties for the Sabres. Devin Cooley will serve as the Sabres backup in the interim.

Maata will be scratched to make room for the return of Jeff Petry. In seven games this season, Maata has two points (0G / 2A) while averaging 15:31 time-on-ice, primarily on the third defensive pairing.

Varlamov allowed three goals on 42 shots in the Islanders' loss in Buffalo last Saturday. Ilya Sorokin started the last two games but Varlamov will start Saturday in Columbus. The Blue Jackets are in the middle of the pack in xGF/60 (3.17) through seven games this season.

Petry will return to the lineup for the Red Wings after missing the last three games. In four games this season, Petry has two points (0G / 2A), six penalty minutes, and seven hits. He will likely play with Ben Chiarot on the Red Wings' third defensive pair.

Ersson allowed five goals on 25 shots in the Flyers' loss in Dallas last Saturday. Carter Hart started the last two games, but Ersson will get another shot on Saturday afternoon. It will be his 14th career appearance, he's gone 6-3-1 with a 3.22 GAA, .892 SV% and one shutout in the first 13.

Dostal stopped 35 of 37 shots in the Ducks' win in Columbus on Tuesday. Dostal has been sensational to start the 2023-24 season, going 2-1-0 with a. 2.34 GAA and .929 SV%. The 23-year-old will look to keep things rolling on Saturday afternoon against a Flyers team that is 3-0-0 while outscoring their opponents 12-to-3.