NHL Hockey Player News

Johansson will continue his reign as the starting goalie for the Lightning as he is projected to get his fifth start in the six games on Saturday. The Lightning have uncharacteristically been outscored 20-17 in five games so far this season (2-2-1) and are doing their best to tread water with Andrei Vasilevskiy still sidelined for the foreseeable future. Johansson and the Lightning will face off against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that is coming off a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers and will be hungry to respond after an all-around sluggish start to the 2023-24 campaign (2-2-0).

Allen will return to the crease for the first time since opening night when he allowed five goals on 42 shots in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sam Montembault has been between the pipes in the two games since but hasn't been significantly more effective in helping the Canadiens shut things down defensively. The Canadiens currently rank 25th in the league, allowing an average of 4.00 goals per game. Working in Allen's favour, he will be facing off against a Washington Capitals team that is off to an abysmal start. After three games (1-2-0), the Capitals rank dead-last offensively, averaging only 1.00 goals per game.

Benson was not a participant at practice on Friday as he recovers from a lower-body injury. The 18-year-old rookie has two points (0G / 2A) in four NHL games this season, averaging 14:03 time-on-ice. If he cannot play on Saturday, Benson will likely be replaced by Victor Olofsson, who is coming off consecutive healthy scratches.

Levi is currently day-to-day as he nurses a lower-body injury. Levi has been the starting goalie for each of the Sabres' four games thus far (1-3-0), recording a 3.26 GAA and .890 SV%. It is unclear at this time if Eric Comrie or Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen man the crease in Levi's absence.

Letting did not participate in the Penguins' practice Thursday after being evaluated for a lower-body injury but did participate Friday and considers himself a game-time decision Saturday vs. St. Louis. The 36-year-old defensemen is in his 18th season with the Penguins and has three assists, six SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in four games played so far in 2023-24.

Benoit will be returned to the Marlies (AHL) where he will presumably see some playing time. The 25-year-old defenseman was called up by the Maple Leafs earlier this season but never found his way into the lineup. He had 10 points (3G / 7A) in 78 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season.

Holmberg has been recalled from the AHL after recording two points (1G / 1A) in two games with the Marlies. The Maple Leafs' sixth-round pick from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft will likely serve as a depth forward for the team as they enter the second game of a season-long, five-game road trip.

Werenski left the Blue Jackets' opening night game after just 13:43 TOI due to a hit from Garnet Hathaway and is expected to return Friday as Columbus hosts Calgary. The 26-year-old Blue Jackets' captain had his 2022-23 decimated by a torn labrum and separated shoulder which led to him collecting three goals and eight points in 13 total games. He will hope this season is not defined by injuries after missing two Blue Jackets' games thus far.

Staal will be out four-to-six weeks with an upper-body injury after an awkward collision into the boards in Thursday night's matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. In four games this season, Staal has been held without a point but has six blocks, two hits, and four penalty minutes.

It appears Sorokin will start for the third consecutive game to open the season for the Islanders, who are playing the front end of a back-to-back on Friday. In two games so far, Sorokin has been his usual, Vezina-caliber self, recording a 1.00 GAA and .952 SV% along with a shutout in two games (2-0-0). The Islanders are slight +105 home underdogs against the New Jersey Devils, who have only one win in their first three games (1-1-1).

Georgiev is tied for the league lead with three wins (3-0-0) early in the season and will look to add another as the Avalanche host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night. Georgiev has been nothing short of terrific in his first three games, recording a near-perfect 1.30 GAA and .958 SV%. Last season, Georgiev posted a 1.00 GAA and .950 SV% in two games against the Blackhawks (2-0-0). Despite the Blackhawks' impressive 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, Georgiev and the Avalanche are massive -347 home favourites and should walk away with a victory at ease tonight.

Steel draws back into the lineup in place of Ty Dellandrea after being a healthy scratch for Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Golden Knights. Steel signed with the Stars in the off-season following a 10-goal, 18-assist campaign across 68 games with the Wild last season. He's played just one game so far this season and is yet to register a point as a Star.

Dellandrea will sit in favour of Sam Steel tonight after playing in each of the Stars' first two games. The 23-year-old scored nine goals and added 18 assists in 82 games with the Stars last season. Through two games in 2023-24 he's registered no goals and one assist with an ATOI of 12:29.

Henrique missed the Ducks' morning skate due to illness and will be out Thursday as they take on Dallas. The 33-year-old veteran has an assist, no SOG and a -1 plus/minus through two games so far this season while averaging 15:45 TOI. Henrique has not played in more than 71 games in a single season since 2018-19.

Daccord draws his second start of the year after impressing in his season debut on Saturday. The 27-year-old netminder stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced before falling to the Blues in a shootout. Daccord has made just 20 starts in his career across parts of five seasons with the Kraken and Senators, but he could be in line for an increased workload if he continues to outperform Philipp Grubauer. He will need to be at the top of his game against the Hurricanes tonight if he’s going to secure the Kraken’s first victory of the season.

Raanta will make his third appearance and second start of the season in Thursday’s game against the Kraken. The 34-year-old netminder will be hoping to improve on a disappointing start to the season. He’s stopped just 31 of the 37 shots he’s faced, resulting in an .838 SV% and a 3.17 GAA. Luckily for Raanta and his fantasy managers, he draws an excellent matchup tonight with Carolina being sizable favourites at -140 to come out on top tonight against the winless Kraken.

Martinez has missed all four of Vegas' wins to start the 2023-24 season due to an upper-body injury but will make his season debut Thursday vs. Winnipeg. The 36-year-old veteran defensemen is entering his 15th NHL season and had three goals, 11 assists, 76 SOG, 29 PIMs and a +30 plus/minus in 77 games played in 2022-23.

Thompson will start for the Golden Knights on Thursday after serving as backup to Adin Hill for three of their four first games (4-0-0). This could be an indication of Thompson's usage going forward, as the Golden Knights seem content with giving their $4.9 million goalie, Hill, the priority in the crease. The defending Stanely Cup Champions have been stout defensively regardless of who has manned their net, outscoring their opposition by a lopsided 14-5 margin. In his only game this season, Thompson saved 22 of 23 shots in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. The Golden Knights enter action tonight as -111 road favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has been abysmal defensively, allowing a league-worst 4.67 goals per game.

Zamula will sit for the second time this season despite an impressive offensive output through his first two games. He has registered a goal and an assist to go along with four shots on goal despite the fact that he's been limited to an ATOI of 14:40. Emil Andrae will draw into the lineup in his place.