NHL Hockey Player News

Kunin was struck in the hand by a shot in Thursday's game in Philadelphia and was able to finish the game, but it will force him to miss Friday's game against the Devils. Kunin has five goals and two assists across 23 games with the Sharks this season.

Tierney will be the odd-man out on Friday as Timo Meier makes his return to the lineup. Tierney is yet to register a point across 12 games with the Devils this season.

Smith has played 17 consecutive games for the Sharks but exited last night's contest after playing only 2:59 with a mid-body injury and was a game-time decision on Friday. Smith has been held off the scoresheet in six straight games and has three points (1G / 2A) in 21 games this season.

Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.

Schmid gets the rare start on back-to-back nights as he will be the surprise yet deserved starter for the Devils on Friday. The Devils' starting job has swung firmly in Schmid's favour for the first time this season, as the 23-year-old netminder stopped all eight shots he faced in relief of Vitek Vanecek on Tuesday before allowing just three goals on 47 shots in Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Flyers. After a slow start to the season, Schmid currently boasts a .904 SV% thanks to his recent hot streak, and he couldn't ask for a better matchup to keep things rolling with the Devils being massive -500 favourites over the Sharks on Friday.

Stephens had three goals, nine assists, eight PIMs and a +7 plus/minus in 16 games to start the season in Laval (AHL) and has been recalled to Montreal for the first time since being acquired ahead of the 2022-23 season. The 26-year-old forward returns to the NHL for the first time since 2021-22 with Detroit and will look to build off his three goals and 13 career points he has in 72 NHL games played.

Bjornfot did not see any action in his most recent call up to Los Angeles having only appeared for the team on October 11th and has been reassigned to Ontario (AHL) Friday. The 22-year-old defensemen heads back to the minors, where he has yet to pick up a point in three games during his previous AHL stint this season.

Nosek has been out since November 18th and will not return to the Devils' lineup for an indefinete amount of time after he re-aggravated his right foot injury and had to get surgery. The 31-year-old did not pick up a point in any of his six games prior to his injury and will hope to return sooner rather than later after this latest set back.

Balinskis had a goal, an assist, 16 SOG, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 15 games played so far in 2023-24 but has been loaned back to Charlotte (AHL) on Friday. The 27-year-old defensemen will head to the Checkers for the first time in his career after making his NHL and North American debut this season.

Larkin missed the Red Wings' previous two games but is expected to draw back into the lineup Saturday as they head to Montreal. The 27-year-old Detroit captain has been sensational this season, on pace for career highs in goals and points due to his eight goals, 13 assists, 69 SOG, 29 PIMs and +3 plus/minus in 20 games played so far this season.

Nemec was the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and will make his NHL debut Friday vs. San Jose after Dougie Hamilton (pectoral strain) was placed on the Injured Reserve Friday. The 19-year-old defensemen had been thriving in his first season with Utica (AHL) prior to his call up, with two goals, six assists, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 13 games played.

Hamilton left Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury and did not return and has been placed on the injured reserve Thursday with a torn left pectoral muscle and is out indefinetly. Brendan Smith will replace Hamilton on the Devils' back end after his two game suspension is over. It is a tough loss for New Jersey who will now be without their top defensemen for a while who had five goals, 11 assists, 61 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 20 games this season.

Johnson has failed to pick up a point in four straight games and will head to the press box Saturday vs. Winnipeg as Anthony Beauvillier makes his Chicago debut. The 25-year-old undrafted forward has two goals, no assists, 17 SOG, four PIMs and a -4 plus/minus in 14 games played in 2023-24.

Soderblom will start for the first time in three games Saturday as he takes on Winnipeg on the road. The 24-year-old has only beaten the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023-24 and holds a non-inspiring 2-7-0 record, 3.78 GAA and .882 SV% in 10 games played. He takes on the Winnipeg Jets on the road, who is looking to snap a three-game losing streak and are 14th in the NHL in goals per game (3.27).