NHL Hockey Player News

Carpenter has not played since December 3rd, a 10-game absence, and was a game-time decision for the Sharks on Thursday after being activated from the injured reserve. The 32-year-old centre is on pace to play the most amount of games he has in three seasons and has a goal, four assists, 21 SOG, and two PIMs in 18 games played this season.

Talbot will take the crease for the second half of the Kings' back-to-back as they head to Vegas on Thursday. The 36-year-old signed a one-year contract in the offseason and has been worth every penny as he has posted a 14-6-2 record, 2.06 GAA and .925 SV%. He will take on the ice cold Vegas Golden Knights, who have lost four straight games but are still 11th in the NHL in goals per game (3.33).

Thompson will be back between the pipes for the Golden Knights on Thursday for the second time in as many nights after he made his return from an upper-body injury on Wednesday. It's a bit of a surprising move considering Thompson is coming off an injury and did not look particularly sharp in Anaheim on Wednesday, when he allowed five goals on just 26 shots enroute to a 5-2 defeat. Vegas will be hoping he can find his form and put an end to their four-game losing streak when they host the Kings on Thursday.

Raanta was recently recalled from Chicago (AHL), where he went 1-0-1 while allowing six goals on 48 shots (.875 SV%). He has struggled for the Hurricanes this season, going 6-5-1 with a 3.61 GAA, .854 SV% and one shutout in 14 appearances. He has a good chance to get back in the win column on Thursday, as the Hurricanes host the Canadiens as large -252 home favourites.

Raanta was just recalled from Chicago (AHL) after going 1-0-1 with an .875 SV% and 2.90 GAA and will take the Hurricanes' crease for the first time since December 15th, 2023. The 34-year-old was waived earlier in the month due to his overall weak play, with his 6-5-1 record, 3.61 GAA and .854 SV%. He'll take on the Montreal Canadiens Thursday, who have won three of their last four games but are struggling offensively as they are 27th in the NHL in goals per game (2.79).

Talbot will take the crease for the second half of the Kings' back-to-back as they head to Vegas on Thursday. The 36-year-old signed a one-year contract in the offseason and has been worth every penny as he has posted a 14-6-2 record, 2.06 GAA and .925 SV%. He will take on the ice cold Vegas Golden Knights, who have lost four straight games but are still 11th in the NHL in goals per game (3.33).

After undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and prolonged contract negotiations, Bear has signed a two-year, $4.125 million contract with the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old Bear played 61 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season, scoring 16 points (3G / 13A), recording a +6 plus/minus, and registering 82 blocks while averaging 18:32 time-on-ice. Bear should help solidify the blueline for a Capitals team that already ranks top-10 in the league defensively, allowing only 2.75 goals per game.

With Olli Maatta and Jeff Petry expected to return to the lineup on Friday, Edvinsson's services are no longer needed and, as such, he has been reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). Edvinsson played the last two games from the Red Wings, averaging over 14 minutes of time-on-ice, recording one point (0G / 1A), and registering three hits.

Karel Vejmelka was between the pipes for the Coyotes on Wednesday in their 5-4 overtime win over the Avalanche, but the team will shift back to their early-season strategy of alternating starts and turn to Ingram on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. Ingram has lost the magic he had in late November, dropping four of his last five games (1-4-0), posting a subpar .873 SV%. That said, Ingram and the Coyotes will have a favourable matchup against a Ducks team that ranks fourth worst in the league offensively (2.65 GF / GP) despite defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 in their last game.

In their first game back from the Christmas break, the Canucks will turn to Casey DeSmith and give Thatcher Demko an extended rest, as they will not play again until January 2nd. DeSmith last played on December 19th, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators, and is amid a hot streak, allowing two goals or less, posting a .965 SV% while recording at least a point in each of his last three contests (2-0-1). The Canucks are -164 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has lost two straight.

Chrona was recalled by the Sharks earlier this week after Mackenzie Blackwood was ruled unable to play due to an illness. The Sharks will turn to Chrona for the first start of his career on the back end of a back-to-back Thursday in a difficult matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. He entered a game in relief earlier this season for the Sharks, allowing four goals on 17 shots (.765 SV%), but has spent most of the season with the San Jose Baracuda of the AHL, posting a 3.35 GAA and .900 SV% in 11 games (3-6-2). Chrona and the Sharks' outlook for Thursday is not promising as they are +360 road underdogs and the Oilers.

Pacioretty has been a full participant at practice the last two weeks and is expected to make his season debut this week as he nears his return from his second Achilles surgery in less than a year. Over the last three seasons, Pacioretty has struggled vehemently with injuries, playing only 92 total games. After recovering from his first Achilles surgery, he was only able to play five games last season before re-injuring his Achilles and forcing an abrupt end to his season. If Pacioretty can stay healthy, he could be a big boost for a Capitals team that ranks second-worst in the league offensively (2.34 GF / GP) and has the league's third-worst powerplay (12.1%).

On the front end of a back-to-back, the Flyers will turn to Samuel Ersson for the sixth time in the last seven games. Ersson's clutch of the starting position for the Flyers is a result of Hart being unable to play due to various injuries and illnesses over the last month, but he has made the most of his time between the pipes. Ersson has played nine games since mid-November (7-1-1), allowing three or fewer goals in each, posting a stellar .926 SV%. That said, the Flyers will be put to the test as +136 road underdogs on Thursday against a Vancouver Canucks club that was shut out by the Flyers 2-0 in the opening week of the season.

Carpenter has not played since December 3rd, a 10-game absence, and will be eligible to return to the lineup for the Sharks on Thursday after being activated from the injured reserve. The 32-year-old centre is on pace to play the most amount of games he has in three seasons and has a goal, four assists, 21 SOG, and two PIMs in 18 games played this season. In a corresponding move, the Sharks placed Givani Smith on IR.

Smith last played on December 21st and will be out of the lineup indefinitely as he has been placed on IR with a lower-body injury. He has one goal and two assists in 26 games this season.

With Alex Lyon returning from an upper-body injury, the Red Wings will roll with him and James Reimer, prompting the team to place Hutchinson on waivers to be reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. In one game with the Red Wings, Hutchinson saved 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils last week.