NHL Hockey Player News

The Oilers are riding a two-game winning streak and will switch to Pickard between the pipes after rolling with Stuart Skinner for three straight. The 32-year-old Pickard has been serviceable when called upon this season, especially lately, allowing three or fewer goals in four straight (3-1-0), boasting a .917 SV%. The Oilers will host a Nashville Predators club that they defeated 5-1 two weeks ago when Pickard saved 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%).

Stillman was signed by the Hurricanes in the offseason but has yet to play a game in the 2024-25 season. His last NHL game was in the 2022-23 season as a member of the Buffalo Sabres when he had three points (1G / 2A) in 18 games.

Reimer was signed by the Anaheim Ducks in the offseason and played two games with them (0-2-0), recording a 4.50 GAA and .864 SV%. The veteran Reimer provides some goaltending depth for a Sabres club that is temporarily without starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (undisclosed).

Martinez has not played since the fourth game of the season, missing 12 straight, but appears to inching closer to a return. The veteran 37-year-old defenseman is averaging 21:02 time-on-ice through four games this season and has tallied one assist, 15 blocks, and one hit.

After a stretch of only playing one of eight games, resulting from a horrendous start of allowing three or more goals in his first five games (1-3-0) and posting a .810 SV%, Georgiev has started three straight (2-1-0), allowing seven goals combined and posting a solid .921 SV%. The Avalanche are riding a two-game winning streak and enter the action on Wednesday as -139 home favorites against a Los Angeles Kings club that has lost two of their past three (1-2-0).

Walman ha been a game-time decision the previous two games and will be again on Thursday. The 28-year-old Walman has been productive from the blueline in his first season with the Sharks, scoring nine points (1G / 8A) in 13 games, highlighted by seven points (1G / 6A) in his last four contests.

Oesterle has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in Providence (AHL) but could make his Boston Bruins debut after being recalled on Wednesday, possibly an indication that Hampus Lindholm (lower body) will not be ready to play. The 32-year-old Oesterle has 371 games of NHL experience, recording 86 points (19G / 67A).

Brodin exited Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks after playing 16:38 time-on-ice due to an unspecified injury. The 31-year-old Bordin is averaging 22:04 time-on-ice, second most among Minnesota defensemen, and has six points (1G / 5A) in 15 games this season.

Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes for the sixth time in the last seven games on Thursday when they host the Montreal Canadiens. Gustavsson was on the wrong end of a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in his previous outing but was solid in the effort, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%). The 26-year-old Gustavsson has a 2.27 GAA and .919 SV% in 11 games this season (7-2-2).

Reilly has been out of the lineup since suffering an upper-body injury resulting from a hit by Jordan Greenway of the Buffalo Sabres on November 1st. Before his injury, the 31-year-old Reilly had played 11 games, averaging 15:45 time-on-ice.

Raty played four straight for Vancouver but has been reassigned to the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL). The 21-year-old Raty was the 52nd overall pick of the New York Islanders in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He has seven points (3G / 4A) in eight AHL games with Abbotsford this season.

Lekkerimaki made his NHL debut on Tuesday, playing 14:07 time-on-ice, recording two shots and one hit, while seeing top-line and top-powerplay deployment. The 20-year-old Lekkerimaki was the 15th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Bains has spent most of the 2024-25 season with Vancouver but has continually been a part of paper transactions, sending him down to Abbotsford (AHL), due to salary cap implications. The 23-year-old Bains is averaging 11:30 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A) in eight games this season.

After a stretch of only playing one of eight games, resulting from a horrendous start of allowing three or more goals in his first five games (1-3-0) and posting a .810 SV%, Georgiev has started three straight (2-1-0), allowing seven goals combined and posting a solid .921 SV%. The Avalanche are riding a two-game winning streak and enter the action on Wednesday as -139 home favorites against a Los Angeles Kings club that has lost two of their past three (1-2-0).

Stezka has served as the backup to Joey Daccord the past couple games since Philipp Grubauer (undisclosed) has been sidelined with an injury. Stezka's reassignment to the AHL could be a sign that Grubauer is nearing a return, but could also just be a paper transaction ahead of Seattle's next game on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old Stezka has a 3.61 GAA and .881 SV% in six games with Coachella Valley (AHL) this season.

Montembeault saved all four shots he faced after entering Monday's exciting 7-5 victory over the Buffalo Sabres and was the goalie of record, recording the victory after relieving Cayden Primeau. The 28-year-old Montebeault has had an inconsistent 2024-25 season, recording a 3.42 GAA and .890 SV% in 12 games (4-7-1). Montembeault and the Canadiens will be heavily tested on Thursday, facing off against the Minnesota Wild and their top-10 offense, averaging 3.5 goals per game.

Hakanpaa has returned from a two-game conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and his Maple Leafs debut appears to be approaching. The 32-year-old Hakanpaa, in his first season as a Maple Leaf, missed an extended portion of last season with the Dallas Stars due to injuries that continued into the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign.

Samuelsson made his return to the lineup from a three-game absence on Monday but exited the contest after only 6:49 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. Before his injury, the 24-year-old Samuelsson was averaging 16:52 time-on-ice and had one point (1G / 0A) in 12 games this season. He is expected to be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis.

Luukkonen struggled in the Sabres' previous outing, allowing four goals on 18 shots (.778 SV%), before being relieved by Devon Levi in an eventual 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Luukkonen has a 2.83 GAA and .903 SV% in 12 contests (6-4-1) and had started five straight (3-2-0). If Luukkonen misses any time, expect Levi to control the Sabres crease in the interim.

Thompson scored a goal on Monday, extending his goal-scoring streak to four games, but exited the contest after only 6:49 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old Thompson has been off to a terrific start to the 2024-25 campaign, with 18 points (11G / 7A) in 15 games, and will be sorely missed by the Sabres if he misses any time.