NHL Hockey Player News

Staal will be replaced by Libor Hajek, who will play for the first time since December 5th.

Hajek has been out with a knee injury since December 5th but will replace Marc Staal on Saturday. Hajek has just five assists in 27 games this season.

With Ondrej Palat listed as day-to-day, Volvo comes up and could draw into the lineup on Saturday. Volkov has no points in four NHL games this year while picking up 15 points (2G / 13A) in 25 AHL games.

Hogberg allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Senators shootout loss in Detroit last night. It was a strong enough outing for head coach D.J. Smith to go back to the 25-year-old tonight vs. the struggling Canadiens. Montreal is riding an eight-game losing streak while scoring just 2.50 goals per game during the stretch.

Reimer allowed four goals on 21 shots but walked away with the win on Tuesday. Reimer has allowed at least three goals in three straight, posting a 5.76 GAA and .769 SV% in the process. It hasn't been pretty and Reimer has rarely stated on home ice, with Saturday's game marking just his fourth of the season. He is 1-2-0 with a 3.72 GAA and .864 SV% in the first three.

Merrill has been a healthy scratch for the last three games but will replace Nicolas Hague in the lineup on Saturday. Merrill has just one goal and three assists in 37 games this season.

Kolesar was originally drafted in the third round by the Blue Jackets in 2015 and will get a chance to make his NHL debut vs. the team that drafted him on Saturday. The 22-year-old has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 24 AHL games this season.

Marchessault was on the ice for the morning skate but head coach Gerard Gallant said he is “doubtful but I don’t want to say no.” Expect Marchessault to miss his fifth straight game on Saturday.

Khudobin stopped 30 of 31 shots in the Stars win in Los Angeles on Wednesday. It was another great game for Khudobin, who has won three in a row while posting a 1.33 GAA and .955 SV%. Tonight he takes on a Sharks team that is trying to get things going, winning three of their last five (3-1-1) while scoring 3.00 goals per game.

Fleury gave up four goals on 16 shots in the Golden Knights loss to the Penguins on Tuesday. It was an ugly outing against his former team for Fleury, who has now given up four goals in three straight games. It has been an inauspicious start to 2020 for the veteran, but he draws a solid matchup on Saturday. The Blue Jackets are averaging just 2.40 goals per game in their five road games since Christmas.

Chara was banged up in a fight in Nashville on Tuesday and missed Thursday's game but will replace Steven Kampfer in the lineup on Saturday. Chara has no points in his last 10 games.

Merzlikins allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Blue Jackets loss in San Jose on Thursday. It was another solid performance for Merzlikins, who is now 4-2-1 with a 2.20 GAA and. 935 SV% since taking over as the No.1 netminder. As good as he has been, playing in Vegas is never easy. The Golden Knights are 7-3-0 while averaging 4.10 goals in their last 10 home games.

Koskinen allowed five goals on 33 shots in the Oilers win over the Rangers on New Year's Eve. Even with Mike Smith playing well in four straight games, they'll go back to Koskinen in the 'Battle of Alberta' on Saturday. He was pulled after allowing four goals on 24 shots in a 5-1 loss to the Flames on December 27th.

Koskinen allowed five goals on 33 shots in the Oilers win over the Rangers on New Year's Eve. Even with Mike Smith playing well in four straight games, they'll go back to Koskinen in the 'Battle of Alberta' on Saturday. He was pulled after allowing four goals on 24 shots in a 5-1 loss to the Flames on December 27th.

Gibson allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Ducks loss to the Stars on Thursday. Gibson has dropped four of his last five starts (1-3-1) while posting a 3.15 GAA and .902 SV%. Tonight he faces a Blackhawks team that has lost seven of their last 10 home games, going 3-6-1 while scoring just 2.40 goals per game.

Rask allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Bruins win in Nashville on Tuesday. Jaroslav Halak wasn't very sharp on Thursday, so they'll come back to Rask tonight in Brooklyn. He is 3-0-1 with a 2.25 GAA and .934 SV% in his last four outings while the Isles have lost four of their last five home games (1-3-1).

Talbot stopped 42 of 43 shots in the Flames win over the Hurricanes on Thursday. It was a super outing for Talbot, who has won three in a row while allowing just five goals on 102 shots (.951 SV%). Tonight he looks to stay hot against his former team, on home-ice where he has gone 3-3-0 with a 2.37 GAA and .925 SV% in six games this season.

Lehner allowed six goals on 36 shots in the Blackhawks loss in Vancouver on January 2nd. He ended up missing the next two games with a knee injury but was the backup on Thursday and will start his 24th game of the season tonight. Lehner was terrific in his first game vs. the Ducks, stopped 36 of 38 shots in a 3-2 overtime win in early-November.

de la Rose has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace Jordan Kyrou in the lineup on Saturday. de la Rose has one goal and three assists in 24 games since joining the Blues in mid-November.