NHL Hockey Player News

Bemstrom has been sidelined by an upper-body injury since December 7th but has been activated from IR prior to Saturday's afternoon game. It remains to be seen if Bemstrom will play against the Sharks.

The Blue Jackets injury woes continue with Kukan out indefinitely following knee surgery. With Kukan out, Gabriel Carlsson will draw back into the lineup on Saturday.

Street has been a terrific point producer at the AHL-level throughout his career but has just eight points (3G / 5A) in 56 career NHL games with the Flames, Avalanche, Red Wings and Ducks. In his first year with the Devils, Street leads Binghamton with 33 points (13G / 20A) in 33 games. He will centre the third line with Jesper Bratt out with an undisclosed injury on Saturday.

Hughes, who was banged up late in the Boston game, will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury. He remains day-to-day, so monitor his status heading into Tuesday's meeting with the Islanders.

Bratt suffered an undisclosed injury vs. the Islanders on Thursday and will be unavailable for Saturday's game vs. the Avalanche. With Bratt out, Pavel Zacha will be elevated to the top line and Ben Street, who was called up from the AHL will draw in on the third line.

Bernier stopped all 34 shots that he faced in Red Wings shutout win over the Sharks on Tuesday. Bernier has gone 3-2-0 with a 1.78 GAA, .951 SV% and one shutout in his last six starts. He's been terrific but it's hard to warrant starting him behind the league's worst offence. Especially in Dallas, where the starts are 12-3-1 while scoring 3.19 goals per game in their last 16.

Mrazek allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Canadiens on Tuesday. Mrazek won his final two games of December, finishing the month at 5-2-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .907 SV%. One of those wins came against the Capitals, allowing four goals on 29 shots in a 6-4 win last Saturday.

Di Pauli has not appeared in an NHL game since being drafted in the fourth round in 2012 but has six goals and is assists (12 points) in 22 AHL games this season--his fourth AHL season.

DeSmith is not expected to play over the weekend. With a 5:00 pm game on Sunday, Tristan Jarry will remain in Pittsburgh, so DeSmtih will back up Matt Murray in Montreal and Jarry will start the Sunday game.