NHL Hockey Player News

Niemi stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Stars’ win over the Flyers on Saturday. Niemi will make his fourth straight start after going 2-1-0 with a 1.35 GAA and .959 SV% in his previous three starts. Niemi has gone 1-0-1 with a 2.93 GAA and.902 SV% in his first two starts against the Blues this season.

Budaj gave up on goal on 30 shots in the Kings’ loss in Boston on Sunday. It was a great outing for Budaj, who has gone 2-1-1 with a 2.27 GAA and .918 SV% in six December starts. In his first start against the Blue Jackets, Budaj stopped 19 of 21 shots in a 3-2 overtime win. Luckily for him,Curtis McElhinney goes for Columbus.

Johnson gave up four goals in 29 shots in the Flames’ loss to the Blue Jackets last Friday. Johnson has now lost two in a row while allowing a combined eight goals on 50 shots (.840 SV%). Johnson wasn’t going to be able to maintain his previous pace, but he also isn’t as bad as he’s been in the last two. With that said, tonight’s matchup is one you should avoid.

Petan has missed the last 10 games with a lower-body injury that he suffered back on November 27th. Petan is expected to centre the Jets’ third line with Marko Dano and Drew Stafford on his wings. Petan has seven points (1G / 6A) in 13 games this season.

Hellebuyck stopped 27 of 28 shots in the Jets’ win over the Avalanche on Sunday. After losing three straight, Hellebuyck has now won two in a row while stopping 68 of 72 shots (.944 SV%). He draws a really good matchup in Vancouver, stub has gone 3-6-0 with an ugly 3.27 GAA and .885 SV% in nine starts on the road so far this season.

Ward was a healthy scratch last Friday, was back in the lineup on Sunday, but will come out again tonight. Ward will be replaced by Michael Haley.

Schlemko appeared in the last four games, collecting one goal and two assists. Tonight he will be replaced by Dylan DeMelo in what Peter DeBoer is calling a “coaches decision.”

Jones allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Sharks’ loss in Chicago on Sunday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Jones, who will make his fifth consecutive start tonight vs. the Flames. Tonight will be his second start vs. Calgary and the first one didn’t go well—he allowed three goals on22 shots in aa 3-2 loss.

Condon allowed two goals on 24 shots after replacing an injured Andrew Hammond in the Senators’ win in Brooklyn on Sunday. Condon has played well in Craig Anderson’s absence, going 4-2-2 with a 2.48 GAA and .914 SV% in December. Tonight he will take on a Blackhawks team that has won five games in a row.

Varlamov stopped 51 of 52 shots in Colorado’s win in Toronto on December 11th. Varlamov missed the next three games with a minor groin injury, but will be back in tonight in Minnesota. The Russian netminder has gone 3-6-0 with a 3.59 AA and .895 SV% on the road this season and will be in tough against a hot Wild team.

Crawford was on the ice again on Monday and confirmed that he is hoping to be back in the crease by Friday. Scott Darling will start tonight, but continue to monitor Crawford’s status as the week progresses.

Anisimov will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury. With Anisimov out, Jonathan Toews will continue to skate with Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov and Vince Hinostroza will be in the top six. Anisimov is day-to-day.

Murray stopped all six shots after replacing Marc-Andre Fleury for about half of a period after he was cut by a skate. Murray has gone 5-0-1 with a 1.57 GAA and .950 SV% in December and will start tonight vs. the Rangers. The 22-year-old stopped 16 of 17 shots in a 6-1 win in his first start vs. New York this season.

Nash hurt his groin on Sunday and will miss the next three games. Nash had scored two goals in three games since returning after a four-game absence. Brandon Pirri will draw back into the lineup with Nash out.