NHL Hockey Player News

The Capitals acquired Jensen from the Red Wings on Friday afternoon and wasted no time signing the 28-year-old to an extension. Jensen carried a +1.1 CF% rel in 60 games with the Red Wings this season, picking up two goals and 13 assists (15 points) along the way.

Anderson allowed four goals on 30 shots after replacing Anders Nilsson in the Senators 8-7 loss in Chicago on Tuesday. Anderson has not recorded a win since December 17th, allowing a combined 22 goals on 199 shots (.889 SV%) in his last six appearances. With Matt Duchene now with Columbus and Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel scratched, the Senators are going to have a hard time winning tonight.

Varlamov allowed one goal on 27 shots in Colorado’s win over the Jets on Wednesday. Varlamov has been excellent recently, winning two in a row and three of his last four while stopping 120 of 124 shots (.968 SV%). Varlamov runs into a red-hot Blackhawks team, who he lost to in overtime back in late-December—allowing three goals on 37 shots.

Bowey is a former second-round pick (2013) who started the year with the Capitals but has been a healthy scratch a lot recently. Bowey has one goal and five assists (six points) in 33 games this season. The 23-year-old is a strong skater, good passer and was a tremendous hitter in juniors but hasn’t shown it as frequently in the NHL. He should settle in as a third-pairing defenseman in Detroit for now and the Red Wings hope he can continue to grow into a top-4 defenseman.

Jensen was a fifth-round pick back in 2009 and was a late-bloomer. Jensen didn’t make his NHL debut until 2017, after 222 career AHL games, and never looked back. Jensen is a reliable two-way defenseman that can be leaned on to kill penalties. He will likely line-up next to Brooks Orpik/Christian Djoos in the third pairing.

Ehlers has been out since January 4th but will return to the Jets lineup Friday in Vegas. Head coach Paul Maurice did not disclosed who Ehlers will play with, but he returns to the lineup with 15 goals and 12 assists (27 points) in 40 games this season. Brendan Lemieux will sit as the healthy scratch.

Fleury allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Golden Knights shootout loss to the Bruins on Wednesday. Fleury’s losing streak was extended to four games, giving up a combined 16 goals on 128 shots (.875 SV%) over that span. In his first start against the Jets, Fleury allowed two goals on 25 shots in a 4-1 loss (Jan.15).

Miller stopped all 31 shots that he faced in the Ducks shutout win in Montreal on Tuesday. Miller has been rock-solid since returning from an injury, winnings two in a row while stopping 54 of 56 shots (.964 SV%). In his first start against the Flames, Miller stopped 37 of 39 shots in a 3-2 win (Nov.7).

Kylington suffered an injury while blocking a shot on Wednesday and will not be available for Friday’s game. Dalton Prout will replace Kylington on the third pairing.

With Brent Seabrook (abdomen) out and Carl Dahlstrom (illness) questionable, Jokiharju has been called up and will likely be in the lineup on Friday. Jokiharju has picked up a point-per-game (1G / 8A) in nine games with Rockford since being sent down. He is one of the Blackhawks best defensemen and could remain with the team moving forward as they continue their hunt for the playoffs.

Ehn, 22, has spent most of the season in Detroit, where he has seven points (2G / 5A) in 44 games. He returns to the AHL where he had one goal and five assists in 10 games with the Griffins.

Hellebuyck allowed seven goals on 46 shots in the Jets blowout loss in Colorado on Wednesday. Hellebuyck has had a tough time recently, losing four of his last six starts (2-3-1) with a 3.82 GAA and .906 SV%. The 25-year-old netminder has gone 10-10- with a 3.12 GAA and .910 SV% in 21 road games this season.

Sateri will serve as Jonathan Bernier’s backup on Friday because Jimmy Howard is dealing with an illness. Sateri has gone 18-9-0 with a 2.79 GAA and .902 SV% in 30 games with the Griffins this season.

Howard is the latest Red Wing to get hit by the virus that is going around the locker room and has already forced Frans Nielsen and Gustav Nyquist to miss one game. Harri Sateri has been called- up from Grand Rapids (AHL) to backup Jonathan Bernier.

Bernier allowed one goal on 12 shots after replacing Jimmy Howard in an eventual overtime loss to the Blackhawks on Wednesday. Bernier has made three straight abbreviated appearances, stopping 27 of the 30 shots (.900 SV%) that he has faced. Overall, it hasn’t been a great year for Bernier, who comes into Friday’s game at 1-4-1 with a 2.69 GAA and .904 SV% at Little Caesars Arena.

Murray is out indefinitely after suffering an upper-body injury against the Lightning on Monday. This is a tough break for Murray, who has set career-highs in assists (28) and points (29) in 56 games this season. His move to IR opens up a roster spot so Matt Duchene could be added to the roster.

Smith allowed two goals on 19 shots in the Flames win over the Islanders on Wednesday. Smith will make his fifth straight start, having won three in a row while making 78 saves on 86 shots (.907 SV%). Smith continues to play well and makes for a solid option against a Ducks team that ranks last in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.23 GF/pg).