NHL Hockey Player News

Vanek missed the Red Wings’ win over the Blues on Thursday and will miss a second consecutive game tonight vs. the Bruins. Vanek’s injury is not considered serious, so he is listed as day-to-day.

Howard stopped all 30 shots that he faced in the Red Wings’ shutout win over the Sharks last Saturday. Mrazek started the last two games, but Howard will start the first game of their back-to-back tonight. Howard has won each of his first two starts while stopping 62 of 63 shots (.984 SV%). He makes for a solid spot-start option tonight.

Craig Anderson is dealing with a personal matter in Ottawa, Andrew Hammond was injured on Friday night, so O’Connor has been recalled to join Chris Driedger as the Senators’ goaltending tandem. The 24-year-old netminder has gone 1-2-0 with a 2.35 GAA and .919 SV% in three AHL games this season.

Nilsson allowed three goals on 21 shots in the Sabres’ loss to the Wild on Thursday. Robin Lehner is back from his illness, but Nilsson will still start his third straight game today vs. Florida. Nilsson has stopped 56 of 62 shots (.903 SV%) in his first two games. He takes on a Panthers team that has surprisingly lost four of their last five contests.

Howard stopped all 30 shots that he faced in the Red Wings’ shutout win over the Sharks last Saturday. Mrazek started the last two games, but it looks like Howard will start the first game of their back-to-back tonight. Howard has won each of his first two starts while stopping 62 of 63 shots (.984 SV%). He makes for a solid spot-start option tonight.

Price made 30 saves on 31 shots in the Canadiens’ win over the Lightning on Thursday. Price has won each of his four starts to kick-off the season while posting a 1.51 GAA ad .947 SV%. Price has been doing Price things and tonight he will get his first look at the youthful Leafs. Toronto is scoring a lot, but you aren’t taking Price out of your lineup.

Hammond was injured in the first period of Friday’s game and never returned to the game. The Senators are already without Craig Anderson, who is in Ottawa dealing with a personal matter, so they’re now left with just Chris Driedger and will likely recall Matt O’Connor as well if Hammond can’t play on Sunday.

Kreider has missed the last two games and will miss both games this weekend with a neck strain. Kreider’s injury isn’t believed to be serious, so he could be back in the lineup early next week—maybe Tuesday vs. the Blues.

Jones stopped 24 of 25 shots in the Sharks win over the Blue Jackets on Thursday. Jones followed up a three-game losing streak with two straight wins and is now 4-3-0 with a 2.32 GAA and .908 SV% in his first seven starts. He draws a solid matchup against a Predators team that has lost five of their last six including their first two on their California road trip.

Lappin, 23, has picked up one goal and two assists (three points) in six games with Albany before his call-up. Lappin will make his NHL debut against his childhood favourite, Chicago Blackhawks. Lappin will skate on the Devils’ fourth line.

Gibson allowed one goal on 29 shots in the Ducks’ win over the Predators on Wednesday. Gibson has won three straight starts and also had a great relief appearance mixed in. So far he has three wins with a 2.27 GAA and .913 SV% this season and draws a solid matchup vs. Columbus tonight.

Getzlaf missed Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury, but took part in the pre-game skate and is expected to play barring a setback. Getzlaf is off to a much-better start than last year, having picked up eight points (1G / 7A) in seven games.

Spurgeon has missed the last four games, but will return to the lineup on Saturday. Spurgeon has picked up one goal and one assist in four games this season. Nate Prosser will likely come out of the lineup to make room for Spurgeon.

Fleury allowed two goals on 37 shots in the Penguins win over the Islanders on Thursday. Fleury has won three of his last four starts while posting a 3.00 GAA and .905 SV%. Tonight he will face the Flyers for the first time this season—Fleury was 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .918 SV% in two games against the rival Philadelphia Flyers.

Theodore has appeared in three straight games and his demotion and promotion was just salary manipulation. Theodore has picked up one assist in three games since being recalled.

Rantanen played on a four-game conditioning stint with San Antonio (AHL), where he had two assists. Rantanen has been recalled to make his season debut and it will come on the top-line with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog.

McLeod played in the last three games, but will be replaced by John Mitchell on Friday night. McLeod doesn’t carry and fantasy relevance.

Mitchell has missed the first five games of the season with a hip flexor injury, but will play tonight vs. the Jets. Mitchell will replace Cody McLeod in the lineup and is expected to skate with Andreas Martinsen and Joe Colborne.

Carr has not made it into the Canadiens’ lineup since October 15th. He picked up one assist in two games, but heads back to St. John’s (AHL) where he had 21 points (10G / 11A) in 24 games a season ago.

Pastrnak has had a great start to the season, but will miss Saturday’s game in Detroit and Tuesday’s game in Florida after being suspended for a hit on Girardi on Wednesday.