NHL Hockey Player News

Holtby allowed two goals on 39 shots in the Capitals win in Columbus on Tuesday. Holtby has won three of his last four starts while posting a 3.43 GAA and .904 SV%. He hasn’t been great, but he’s done enough to get the W’s. Tonight he faces the Blue Jackets for the third time this season—he has gone 2-0-0 with a 2.51 GAA and .932 SV% in the first two meetings of the season.

Smith allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Flames win in Chicago on Tuesday. David Rittich started last night, giving Smith an extra day of rest prior to tonight’s game in New York. Smith ended a five-game winning streak by winning his last two starts with a 2.48 GAA and .922 SV%. Even with the back-to-back, he is a must-start against a Rangers team that is in complete free-fall mode—they’ve lost four in a row and seven of their last eight.

Gibson took part in full practice on Thursday but the Ducks were very tight lipped about whether or not he will be available for Friday’s contest. “I can’t really talk about it,” Gibson told reporters and head coach Randy Carlyle rarely divulges any goaltender information. Monitor his status during Friday’s morning skate, but it looks like Ryan Miller might make a fifth straight start.

Smith has been a healthy scratch for the last three games, but will be back in the lineup vs. the Penguins. Smith has four goals and five assists in 31 games this season. There’s no word on who will come out in favour of Smith, but head coach Ken Hitchcock said Smith will play.

Dickinson has been a healthy scratch for the last two games, but will be back in the lineup vs. the Penguins. Dickinson has not registered a point in 12 games with the Stars. There’s no word on who will come out in favour of Dickinson, but head coach Ken Hitchcock said Dickinson will play.

Heatherington has been a healthy scratch for the last five games but head coach Ken Hitchcock said that he will be back in tonight, on the second game of a back-to-back. Julius Honka left yesterday’s game with an upper-body injury, so it seems highly unlikely that he will play tonight. Regardless of who comes out, Heatherington will be back in. He has no points in four games with the Stars.

Honka played just 6:06 TOI before leaving last night’s game in Chicago with an upper-body injury. Honka did not return to the game and is questionable for Friday’s game vs. the Penguins. Head coach Ken Hitchcock already said that Dillon Heatherington will play tonight, so it seems highly unlikely that Honka will play.

Lehtonen stopped 30 of 31 shots in the Stars win over the Wild on Saturday. Lehtonen has won four straight games while posting a really impressive 1.24 GAA and .954 SV%. Ken Hitchcock’s coaching style has served Lehtonen very well. During four seasons under Lindy Ruff, Lehtonen had a 2.73 GAA and .908 SV% in 232 games and in his first 17 games with Hitchcock behind the bench he sits with a 2.22 GAA and .919 SV%.

Comrie, 22, has gone 15-8-2 with a 2.54 GAA and .921 SV% in 25 games with Manitoba this season. With both Steve Mason and Michael Hutchinson out with concussions, Comrie comes up to serve as Connor Hellebuyck’s backup. The second round pick has allowed nine goals on 74 shots (.878 SV%) in two career NHL games.

Hutchinson was recalled because Steve Mason is out with a concussion and now he is dealing with a concussion of his own. Hutchinson was hit by a shot during practice and will miss an unknown amount of time. Eric Comrie has been recalled to serve as the Jets’ No.2

Rowney left Tuesday’s game vs. the Golden Knights and did not return and it looks like he’ll miss Friday’s game in Dallas. Rowney only appeared in three games since returning to the lineup from an upper-body injury and it looks like he’ll end up back on the shelf.

Kuhnhackl left Tuesday’s game early and did not return and it looks like he’s going to miss a couple of weeks. Kuhnhackl was filling in for Conor Sheary in the top-9, but it looks like Sheary could take his spot back in Dallas.

Sheary has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, but he was on the ice for Thursday’s practice and could play tonight in Dallas. Sheary, who has 19 points (12G / 7A) in 52 games this season, skated on a line with Riley Sheahan and Zach Aston-Reese. Monitor his status during the Penguins’ morning skate.

Saros allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Predators loss to Chicago on January 30th. In his last eight games, Saros has gone 3-1-3 with a 1.50 GAA, .954 SV% and three shutouts. Saros has been great as of late and draws a superb matchup tonight vs. a banged up Senators team in Ottawa—he is 3-2-3 with a 2.55 GAA and .921 SV% on the road this season.

Price allowed one goal on 26 shots in the Canadiens win over the Senators on Sunday. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Price, who enters Thursday’s game with a terrible road record this season—he is 4-12-0 with a 3.23 GAA and .904 SV% in 16 starts. The Flyers come in having lost four of their last five.

Fleury allowed five goals on 38 shots in the Golden Knights loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. It was an inauspicious return to Pittsburgh for Fleury, who had his three-game winning streak snapped. A lot has been made about Vegas’ home record, but Fleury is 8-3-0 with a 1.90 GAA and .939 SV% on the road this season.

Price allowed one goal on 26 shots in the Canadiens win over the Senators on Sunday. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Price, who enters Thursday’s game with a terrible road record this season—he is 4-12-0 with a 3.23 GAA and .904 SV% in 16 starts. The Flyers come in having lost four of their last five.

Fleury allowed five goals on 38 shots in the Golden Knights loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. It was an inauspicious return to Pittsburgh for Fleury, who had his three-game winning streak snapped. A lot has been made about Vegas’ home record, but Fleury is 8-3-0 with a 1.90 GAA and .939 SV% on the road this season.

Jones allowed two goals on 19 shots in the Sharks loss in Colorado on Tuesday. Jones will be getting his fifth start in six games—he comes in having gone 1-2-1 with a 1.98 GAA and .934 SV% in his previous four start. The 28-year-old has gone 9-4-2 with a 2.52 GAA and .910 SV% on home ice this season.