NHL Hockey Player News

Lehtonen allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Stars loss in Montreal last night. Head coach Ken Hitchcock announced that he is going to play Lehtonen until he sees Bishop again, so look for Lehtonen to make his fifth consecutive start tonight in Toronto. Lehtonen has gone 1-3-1 with a 2.39 GAA and .917 SV% since Bishop went down with a lower-body injury.

With Erik Gudbranson set to miss the rest of the season, Biega will get back in the lineup for just the second time in eight games tonight. Biega has just six assists in 32 contests this season.

The Canucks announced that Gudbranson has been removed from the active roster and will undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury that he originally sustained on November 22nd. Gudbranson should be ready to go for 2018-19 training camp this fall.

Markstrom stopped 23 of 24 shots in the Canucks loss in Arizona on Sunday. Anders Nilsson started two of the last three games, but Marsktrom will go tonight in Anaheim. Markstrom’s last five starts have been a bit of a disaster, as he’s gone just 1-2-2 with a 3.08 GAA and .907 SV%.

Bratt has been in the lineup for the last three games and picked up one assist in those games, but will be replaced by Travis Zajac (undisclosed) tonight in Vegas.

Zajac was forced to miss Saturday’s game in Nashville, but will replace Jesper Bratt tonight in Vegas. Zajac, who will have Michael Grabner and Brian Gibbons on his wings, returns with 20 points (10G / 10A) in 51 games this season.

Karlsson has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, but will be back in tonight in Edmonton. Karlsson has had a quiet season, picking up just 17 points (8G / 9A) in 60 games. He will return on the fourth line with Eric Fehr and Marcus Sorensen.

Kinkaid allowed just two goals on 36 shots in the Devils win in Nashville on Saturday. Kinkaid did what very few goalies have been able to do this season and that is win in Nashville. He has been great winning eight of his last 10, but very few goalies have won in Vegas also.

Neal will miss his eighth straight game with a hand injury and remains listed as “day-to-day.” Neal did not take the ice for the morning skate on Wednesday, so it seems unlikely that he will play Friday vs. the Wild either.

Smith remains day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and will miss his fourth straight game tonight vs. the Devils. Smith was not on the ice for the morning skate, which clouds his status for Friday’s game vs. the Wild as well.

Gibson allowed four goals on 23 shots in the Ducks loss to the Blues on Sunday. After winning three straight, Gibson has now dropped his last two starts while giving up four goals in each game and posting an .843 SV%. He has not faced the Canucks this season, but is 15-10-3 with a 2.61 GAA and .924 SV% on home ice.

Jones allowed three goals on 26 shots in the Sharks win over the Red Wings on Sunday. Jones has won four of his last six starts with a 2.04 GAA, .921 SV% and one shutout. He will continue his run in the Sharks net tonight vs. the Oilers, who he is 1-1-0 with a 3.03 GAA and .889 SV% against this season.

Benning is battling a sickness so he will come out of the lineup vs. the Sharks. Oscar Klefbom (shoulder), who has missed the last two games, will replace him.

Klefbom missed the last two games after undergoing a “minor procedure” on his shoulder but he will play tonight vs.the Sharks. However, Klefbom is expected to undergo another procedure soon to “clean up” his shoulder and he will be shutout for the rest of the season at that point.

Gibson allowed four goals on 23 shots in the Ducks loss to the Blues on Sunday. After winning three straight, Gibson has now dropped his last two starts while giving up four goals in each game and posting an .843 SV%. He has not faced the Canucks this season, but is 15-10-3 with a 2.61 GAA and .924 SV% on home ice.

DeSmith allowed one goal on 18 shots in the Penguins win over the Stars on Sunday. After a few tough outings, DeSmith has settled in a bit recently, stopping 26 of the last 27 shots (.963 SV%) that he has faced. Tonight he faces the Rangers at Madison Square Garden and comes in at 1-2-0 with a 2.99 GAA and .909 SV% on the road.

Montoya surrendered five goals on 46 shots and walked away with the win in Anaheim back on February 25th. Cam Talbot started the last seven games but Montoya will start the second game of the back-to-back tonight vs. the Sharks. He has gone 2-1-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .894 SV% in six appearances with the Oilers.

Fleury gave up two goals on 40 shots in the Golden Knights win in Philadelphia on Sunday. Fleury had a great road trip, going 4-1-0 while allowing just eight goals on 155 shots (.948 SV%) with one shutout. Now he returns to the friendly confines of T-Mobile Arena, where he is 12-5-2 with a 2.37 GAA and .920 SV% this season.