NHL Hockey Player News

Lundqvist was pulled after he gave up three goals on six shots in the Rangers’ loss to the Panthers on Tuesday. The rough outing snapped a nice four-game winning streak for Lundqvist, who is expected to make his 23rd start of the season tonight. In his first start vs. the Hurricanes, Lundqvist stopped 32 of 33 shots in a 6-1 win in Carolina.

After a one-game absence with a hyperextended elbow, Montour is expected to replace the traded Sami Vatanen in the lineup on Friday. Vatanen’s exit makes Montour a more appealing fantasy asset and he comes into tonight with 13 points (6G / 7A) in 24 games this season.

Kase was back at practice on Thursday and it looks like he may play in his first game since November 7th. Kase is projected to return on the Ducks third line and comes in with five goals and three assists (eight points) in 12 games this season.

Corey Crawford was placed on IR on Friday afternoon, so Berube has been recalled to serve as the Blackhawks’ No.2 behind Anton Forsberg. Chicago has a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday, so Berube, who is 6-6-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .913 SV% in 12 AHL starts could make his Blackhawks debut this weekend.

The hits keep coming of the struggling Oilers, who lost their No.1 goaltender earlier in the week and now lose a top-pairing D-man. It’s unclear when Larsson sustained the injury, but for the time being they will re-insert Eric Gryba into the lineup and not recall anyone from the AHL.

Heed, who had a nice start to the season, will be out of the lineup for the fourth time in five games tonight in Florida. With Heed out, Joakim Ryan will remain on the third pairing next to Dylan DeMelo.

There is no indication what happened to Crawford, who finished last night’s overtime loss to the Stars. Crawford’s move to IR allowed the Blackhawks to recall J-F Berube, who will serve as their No.2 behind Anton Forsberg while Crawford is out. Crawford will have to miss at least the next three games.

Yakupov, who played just 7:49 TOI on Wednesday, will swap places with Sven Andrighetto tonight and play with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. Yakupov has two goals in his last eight games, but his promotion makes him an interesting daily play tonight.

Santini has been played well on the Devils’ top pairing but with the addition of Sami Vatanen on Thursday, Santini will be the first victim of a numbers game tonight. Vatanen will take his spot next to Andy Greene and brings a lot more offence so the table than Santini.

Johansson has missed exactly one month with a concussion, but will return to the lineup tonight in Colorado. Johansson, who had three goals and two assists (five points) in 10 games this season will skate on the Devils’ second line with Travis Zajac and Pavel Zacha.

After being acquired for Adam Henrique, Joseph Blandisi and a third round pick on Thursday, Vatanen will immediately draw in on the top pair and top power play unit in Colorado tonight. Vatanen will take Steven Santini's spot with Andy Greene and will quarterback the top unit with Will Butcher. Vatanen has one goal, three assists and 22 shots on goal in 15 games this season.

Kinkaid allowed three goals on 34 shots in the Devils’ win in Detroit last Saturday. With Cory Schneider starting last night, Kinkaid will make his seventh start of the season tonight in Arizona. The 28-year-old has gone 5-1-1 with a 3.05 GAA and .906 SV% this season and draws a nice matchup in the desert tonight.

O’Regan has registered two assists in six games since being called up from San Jose (AHL), but will be a healthy scratch tonight in Florida. Ryan Carpenter will take O’Regan’s spot on the fourth line and Mikkel Boedker may see some PP time with O’Regan out.

Carpenter has been a healthy scratch for the last two games, but will replace Daniel O’Regan in the lineup tonight in Florida. Carpenter has yet to record a point in 12 games with the Sharks this season.