NHL Hockey Player News

Acciari is battling an illness and is uncertain for Pittsburgh's final game before the Olympic break. The 34-year-old Acciari has 15 points (6G / 9A) in 42 games this season.

Stuart Skinner has faltered between the pipes in his last few outings, awarding more playing time for Arturs Silovs, who will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 24-year-old Silovs played well in his previous outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 3-2 losing effort to the Ottawa Senators. Silovs has won six of his last 10 games (6-2-2), posting a serviceable 2.55 GAA and .902 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Sabres team coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Stuart Skinner has faltered between the pipes in his last few outings, awarding more playing time for Arturs Silovs, who will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 24-year-old Silovs played well in his previous outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 3-2 losing effort to the Ottawa Senators. Silovs has won six of his last 10 games (6-2-2), posting a serviceable 2.55 GAA and .902 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Sabres team coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sorokin has been a cornerstone of the Islanders' reliability in recent weeks but has misstepped slightly lately, allowing four goals in his last two games (1-1-0). That said, the 30-year-old goalie still boasts a sensational 2.30 GAA and .927 SV% in 17 games (12-5-0) since the beginning of December. The Islanders enter the action on Thursday as slight -101 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that has struggled offensively, being outscored 7-1 in their last two games (0-2-0).

Benson suffered an upper-body injury after an awkward collision into the board, exiting Monday's 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers after only 14:10 time-on-ice, and has not played since. The 20-year-old Benson scored a goal before his injury, giving him four points (2G / 2A) in his last six games.

Ritchie has not played in two weeks because of a lower-body injury, but he will draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 21-year-old Ritchie has 15 points (7G / 8A) in 40 games this season. Anthony Duclair will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Ritchie's return.

Hayes has not played in nearly a month, but he will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 33-year-old Hayes is averaging 12:42 time-on-ice and has five points (3G / 2A) in 23 games this season.

Islanders' Head Coach Patrick Roy was unimpressed with Duclair in their previous game, limiting him to only 3:04 time-on-ice, so it's no surprise that he will be a healthy scratch on Thursday. The 30-year-old Duclair has 26 points (12G / 14A) in 54 games this season. Calum Ritchie will return from a lower-body injury and replace Duclair.

Sorokin has been a cornerstone of the Islanders' reliability in recent weeks but has misstepped slightly lately, allowing four goals in his last two games (1-1-0). That said, the 30-year-old goalie still boasts a sensational 2.30 GAA and .927 SV% in 17 games (12-5-0) since the beginning of December. The Islanders enter the action on Thursday as slight -101 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that has struggled offensively, being outscored 7-1 in their last two games (0-2-0).

Bjugstad had been used sparingly by the Blues this season and will hope for a bigger role after being acquired in a trade by the New Jersey Devils. The 33-year-old averaged 11:38 time-on-ice and had seven points (6G / 1A) in 35 games with the Blues this season. Luke Glendening will exit the lineup to accommodate Bjugstad's debut.

Nick Bjugstad will make his Devils' debut on Thursday, sending Glendening to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 36-year-old Glendening is averaging 9:54 time-on-ice and has four assists in 52 games this season.

Lizotte has been productive lately in a bottom-six role for the Penguins, but he will exit the lineup on Thursday to tend to the birth of his child. The 28-year-old forward has 17 points (6G / 11A) in 46 games this season, including six points (0G / 6A) in his last eight.

The struggling Devils hope to enter the Olympic break on a high note, turning to Allen to tend the twine on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 35-year-old Allen played well in his most recent outing, but did not receive ample goal support, saving 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Allen hasn't been awful by any stretch, posting a 3.06 GAA and .898 SV% in his last nine games, but has only salvaged a 2-6-1 record. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as -109 home favourites against an Islanders team coming off a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Milano played the past two games for the Capitals, but will exit the lineup due to personal reasons on Thursday. The 29-year-old Milano has eight points (4G / 4A) in 31 games this seaosn. Pierre-Luc Dubois will return from a prolonged absence due to an abdominal injury and replace Milano.

Blidh has only played three games this season with New York, tallying one assist, and will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Brennan Othmann will exit the lineup to accommodate Blidh's return.

Scott Morrow will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Iorio to make his Rangers' debut on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 23-year-old Iorio was claimed off of waivers from the San Jose Sharks earlier this week. He scored three assists in 21 games.

Vincent Iorio will make his Rangers' debut on Thursday, resulting in Morrow being a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Morrow is averaging 15:40 time-on-ice and has six assists in 28 games this season.

Anton Blidh will draw into the Rangers' lineup on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, sending Othmann to the sidelines. The 23-year-old Othmann is averaging 9:55 time-on-ice and has one goal in 16 games this season.

Bussi continued his winning ways on Tuesday, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 27-year-old Bussi continues to impress in his first NHL season. He has a stellar 2.00 GAA and .911 SV% during a six-game winning streak. The Hurricanes enter the action on Thursday as significant -202 road favourites against a reeling New York Rangers team that is 1-6-0 in their last seven games.

Quick allowed five goals on 33 shots (.848 SV%) in his previous outing, a 6-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. High-scoring losses have become a regularity of late for Quick and the struggling Rangers. The 40-year-old veteran goalie has just one win in his last 10 games (1-8-1) while posting an abysmal 4.67 GAA and .825 SV%. The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as +180 home underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes team with points in nine straight games (7-0-2).