NHL Hockey Player News

Askarov has not played in over two weeks, tending to a lower-body injury, but he will return to the crease on Thursday, hoping to stabilize a shaky crease for the Sharks. The Sharks have lost five straight games without Askarov, allowing four or more goals in each contest. That said, the 23-year-old Askarov has been far from a stabilizing force in recent outings, posting a 3.99 GAA and .869 SV% in seven games (2-4-1) since the beginning of February. The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as +118 road underdogs against a St. Louis Blues team that has outscored their opposition 6-1 during a two-game winning streak.

Thompson is an undrafted forward that has been reward with a one-year, entry-level contract after completing his third season of collegiate hockey. The 23-year-old forward scored 27 points (13G / 14A) in 37 games this season with Ohio State University (Big-10).

Tanev has only played once in the last four weeks, but he will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. The 34-year-old Tanev is averaging 9:22 time-on-ice and has just two assists in 46 games this season.

Hayton was limited to only 17 seconds of time-on-ice in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, exiting the game with an upper-body injury. The recently recalled Danil But is expected to fill in as Hayton's replacement. The 25-year-old Hayton has 25 points (10G / 15A) in 67 games this season.

Oilers' Head Coach Kris Knoblauch made it clear earlier this month that Ingram is their starting goalie, but after two poor outings, Ingram had the night off, with Tristan Jarry tending the twine in a 5-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth. The 28-year-old Ingram has been reliable on most nights for the Oilers this season, but has allowed eight goals on 42 shots (.840 SV%) over his last two games (0-2-0). He has a 2.98 GAA and .883 SV% in eight appearances this month (4-2-1). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as +120 road underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights team that is 1-4-0 in its last five games.

With Barrett Hayton (upper body) out of the lineup, But will draw back in for the first time since late January. But had a prolonged stint with Utah earlier this season, making his NHL debut and scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in 28 games. That said, the 21-year-old 12th overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has spent most of the season in the AHL, where he has 33 points (16G / 17A) in 34 games with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL).

John Beecher will draw back into Calgary's lineup on Thursday, sending Lomberg to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Lomberg is averaging 9:03 time-on-ice an has nine points (4G / 5A) in 57 games this season.

Ryan Lomberg will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Beecher to re-enter the lineup. The 24-year-old Beecher has not played in nearly two weeks and has six points (3G / 3A) in 32 games this season.

Lehkonen has been sidelined for over three weeks due to an upper-body injury, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 30-year-old Finnish forward was having a solid season before his injury, with 42 points (19G / 23A) through 59 games.

Gritsyuk suffered an undisclosed injury late in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Dallas Stars and will be out week-to-week, beginning with Thursday's game against the Nashville Predators. The 25-year-old first-year NHLer has eight points (4G / 4A) in his last 10 games, giving him 31 points (13G / 18A) through 66 games this season.

The Flames have been very fluid with their goalie rotation lately, and will continue that trend on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks, turning to Devin Cooley to tend the twine. The 28-year-old Cooley has had some rough outings this month, but is coming off a stellar performance, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has a 3.16 GAA and .899 SV% in seven appearances in March (2-3-1). The Flames enter Thursday's contest as +123 home underdogs against a Ducks team with points in five straight games (4-0-1).

The Red Wings have a back-to-back coming up, and Head Coach Todd McLellan suggested that if Talbot is not ready to suit up, they may recall Sebastian Cossa from the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). Even so, Talbot has been used sparingly lately as the Red Wings try to stay in playoff contention, starting only one game so far this month.

Vanecek was excellent in relief of Karel Vejmelka on Tuesday, saving all 10 shots he faced, but the game was already out of reach for Utah, losing 5-2 to the Edmonton Oilers. The 30-year-old Vanecek has played well lately, posting an impressive 1.86 GAA and .923 SV% in five appearances (2-1-1) since the beginning of March. The Mammoth enter Thursday's contest as -137 home favourites against Vejmelka's former team, the Washington Capitals, who have only scored four combined goals in their last three games (1-1-1).

After a shaky start to March, posting a disastrous 4.58 GAA and .794 SV% in four appearances (0-2-0), Blackwood seems to have recovered and returned to his early-season dominance. The 29-year-old Blackwood has saved 39 of the last 42 shots he's faced (.929 SV%) amid a two-game winning streak. The Avalanche enter Thursday's contest as -167 road favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that is 2-0-1 in its last three games.

Toffoli has been sidelined with a lower-body injury for a week, but he could be an option to return on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 33-year-old Toffoli has 44 points (18G / 26A) in 67 games this season and would add a much-needed offensive boost for a Sharks team that is struggling to stay in playoff contention.

Gaucher was a first-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft that could be poised to make his NHL debut after being recalled on Thursday. The 22-year-old forward has 26 points (12G / 14A) in 57 games this season with the San Diego Gulls (AHL).

Ostlund was absent from practice on Thursday and it is unclear what his status will be for Friday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. The 22-year-old Swedish forward is averaging 13:58 time-on-ice and has 27 points (11G / 16A) in 60 games this season.

Harkins suffered an upper-body injury early in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, exiting the game after only 2:05 time-on-ice. The 28-year-old Harkins is averaging 9:35 time-on-ice and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 44 games this season.

After two consecutive starts for Jake Allen, the Devils will turn to Markstrom on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 36-year-old Markstrom is on a two-game winning streak but has been far from stellar, allowing three or more goals in six consecutive outings (4-2-0), posting a subpar 3.29 GAA and .863 SV%. The Devils enter Thursday's contest with -105 odds on the road against a red-hot Predators team on a five-game winning streak.

Gritsyuk suffered an undisclosed injury late in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Dallas Stars and is not expected to play on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 25-year-old first-year NHLer has eight points (4G / 4A) in his last 10 games, giving him 31 points (13G / 18A) through 66 games this season.