NHL Hockey Player News

The Sabres' three-goalie rotation is, at least temporarily, down to two with Colten Ellis (concussion) sidelined. As such, Lyon will return to the crease on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 33-year-old Lyon is on a hot run lately, winning three straight while posting a solid 2.05 GAA and .925 SV%. He has a 2.99 GAA and .905 SV5 through 17 appearances this season (6-6-3). The Sabres enter the action on Thursday as -137 home favourites against a Flyers team with points in five straight games (2-0-3).

Tampa Bay has faced a myriad of injuries to key players this season, with Hagel being the latest, suffering an upper-body injury that leaves him unavailable for Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 27-year-old Hagel is putting together another fantastic season with 31 points (18G / 13A) in 31 games. That said, he has been held off the scoresheet in five of his last six games.

It's unclear whether van Riemsdyk is dealing with an undisclosed injury or simply a healthy scratch. Declan Chisholm will draw into the lineup in his place.

Chisholm will slot in for Trevor van Riemsdyk, who was a surprise scratch on Thursday. Chisholm will start the game with Rasmus Sandin on Washington's third pair.

Trineyev will slot in for Hendrix Lapierre (undisclosed). He'll skate with Nic Dowd and Brandon Duhaime on Washington's fourth line.

Lapierre was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Capitals not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Bogdan Trineyev will play in his place.

With Darcy Kuemper on injured reserve, the Kings will opt against giving Pheonix Copley his season debut and instead turn to Forsberg for the second time in as many nights. Forsberg and the Kings took the loss on Wednesday, with Forsberg allowing three goals on 28 shots. The Kings enter action on Thursday at +175 on the money line.

Vasilevskiy was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has not played since December 2nd, but his team has treaded water without him, going 2-4-1 in seven games. Before his injury, Vasilevskiy was having a season worthy of Vezina consideration, posting a 2.31 GAA and .916 SV% in 19 games (11-6-2). The Lightning enter action on Thursday at -200 on the money line.

Brandon Hagel (upper body) will not play on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings, allowing James to draw back into the lineup. The 23-year-old James has five points (2G / 3A) in 20 games this season.

Goncalves has not played in over a week, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 24-year-old forward has seven points (2G / 5A) in 29 games this season.

Rooney recently made his season debut with Utah, scoring a goal, but has been reassigned to Tucson (AHL). The 32-year-old veteran of 331 NHL games has seven points (6G / 1A) in 11 games with Tucson this season.

Santini has regularly been recalled when injuries arise on Tampa's blueline this season, but with Ryan McDonagh expected to returned from injury, he has been reassigned to Syracuse (AHL). The 30-year-old Santini has one assist in eight games with the Lightning this season.

Kirkland started the season with the Flames, but has been with the Wranglers (AHL) since mid November, where he has seven points (5G / 2A) in 14 games. The 29-year-old Kirkland scored eight points (2G / 6A) in a career-high 21 games last season. He has one assist through nine games in 2025-26.

Pettersson has not played since December 5th and remains day-to-day, likely to miss a sixth straight game on Friday against the New York Islanders. The 27-year-old Pettersson has 22 points (8G / 14A) in 28 games this season, but was held off the scoresheet in three straight before his injury.

Recently returned from a four-week absence due to a lower-body injury, it was widely believed that the Canucks might ease the injury-prone Demko back into the crease, but he will tend the twine for a fourth straight game on Friday. The Canucks played poorly in Demko's absence, so it has been difficult for them to part with his services, given his excellent 1.35 GAA and .938 SV% in three games (2-1-0) since returning. He is coming off his first shutout of the season, a 23-save performance in a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers.

Oettinger has lost two straight contests (0-2-0), allowing six goals on 52 combined shots (.885 SV%), and will return to the crease on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. He has a 2.54 GAA and .907 SV% in 22 games this season (14-6-2). The American goalie is celebrating his 27th birthday on Thursday and hopes to do so with a win against a Sharks team he helped defeat 4-1 two weeks ago. The Stars enter the game as sizable -193 road favorites.