NHL Hockey Player News

Blackwood has not played since New Year's Eve due to a lower-body injury, but was activated from IR on Wednesday and will likely return to the crease on Friday against the Nashville Predators. The 29-year-old Blackwood has struggled with injuries throughout his career, a trend that has unfortunately continued this season, but he has been exceptional when healthy, posting a stellar 2.07 GAA and .924 SV% in 16 games (13-1-1). The Avalanche enter Friday's contest as enormous -300 home favorites against a Predators team on a two-game winning streak.

Viel has not played much this season, limited to only one game since the beginning of December, and hopes that a fresh start with the Anaheim Ducks will allot him more playing time. The 28-year-old forward has five points (3G / 2A) in 64 career NHL games.

Schwindt has not played in two months because of a broken arm, but he will make his return on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Before his injury, the 24-year-old forward was averaging 8:38 time-on-ice and had two points (2G / 0A) in 10 games.

Bobrovsky has a serviceable 5-4-0 record in his last nine games, which has not come easily, as he has a concerning sub- .900 SV% in each of those games. The 37-year-old Bobrovsky has battled adversity all season, settling into a less-than-stellar 2.90 GAA and .881 SV% through 32 games (19-12-1). The Panthers enter Friday's contest as +146 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes team that they defeated 5-2 less than a month ago.

Jonas Johansson was absent from practice on Thursday, which was initially classified as "body maintenance," but may actually be something that could keep him out of the lineup, as indicated by the recalling of Brandon Halverson from the Syracuse Crunch (AHL). The 29-year-old Halverson has a 2.42 GAA and .899 SV% in 20 games (12-6-2) with Syracuse this season.

Wilson has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on January 3rd, but has been a full participant at practice since Wednesday. He will aim to return to the lineup on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. The 31-year-old Wilson is having a career season, with 42 points (22G / 20A) in 41 games.

Ullmark has not played in over three weeks due to personal reasons, but appears to be nearing a return. The 32-year-old goalie has a 2.95 GAA and .881 SV% in 28 games this season (14-8-5), and it is unclear when he might be between the pipes again. Leevi Merilainen has almost exclusively seen all of the action in Ottawa's crease during Ullmark's absence.

Ivan made his NHL debut last season and scored eight points (5G / 3A) in 40 games with the Avalanche, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old Czech forward has eight points (2G / 6A) in 31 games with the Eagles (AHL) this season.

Balinskis was in and out of the lineup to start the season, but injuries on Florida's blueline have awarded him with a larger role, earning himself a two-year contract extension. The 29-year-old Latvian defenseman has eight pints (1G / 7A) in 36 games this season.

Gibson's outstanding run continued in Monday's 4-3 overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes when he saved 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%). The 32-year-old goalie has an elite 2.12 GAA and .930 SV% in his last 15 games (13-2-0). He returns to the crease on Friday, with the Red Wings entering action as -177 home favorites against a San Jose Sharks team that defeated the Washington Capitals 3-2 yesterday to improve to 4-1-0 in their last five games.

Owen Beck played 15 games with Montreal this season, scoring one point (1G / 0A), but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 21-year-old Beck has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 22 games this season.

After some less-than-stellar performances, including allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in yesterday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Fowler has been reassigned to the Laval Rocket (AHL). The 21-year-old goalie started his NHL career in December with a solid 2.42 GAA and .918 SV% through five games (3-1-1), but has faltered since, losing four of five (1-3-1), with a 2.85 GAA and .881 SV%. The Canadiens will likely roll with their goaltending tandem from the start of the season, Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes.

Nylander has already missed 10 games this season and reaggravated a previous injury in Thursday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights, exiting the game early in the first period. The 29-year-old Nylander has been outstanding when healthy, scoring 48 points (17G / 31A) in 37 games. He scored two points (1G / 1A) on Thursday in just 2:17 time-on-ice.

Myers will slot in on Thursday in favour of Simon Benoit. Myers will skate alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the Leafs' third pair.

Benoit will draw out of the lineup on Thursday in favour of Philippe Myers. Benoit has zero goals and three assists in 41 games this season.

Sissons will be the odd-man out when the Golden Knights host the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Tanner Laczynski will make his season debut in his place.

Laczynski has five points (3G / 2A) in 46 career NHL games, but has spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 28-year-old forward has an impressive 35 points (13G / 22A) in 32 games with the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) this season.

After being activated off injured reserve earlier in the day, Hill will make his long-anticipated return to the Golden Knights crease on Thursday. The 29-year-old Hill has not played since October 20th. He has a 2.55 GAA and .909 SV% in 117 combined games with the Golden Knights (68-32-10) over the past few seasons. Hill and the Golden Knights enter action on Thursday at -135 on the money line.

Dennis Hildeby was between the pipes in Toronto's previous game, a one-sided 6-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth, snapping their 10-game point streak (8-0-2), but they will revert to Woll on Thursday, as he looks to continue his recent surge of dominance. The 27-year-old Woll has helped his team record a point in eight straight games (7-0-1), posting a 2.53 GAA and .914 SV%. He has been solid all season, boasting a 2.54 GAA and .918 SV% in 18 games (11-4-2). The Maple Leafs enter Thursday's contest as +117 road underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights team that defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in overtime last night.