Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Sergei Bobrovsky is confirmed to start in goal for the Florida Panthers on Saturday against Ottawa. The veteran netminder has been in a slump, losing four of his last five starts and posting a .838 save percentage by allowing 18 goals on 118 shots. For the season, Bobrovsky holds a 17-12-1 record with three shutouts, a 2.93 GAA, and an .881 save percentage. He faces a Senators team ranked 11th in the NHL with 3.16 goals per game.
Jonathan Quick is confirmed to guard the road goal for the New York Rangers against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Quick has struggled in his last two outings, posting an 0-1-1 record while permitting seven goals on just 38 shots. Through 12 appearances this campaign, he holds a 3-7-2 record with one shutout, a 2.39 GAA, and a .911 save percentage. The Bruins are tied for 11th in the league, averaging 3.16 goals per game this season.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny (upper body) will miss Saturday's game against Tampa Bay due to an injury sustained during Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to Toronto. Konecny, who did not participate in Saturday's morning skate, is considered day-to-day and is expected to miss at least one game, ending his 143-game streak. This season, he has accumulated 14 goals, 38 points, 97 shots, and 54 hits across 42 appearances. Matvei Michkov will move to the top line in his absence.
Jeremy Swayman is set to patrol the home crease for the Boston Bruins on Saturday against the New York Rangers. Swayman is coming off a tough outing Tuesday, where he surrendered six goals on 26 shots (including an empty-netter) in a 7-4 loss to Seattle. Through 30 appearances this campaign, he has posted a 16-11-2 record with a 2.91 GAA and a .901 save percentage. He will face a Rangers team that ranks 29th in the league with an average of 2.58 goals per game.
Leevi Merilainen is slated to defend the home crease for the Ottawa Senators on Saturday against Florida. The goaltender has been struggling recently, having been pulled in two of his last three starting assignments. This season, Merilainen holds a 6-9-0 record with a 3.50 GAA and an .867 save percentage, a significant drop from his 8-3-1 record and 1.99 GAA last season. He will face the Panthers, who rank 19th in NHL scoring, generating 3.02 goals per game.
Juuse Saros is confirmed to start in goal for the Predators at home against Chicago on Saturday. He enters the game with a 17-14-3 record, a 2.96 GAA, and an .897 save percentage across 34 starts this season. Saros is coming off a stellar 30-save performance in a 2-1 shootout win over the Islanders on Thursday. He will face a Blackhawks team currently 24th in the NHL with 2.82 goals per game and dealing with a flu bug.
William Nylander (lower body) has been activated from injured reserve and is set to return to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup for Saturday's game against Vancouver. The winger missed six games due to the injury. Prior to his absence, Nylander recorded 14 goals and 27 assists in 33 games this season, including a four-point performance (two goals, two assists) on December 23rd against Pittsburgh.
Joseph Woll is expected to start in goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs at home against Vancouver on Saturday. He recently posted a 31-save performance in a 4-1 victory over Florida on Tuesday. This season, Woll holds a 9-4-2 record with one shutout, a 2.69 GAA, and a .913 save percentage through 16 appearances. He will face a Vancouver team that ranks 27th in the league, averaging 2.72 goals per game.
Samuel Ersson is confirmed to start in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers at home against Tampa Bay on Saturday, after being the first goalie off the ice at morning skate. Ersson has a 6-5-4 record this season with a 3.09 GAA and an .868 save percentage across 15 appearances. He has struggled recently, with only one victory in his last six outings (1-3-2), allowing 20 goals on 150 shots. He faces a challenging matchup against Tampa Bay, who rank second in the league with 3.45 goals per game.
Seth Jones (upper body) has been placed on injured reserve Saturday. He is considered week-to-week and will miss his fourth consecutive game against Ottawa. The timeline for his return to the lineup remains unclear. In 40 appearances this season, Jones has recorded six goals, 24 points, 78 shots on net, 47 blocked shots, and 38 hits.
Jacob Fowler will start in goal for the Montreal Canadiens at home against Detroit on Saturday. He recently delivered a strong 28-save performance in a 4-1 victory over Calgary on Wednesday. This season, Fowler holds a 4-2-2 record at the NHL level, having stopped 196 of 215 shots faced. He will be up against a Detroit team that ranks 17th in the league, averaging 3.09 goals per game.
Patrik Laine (abdomen) is practicing Saturday in a non-contact jersey, as reported by Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. This marks the Montreal Canadiens forward's first time on the ice with teammates since undergoing core muscle surgery on October 25. Laine was given a 3-4 month recovery timetable, indicating he could potentially return to the lineup as early as late January. Prior to his injury, Laine had recorded one assist in five games this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper body) faced shots prior to practice Saturday, marking another step in his recovery. He began skating on Dec. 31, having been sidelined since Nov. 11 after allowing three goals on 11 shots. Stolarz holds a 6-5-1 record with a 3.51 GAA and an .884 save percentage through 13 appearances this season. There is currently no timetable for his return to action.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Bobby Brink will miss Saturday night's game against the Lightning due to an upper-body injury. He is considered day-to-day after also missing Thursday night's contest. Brink was on the ice for Saturday's morning skate, participating in a non-contact capacity as he recovers. The Flyers will be shorthanded as they face a red-hot Tampa Bay team.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale will miss Saturday night's game against the Lightning and has been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Tuesday, due to an upper-body injury. This means the earliest he can return to the lineup is Wednesday of next week. Drysdale was present at Saturday's morning skate, participating in a non-contact capacity as he continues his recovery.
Clayton Keller recorded three assists, four shots on goal, and a plus-3 rating in Utah's 4-2 victory over the Blues. He provided helpers on both of Nick Schmaltz's goals and one by Lawson Crouse. The 27-year-old forward has been productive in January, accumulating eight points over five outings. For the season, Keller now has 13 goals, 28 assists, 126 shots on net, and a plus-9 rating through 45 contests, showing an upward trend in his performance.
Nick Schmaltz delivered a stellar performance for Utah, scoring two goals and adding an assist with five shots on goal and a plus-3 rating in the 4-2 victory over the Blues. His second goal was a power-play tally, marking his first with the man advantage since October 23. The 29-year-old forward has been hot in January, accumulating four goals and three assists over five games. Season totals now stand at 16 goals, 40 points (9 on power play), 112 shots, and a plus-7 rating through 45 appearances.
Mark Scheifele scored two goals, including a power-play marker, in the Winnipeg Jets' 5-1 victory over the Kings on Friday. Both goals came in the second period, ending a three-game drought for the center. Scheifele has been productive in January, tallying four goals and three assists across five outings, all coming in multi-point efforts. Overall, he now has 22 goals, 52 points (10 on the power play), 94 shots on net, and a plus-7 rating through 43 games this season.
Arvid Soderblom (illness) is not expected to play Friday against the Capitals, as reported by Charlie Roumeliotis. The Blackhawks are experiencing significant illness issues, sidelining both Soderblom and Spencer Knight. Drew Commesso has been called up from AHL Rockford to start, and may be needed for Saturday's game in Nashville if Soderblom or Knight remain unhealthy.
Spencer Knight (illness) will not start Friday's home game against the Capitals, despite being initially scheduled. Drew Commesso will start in his place. Knight's availability for Saturday's game in Nashville is uncertain due to the quick turnaround. The Blackhawks are facing significant illness issues, with both Knight and Arvid Soderblom sidelined. Prior to this, Knight was on a three-game winning streak, holding a 13-11-6 record with a 2.61 GAA and a .910 save percentage over 30 appearances this season.
