Ad
NHL Hockey Player News
Lankinen will start vs. Dallas on Thursday.

With Thatcher Demko (lower body) still sidelined, the Canucks will continue rolling with Lankinen, turning to him on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 30-year-old Lankinen has had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, but has been excellent since Demko's injury, saving 82 of 89 shots (.921 SV%) while posting a 1-1-1 record. He has a 3.40 GAA and .890 SV% in 11 games this season (4-5-2). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +128 home underdogs against a Stars team they defeated 5-3 earlier this season.

Kevin Lankinen
Parssinen is expected to be a healthy scratch in Colorado on Thursday.

Adam Edstrom draws back into New York's lineup on Thursday against Colorado, resulting in Parssinen returning to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Parssinen had a surprising rookie season with the Nashville Predators in 2022-23, scoring an impressive 25 points (6G / 19A) in 45 games, but has not maintained that success in three seasons since, scoring only 31 points (16G / 15A) in 105 games.

Juuso Parssinen
Shesterkin was the first goalie off the ice at New York's morning skate.

The Rangers have lost two straight and hope to return to the win column on Thursday with Shesterkin tending the twine against the red-hot Colorado Avalanche. The 29-year-old Shesterkin has a serviceable 2.43 GAA and .911 SV% in 16 gams (7-7-2), but has been unspectacular lately, allowing three or more goals in four of his last five games (3-2-0) while posting a .903 SV%. The Rangers enter the action on Thursday as +180 road underdogs against an Avalanche team on a six-game winning streak.

Igor Shesterkin
Askarov was the first goalie off the ice at San Jose's morning skate.

The Sharks have been impressive lately, going 7-2-1 in their last 10, and will likely continue to roll with Askarov between the pipes on Thursday when they host the Los Angeles Kings. Askarov struggled to start the season, but has been other-worldly lately, allowing two or fewer goals in six straight (5-1-0) while posting an absurd .959 SV%. The 23-year-old goalie has a 2.99 GAA and .905 SV% in 12 games this season (6-5-1). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as +152 home underdogs against a Kings team that leads the Pacific Division despite being in the bottom half of the league offensively (2.8 GF/GP).

Yaroslav Askarov
Laughton (upper-body) will return vs. Columbus on Thursday.

Laughton suffered a lower-body injury towards the end of training camp, made his season debut on November 5th, and only played two games before suffering an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old Laughton was limited to only four points (2G / 2A) in 20 games with the Maple Leafs after being acquired before last season's trade deadline. The Maple Leafs hope that he can return to the production he had in his previous two full seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, when he scored 82 points (31G / 51A) in 160 games.

Scott Laughton
Liljegren is expected to draw back into San Jose's lineup vs. Los Angeles on Thursday.

Shakir Mukhamadullin will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings, allowing Liljegren to draw back into the lineup. The 26-year-old Liljegren is averaging a career-high 20:32 time-on-ice, recording 28 blocks, 15 hits, and four points (0G / 4A) in 13 games this season.

Timothy Liljegren
Klingberg is expected to draw back into San Jose's lineup vs. Los Angeles on Thursday.

Klingberg has five points (2G / 3A) through 13 games with the Sharks. The 33-year-old Klingberg has spent most of the season on the team's top powerplay unit. Nick Leddy will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Klingberg's return.

John Klingberg
O'Brien will draw back into Utah's lineup vs. Vegas.

Kailer Yamamoto will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights, allowing O'Brien to re-enter the lineup. The 31-year-old O'Brien has only played once this month. He has one goal, 12 penalty minutes, and 15 hits in seven games this season.

Liam O'Brien
Lankinen is in the starter's crease at Vancouver's morning skate.

With Thatcher Demko (lower body) still sidelined, the Canucks will likely continue rolling with Lankinen, turning to him on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 30-year-old Lankinen has had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, but has been excellent since Demko's injury, saving 82 of 89 shots (.921 SV%) while posting a 1-1-1 record. He has a 3.40 GAA and .890 SV% in 11 games this season (4-5-2). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +128 home underdogs against a Stars team they defeated 5-3 earlier this season.

Kevin Lankinen
Rosi (upper-body) skated on Thursday and has potential to return on Saturday.

Josi has been sidelined since October 23rd, but made a major step towards drawing back into the lineup by returning to practice this week. The 35-year-old defenseman had five points (1G / 4A) in eight games this season before his injury. He missed 29 games last season, largely due to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a condition characterized by an abnormally large increase in heart rate upon sitting up or standing.

Roman Josi
Vejmelka will start vs. Vegas on Thursday.

Utah hopes to return to the win column after losing three straight (0-0-3), turning to Vejmelka to tend the twine on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 29-year-old Vejmelka has allowed three or more goals in three of his last four games (1-1-2). He has a 2.85 GAA and .880 SV% in 14 games this season (8-4-2). The Mammoth enter Thursday's contest as slight -104 home underdogs against a Vegas team with points in four straight games (2-0-2).

Karel Vejmelka
Wedgewood will start vs. the Rangers on Thursday.

Wedgewood continues to impress this season, earning regular starts despite the return of Mackenzie Blackwood, and will return to the crease on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has a solid 2.17 GAA and .917 SV% in 15 appearances this season (11-1-2). He has allowed two or fewer goals in five straight games (5-0-0), posting a dazzling 1.40 GAA and .949 SV%. Colorado enters Thursday's contest as sizable -209 home favorites against a Rangers team that has scored two or fewer goals in three straight (1-2-0).

Scott Wedgewood
Copley has been recalled from Ontario (AHL).

Darcy Kuemper is not travelling with the Kings' for their Thursday night game in San Jose to receive some extra rest. The Kings have recalled Copley to serve as the backup to Anton Forsberg. The 33-year-old Copley spent the majority of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying a 2.49 GAA and .904 SV% in 42 games with the Ontario Reign (24-17-1).

Pheonix Copley
Holmstrom (illness) will be a game-time decision vs. Detroit on Thursday.

Holmstrom had a breakout 2024-25 season, scoring 45 points (20G / 25A) in 75 games, and is producing at a similar, albeit slightly lower rate, in 2025-26, with nine points (4G / 5A) through 19 games. Maxim Tsyplakov will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Holmstom's return.

Simon Holmstrom