NHL Player News

Luukkonen (undisclosed) isn't expected to play in Monday's road game against Seattle, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.

Luukkonen participated in Sunday's practice but has some nagging injury issues. Devon Levi could face the Kraken after being recalled from the AHL on Saturday, while James Reimer occupies the backup role. However, Luukkonen believes he could start Tuesday's road matchup versus Vancouver. He has a 14-14-4 record with a 3.02 GAA and an .896 save percentage through 33 appearances this season.

Gustavsson (illness) is expected to return to the lineup in Monday's road game versus Colorado, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.

Due to Gustavsson's absence, Dylan Ferguson was Marc-Andre Fleury's backup in Saturday's 6-2 loss to Nashville. Ferguson returned to AHL Iowa on Sunday. Gustavsson was going to start Monday's matchup initially, but it's unclear if his illness changed those plans. He has posted a record of 18-9-3 with a 2.58 GAA and a .914 save percentage across 31 appearances this season.

Markstrom will protect the home net versus Ottawa on Sunday, according to Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.

Markstrom will get the second half of New Jersey's back-to-back after Jake Allen played in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Philadelphia. The 34-year-old Markstrom has only two wins in his last seven outings (2-2-3) despite posting a solid .910 save percentage. He has a 21-8-5 record with a 2.20 GAA and a .913 save percentage through 34 appearances this season. Ottawa earned a 6-5 shootout win over Boston on Saturday.

Comrie turned aside 19 of 21 shots in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Calgary, with the Flames' final goal getting scored into an empty net.

The Jets actually out-shot the visitors 39-22 and mostly dominated play, but their offense had trouble solving Dustin Wolf and Comrie had little chance on the two pucks that got past him -- one a rocket by Matthew Coronato in the first period, and the other a power-play tally by Andrei Kuzmenko. Comrie hasn't picked up a win since Nov. 1, but he hasn't played poorly as Connor Hellebuyck's infrequently used backup, posting a 2.66 GAA and .906 save percentage in five outings since the beginning of December.

Forsberg will guard the road net Sunday against the Devils, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports.

Forsberg will look for his first win since Nov. 25 as he makes his first start in six games. The 32-year-old netminder is 4-8-1 this season with an .883 save percentage and 3.10 GAA.

Blomqvist stopped 31 of 34 shots in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Capitals.

Blomqvist was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton by the Penguins on Wednesday. He got the start in net Saturday on the second half of Pittsburgh's back-to-back set while Alex Nedeljkovic rested following his win against the Sabres on Friday. Blomqvist wasn't able to get the win, but his performance Saturday was a far better effort compared to his last NHL outing Nov. 11 against the Stars, when he allowed three goals on just eight shots. The 23-year-old holds a 3-6-0 record with a .904 save percentage and 3.53 GAA through nine NHL appearances.

Wolf made 38 saves in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Jets.

The visitors were out-shot 39-22 on the night, but Wolf stood on his head and didn't lose his shutout bid until Adam Lowry tipped home a point shot early in the third period. Wolf has given up more than three goals only once in his last eight outings, going 6-2-0 over that stretch with a dazzling 1.88 GAA and .934 save percentage.

Shesterkin stopped all 27 shots in regulation and overtime and all three shootout attempts he faced in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Blue Jackets.

The surprising goaltending battle between the $92 million man Shesterkin and the unheralded Daniil Tarasov, who just came back from an AHL conditioning stint last weekend, was finally decided in the second round of the shootout by Vincent Trocheck. Shesterkin has been earning his contract since returning from an upper-body injury, going 4-0-1 in his last five starts with a 1.73 GAA and .934 save percentage.

Ferguson was reassigned to AHL Iowa on Sunday.

Minnesota recalled Ferguson on an emergency basis to occupy the backup role behind Marc-Andre Fleury in Saturday's 6-2 loss to Nashville. Ferguson's demotion to the minors likely bodes well for the availability of Filip Gustavsson (illness) ahead of Monday's road matchup versus Colorado. Gustavsson could still make his scheduled start versus the Avalanche.

Tarasov made 26 saves in regulation and overtime and turned aside two of three shootout attempts in Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Rangers.

The 25-year-old went toe-to-toe with Igor Shesterkin to earn Tarasov's first shutout of the season, but Tarasov made the lone mistake by either goalie on the night, getting beaten low to his blocker side by Vincent Trocheck in the shootout. Tarasov has looked better since his conditioning stint in the AHL, allowing only two goals on 51 shots while starting two of the last three games. Elvis Merzlikins is 7-2-1 over his last 10 outings but with a lackluster 3.04 GAA and .894 save percentage, so the door could be open for Tarasov to work his way into a timeshare in the Columbus crease.