NHL Player News

DeSmith will guard the cage on the road against the Flyers on Thursday, Mike Heika of the Stars' official site reports.

DeSmith is riding a personal three-game winning streak, though he has made just four appearances in net over the Stars' last 16 contests. Still, the netminder is sporting a 1.52 GAA and .946 save percentage over that stretch. While DeSmith won't be taking the starting job away from Jake Oettinger, it's possible that he will earn himself a few more opportunities given his recent success, which will serve to keep Oettinger fresh for a deep postseason run.

Domingue was reassigned to AHL Hartford on Thursday, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports.

The Rangers activated Igor Shesterkin (upper body) from injured reserve after he missed the last four games, making Domingue redundant, as Jonathan Quick will back up Shesterkin. Domingue won his only start during his recall, turning aside 25 shots in a 6-2 win over Chicago on Sunday. Domingue was 4-9-1 with a 3.64 GAA and an .888 save percentage across 14 AHL games with Hartford before being called up.

Skinner will protect the visiting blue paint in Pittsburgh on Thursday, according to Tony Brar of Oilers TV.

Skinner has been outstanding of late, going 10-2-1 with a 2.01 GAA and a .928 save percentage in his last 13 starts. Skinner got off to another slow start to begin the year, reminiscent of last season, but has come back strong once again, as he is 16-8-3 with a 2.68 GAA and a .902 save percentage through 27 starts. The Penguins are averaging 3.02 goals per game in 2024-25, which is tied for 15th in the NHL.

Mrazek made 35 saves in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Avalanche.

Juuso Parssinen opened the scoring for Colorado early in the first period with an end-to-end rush that he finished by slipping a backhander past Mrazek inside the near post, but the veteran goalie slammed the door shut the rest of the way. It was Mrazek's first win since Nov. 27, ending a skid that had seen him go 0-6-0 over his prior seven appearances with a brutal 4.97 GAA and .834 save percentage while also missing time due to a groin strain. While victories will be hard to come by with Chicago, a healthy Mrazek is at least capable of posting better ratios.

Forsberg was the first goalie to leave the ice Thursday, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports, indicating he'll tend the twine at home versus Buffalo.

Forsberg hasn't exactly impressed since returning from a lower-body injury, going 0-1-1 in two appearances to go with a 3.44 GAA. Still, with a back-to-back upcoming, Forsberg figures to split games against the Penguins and Stars on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, with Leevi Merilainen. Once Linus Ullmark (back) is cleared to play, Forsberg figures to once again be relegated to the No. 2 role in Ottawa.

Vasilevskiy was the first goaltender off the ice at morning skate, per Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site, and he's slated to protect the home crease versus Boston on Thursday.

Vasilevskiy has been sharp in his last 11 games, going 7-4-0 with a 2.12 GAA and a .924 save percentage. The 30-year-old goaltender is 18-5-2 with a pair of shutouts this season. The Bruins are averaging only 2.58 goals per game this season, 29th in the NHL.

Miner turned aside 17 shots in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Chicago.

The rookie goalie was beaten once in each period in his first career NHL start, while his offense had trouble solving Petr Mrazek in the other crease. Miner may not see any more action before returning to AHL Colorado -- the Avs don't play another back-to-back set until the final weekend of January, but Scott Wedgewood (lower body) figures to be back by then to back up Mackenzie Blackwood.

Nedeljkovic will be between the pipes for Thursday's home clash with Edmonton, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.

Nedeljkovic has been middling at best this season, going 6-6-4 with a 3.22 GAA and .888 save percentage in 17 appearances. With Tristan Jarry continuing to underwhelm -- he's 0-1-2 in his last three starts -- a strong performance from either backstop could result in an uptick in starts.

Thompson stopped 30 shots in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime win over the Canucks.

The 27-year-old was the busier of the two netminders, as Washington was out-shot 31-18, but a Conor Garland power-play tally late in the second period was all that stood between Thompson and his first shutout of the season. Thompson has won five straight starts, and he has only one regulation loss since the beginning of December, going 7-1-1 with a 1.99 GAA and .929 save percentage over the latter stretch. The Capitals have been reluctant to deviate from a strict timeshare in the crease, but Thompson is making a strong case to claim a larger share of the workload and relegate Charlie Lindgren to a backup role.

Merzlikins will patrol the home crease versus Seattle on Thursday, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.

Merzlikins is 5-1-1 in his last seven starts, allowing 24 goals on 215 shots (.888 save percentage). Overall, the 30-year-old netminder is 14-10-3 with one shutout, a 3.17 GAA and an .887 save percentage this year. The Kraken are averaging 2.85 goals per game this season, which is tied for 22nd in the NHL.