NHL Player News

Luukkonen is slated to serve as the starting goaltender for Thursday's home game against the Jets, Michael Augello of The Hockey News reports.

Luukkonen will be between the pipes for the fourth time in the Sabres' last five games, but he's largely struggled over his last three outings, going 0-2-1 with a 3.34 GAA and .892 save percentage. Although the Jets have cooled off from their hot start to the season, they're still tied for fourth in the league with 3.65 goals per game.

Demko (knee) believes he's at a point in his recovery where he might be able to serve as the backup goaltender within Vancouver's next three games, Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650 reports Thursday.

The Canucks' next three games will all be at home. They'll host Columbus on Friday, Tampa Bay on Sunday and St. Louis on Tuesday. Demko was fantastic in 2023-24, posting a 35-14-2 record, 2.45 GAA and .918 save percentage in 51 regular-season appearances. Given that he suggested he might start as an understudy, Vancouver might slowly ease him back toward his typical workload. Even still, his return would likely result in Arturs Silovs being sent to the minors. Kevin Lankinen, who has done fine as the temporary No. 1 with a 12-3-3 record, 2.66 GAA and .906 save percentage across 18 outings this campaign, will see his role significantly diminish, especially once Demko is back up to speed.

Binnington will patrol the road crease in Calgary on Thursday, Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Binnington is 3-2-1 with a 1.97 GAA and a .926 save percentage in his last six starts. Overall, the 31-year-old is 7-9-2 with one shutout, a 2.87 GAA and an .899 save percentage across 19 appearances this season. He will face the Flames, who are 10-3-0 at home, scoring 37 times during those 13 games (2.85 goals per game).

Tarasov will defend the road crease against Edmonton on Thursday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.

The Blue Jackets will be playing the first half of a back-to-back set Thursday, so Tarasov will be between the pipes for the first time since Nov. 16. He hasn't been very effective over his last four starts, going 0-3-1 with a 4.78 GAA and .833 save percentage.

Husso will defend the visiting crease in Ottawa on Thursday, Daniella Bruce of the Red Wings' official site reports.

Husso will make his third straight appearance after replacing the injured Cam Talbot (lower body) against Vancouver on Dec. 1. Husso is still looking for his first win of the season, as he is 0-2-2 with a 4.22 GAA and an .856 save percentage in four NHL games this season. The Senators have found the back of the net 75 times in 24 games (3.13 goals per game).

Pickard will be between the pipes at home versus Columbus on Thursday, Tony Brar of Oilers TV reports.

Pickard has appeared in just one of the Oilers' last six contests but performed well, stopping 28 of 31 shots in a victory over Utah. If he can continue to play to this level, Pickard could steal some more starts away from Stuart Skinner but is unlikely to take over as the No. 1 option for Edmonton.

Vladar will defend the home crease versus St. Louis on Thursday, according to Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

Vladar will make his third straight start as Dustin Wolf remains on the bench. Vladar is coming off a 16-save shutout over Columbus, evening his record at 5-5-3 with a pair of shutouts, a 2.65 GAA and a .904 save percentage. St. Louis enters the matchup averaging 2.54 goals per game.

Wedgewood will get the road start in Carolina on Thursday, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.

Wedgewood will make his second appearance -- and first start -- for the Avalanche since his trade from Nashville on Saturday. Wedgewood came on in relief of Alexandar Georgiev on Tuesday with the Avs trailing 4-0 in the first period and proceeded to stop all 22 shots, as Colorado came back to defeat Buffalo 5-4. Wedgewood has a serious opportunity to grab the top job from Georgiev and will get his first chance Thursday in Carolina. The Hurricanes are third in NHL scoring, averaging 3.72 goals per game.

Vanecek was the first goaltender off the ice during morning skate and is slated to patrol the visiting crease in Tampa Bay on Thursday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Vanecek has not been effective between the pipes this season, as he is 3-5-1 with a 3.52 GAA and an .894 save percentage. He is currently the backup to Mackenzie Blackwood on the Sharks depth chart, and Vanecek's job could be in peril, as the Sharks' goaltender of the future, Yaroslav Askarov, is making a case for a spot on the NHL roster given his 7-3-1 record with a 1.91 GAA and a .940 save percentage at AHL San Jose. Vanecek will take on the Lightning, who are second in NHL scoring, averaging 3.74 goals per game.

Bobrovsky (personal), who has been ruled out for Thursday's road game against the Flyers, could return for Saturday's home matchup against San Jose, Katie Engleson of Scripps Sports reports.

Bobrovsky will be unavailable for a second consecutive matchup Thursday while him and his wife prepare to welcome their second child, but head coach Paul Maurice said Thursday that the netminder could rejoin the Panthers when they return home Saturday. Spencer Knight will draw the start against Philadelphia on Thursday, while Chris Driedger will be available as a backup.