NHL Player News

Merzlikins will get the starting nod on the road against Colorado on Friday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.

Merzlikins has not been sharp in two of his last three starts, giving up three goals on four shots in Montreal on Mar. 12 and allowing six goals on 27 shots to Winnipeg on Sunday. Overall, Merzlikins is 12-15-8 with a 3.33 GAA and a .900 save percentage. He has another tough matchup as the Avalanche lead the NHL with 258 goals in 69 games.

Jarry will defend the road goal in Dallas on Friday, according to Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff.

Jarry has struggled in March, going 2-5-1 with a 4.31 GAA and an .876 save percentage. Overall, the 28-year-old netminder is 19-23-5 with a 2.84 GAA and a .905 save percentage this season. The Stars will likely give Jarry everything he can handle, as they are averaging 3.61 goals, third in the NHL.

Georgiev will be between the home pipes versus Columbus on Friday, per Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now.

Georgiev will be attempting to win his fifth straight game. He leads the NHL in wins with 35, one better than Thatcher Demko. Despite that, Georgiev's peripherals are not great, as he has a 2.83 GAA and a .902 save percentage. He will face the Blue Jackets, who average 2.90 goals, 24th in the NHL.

Wedgewood is back at practice following the birth of his child, Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine reports Friday.

Wedgewood figures to serve as the backup against the Penguins on Friday after Jake Oettinger was already confirmed as the starter. The Stars don't have a back-to-back on the schedule in the near future, so it's not clear when Wedgewood might get his next start.

Murray (hip) faced shots before practice Friday, marking the first time he's fielded shots since undergoing bilateral hip surgery in October, according to Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun.

Murray is not close to a return, but this was nonetheless an important step in his recovery. Murray is on long-term injured reserve and is not expected to return this season. He's in the final season of his four-year, $25 million contract.

Oettinger will get the starting nod at home against the Penguins on Friday, Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine reports.

Oettinger has played in eight of the Stars' last 10 outings, posting a 5-3-0 record with a 3.49 GAA and .862 save percentage. With just four more victories, the 25-year-old netminder will reach the 30-win threshold for the third consecutive campaign despite sporting a career-worst GAA (3.02).

Reimer turned aside 33 shots in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Islanders.

Detroit never trailed in the game, getting on the board first after a scoreless first period before quickly building a 3-1 lead ahead of the second intermission. Reimer has won three straight starts, and while his 3.18 GAA and .907 save percentage through six outings in March don't stand out, he's moved into the No. 1 role in the crease for the Red Wings due to Alex Lyon's woeful play of late.

Kuemper is expected to get the home start versus Carolina on Friday, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reports.

Kuemper struggled in his last start, giving up seven goals on 37 shots in a loss to the Oilers on Mar. 13. Kuemper is 13-13-3 with a 3.29 GAA and an .890 save percentage and has lost the No. 1 gig in Washington to Charlie Lindgren. The Hurricanes are averaging 3.39 goals, eighth in the NHL.

Sorokin stopped 18 of 23 shots in Thursday's 6-3 loss to the Red Wings, with Detroit's final goal getting scored into an empty net.

The first half of the game was actually scoreless, but the wheels fell off for the Islanders fairly quickly once Christian Fischer beat Sorokin on a breakaway just over 11 minutes into the second period. It's the 28-year-old Sorokin's fifth straight loss, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 3.66 GAA and .878 save percentage, but the issue has been with New York's defense more than it's been with Sorokin's play. With the Isles sliding out of the playoff picture though, they need their No. 1 goalie to start stealing a win or two.

Andersen made 30 saves in Thursday's 3-2 overtime win over the Flyers.

The 34-year-old netminder has been spectacular since returning from a four-month absence due to a blood clotting issue. Andersen has won five straight starts in March, not allowing more than two goals in any of them en route to a 1.40 GAA and .946 save percentage. With Pyotr Kochetkov also playing well, the Hurricanes aren't likely to disrupt the timeshare between the duo as they try to chase down the Bruins, Rangers and Panthers for the best record in the Eastern Conference.