NHL Player News

Varlamov will tend the twine at home against the Jets on Saturday, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Varlamov has been struggling to pick up wins, securing just one victory in his last six outings. During that stretch, the netminder is 1-3-2 with a 3.02 GAA and an .889 save percentage. Before Varlamov gets the nod Saturday, starter Ilya Sorokin will defend the cage against Detroit on the road Thursday.

Sorokin will be between the visiting pipes in Detroit on Thursday, according to Andrew Gross of Newsday.

Sorokin is also slated to start Sunday versus the Devils with Sergei Varlamov getting the crease versus Winnipeg on Saturday, according to coach Patrick Roy. Sorokin has lost four straight games after winning five in a row. He is 22-17-11 with a 3.03 GAA and a .908 save percentage. Sorokin is 1-0-1 versus the Red Wings this season, having given up seven goals on 65 shots in those contests.

Chrona was reassigned to AHL San Jose on Thursday.

Chrona's demotion comes on the heels of a four-game losing streak during which he posted a 4.83 GAA and .854 save percentage. In a corresponding move, the Sharks activated Mackenzie Blackwood (groin) off injured reserve. As such, Chrona likely will finish the year in the minors with the Barracuda.

Markstrom (lower body) will be back at practice Thursday, Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan reports.

Markstrom has missed the last five games with the injury. The Flames were down to one goaltender as Dan Vladar is done for the season due to a hip injury that will require surgery next week. Markstrom could be ready to start Saturday when the Flames take on the Canucks, but he should be ready to dress as the backup netminder at the very least. Markstrom is 22-17-2 with a 2.68 GAA and a .910 save percentage this season.

Blackwood (groin) has been taken off injured reserve ahead of Thursday's matchup with the Lightning.

Blackwood could be in line to start against Tampa Bay, though he hasn't been officially confirmed yet. If the netminder does start, it will be his first appearance in the crease since Feb. 27 against the Devils, a stretch of 11 games on the shelf. With Vitek Vanecek (lower body) likely done for the year, Blackwood figures to see the majority of the workload the rest of the way.

Vladar will miss the rest of the season as he will have hip surgery next week, Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan reports.

Vladar struggled in his final two starts of the season, allowing 13 goals on 75 shots in losses to Colorado and Carolina. He finishes the season with an 8-9-2 mark. Vladar has one more season remaining on his contract, but he could be the odd man out if Jacob Markstrom returns, as Dustin Wolf is seemingly ready to play at the NHL level.

Lankinen is expected to get the road start in Florida on Thursday, Predators' beat reporter Alex Daugherty /a> reports.

Lankinen will get his first start in five games and his second start in the Predators' last 10 contests. He has been great of late as a fill-in for Juuse Saros, winning his last three games and allowing only six goals on 91 shots. Overall, Lankinen is 9-4-0 with a 3.09 GAA and an .897 save percentage in 2023-24. The Panthers will provide a tough matchup as they are second in the Eastern Conference standings, three points behind the Bruins with two games in hand.

Hofer will patrol the visiting crease in Ottawa on Thursday, per Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Hofer has won his last two starts in style, giving up three goals on 65 shots in victories over Boston and Anaheim. He is 12-11-0 with a 2.76 GAA and a .914 save percentage this year. The Senators are averaging 3.13 goals, 16th in the NHL.

Quick will be between the pipes for Thursday's road clash with Boston, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.

Quick has registered a 6-1-0 record and 2.45 GAA in his last seven outings but continues to see minimal usage behind Igor Shesterkin. Despite playing in just 23 games for the Rangers this season, the 38-year-old Quick has still picked up 15 wins while sporting his best GAA (2.46) since 2017-18 when he was with the Kings.

Allen will get the starting nod at home versus the Jets on Thursday, Devils' play-by-play announcer Bill Spaulding reports.

Allen has been steady since joining the Devils at the trade deadline, giving up two goals in each of his three appearances. Even with the team also bringing in Kaapo Kahkonen, the veteran Allen figures to see the majority of the workload as New Jersey tries to make a late-season push for a playoff spot.