NHL Player News

Lankinen made 16 saves in a 5-0 loss to Toronto on Saturday. He allowed two goals.

He replaced starter Thatcher Demko, who left after one period because of a lower-body injury. Lankinen becomes the de facto starter until Demko returns. The 30-year-old Lankinen's 6-11-4 record, 3.40 GAA and .883 save percentage are a far cry from his brilliant last season, when he went 25-25-10 with four shutouts, 2.62 GAA and .902 save percentage in 49 starts. Lankinen is an apply-with-caution fantasy netminder because of the Orcas rebuild vision.

Ersson made 16 saves in a 7-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Ersson was swarmed by killer bees Saturday, and his coach wasn't about to bail him out. He has lost two straight games with 12 goals allowed over that span. He's also 1-4-2 in his last seven (27 goals allowed). Ersson, who is 6-6-4 with a 3.33 GAA and an .858 save percentage in 16 starts, is going to continue to take a back seat to Dan Vladar, whose 16-6-4 record, 2.35 GAA and .910 save percentage are stellar.

Vasilevskiy made 18 saves in a 7-2 win over the Flyers on Saturday.

That was lucky seven wins in a row, without even rolling the dice. Vasilevskiy continues to deliver elite goaltending, with an 18-7-2 record, one shutout, 2.33 GAA and .913 save percentage. You know what to do.

George recorded a 20-save shutout in OHL Sault Ste. Marie's 5-0 win over Niagara on Saturday.

George was traded to the Greyhounds on Wednesday from Owen Sound, and the goalie earned a shutout in his first outing with his new team. This was his sixth career OHL shutout. He's at a 10-9-2 record with a 3.12 GAA and an .899 save percentage over 23 games, but his numbers should improve now that he's on a stronger team.

Demko sustained a lower-body injury Saturday versus the Maple Leafs and will be evaluated over the coming days, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports.

Given Demko's lengthy history of lower-body issues, this is not an encouraging development. He should be considered doubtful for Monday's game in Montreal and Tuesday's game in Ottawa at this point, though a clearer timeline may emerge once Demko's evaluation is completed. The Canucks are likely to call up a goalie from AHL Abbotsford to share the crease with Kevin Lankinen while Demko is out. Demko gave up three goals on six shots in the first period Saturday en route to the loss.

Martin stopped 10 of 14 shots in relief in Saturday's 10-2 loss to the Bruins.

It was Martin's first appearance this season. Igor Shesterkin (lower body) is currently on IR, and Jonathan Quick hasn't won since November. The Rangers are 3-5-2 in their last 10, and the team's poor play makes any goalie behind it a sitting duck.

Binnington is set to start on the road against Vegas on Saturday.

Binnington has been all over the place recently. He has a 4.26 GAA and an .860 save percentage over his past four games, but that stretch includes a 26-save shutout victory over Montreal. The 32-year-old netminder has an 8-11-6 record, 3.55 GAA and .871 save percentage in 26 appearances this campaign. Vegas is tied for 13th in goals per game with 3.14. The Golden Knights have won their past two games while outscoring the competition 9-6.

Quick made 14 saves on 20 shots Saturday before being pulled in a 10-2 loss to the Bruins.

Pavel Zacha's hat-trick goal at 11:26 of the second period drove Quick from the net, but it was really the disinterested play of his teammates that saw him relieved of duty. Quick hasn't won since Nov. 7, going 0-7-2 in his last nine appearances, and he has allowed 10 goals in two starts since Igor Shesterkin (lower body) landed on injured reserve.

Swayman made 27 saves in a 10-2 win over the Rangers on Saturday.

Swayman has won three of his last four starts, and he has allowed just two goals in four of his last five contests (3-1-1). He's 17-11-2 in 30 starts this season with a 2.88 GAA and a .903 save percentage. Those counting stats hover close to this year's league average numbers (2.85, .897). Swayman has always been considered a star netminder, so there's clearly more value in his game than what his numbers currently show.

Soderblom (illness) won't suit up for Saturday's game versus the Predators, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Soderblom will be out of action for a second straight game due to the team-wide illness. Soderblom could start Monday versus the Oilers if he recovers faster than Spencer Knight (illness).