NHL Player News

Merzlikins will miss Thursday's clash with Buffalo due to an undisclosed injury, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.

Merzlikins was originally expected to get the starting nod after being the first goalie to leave the ice, but it appears he won't even be available to serve as the backup. While not yet confirmed, Daniil Tarasov figures to be between the pipes instead, while Jet Greaves was promoted from AHL Cleveland on Thursday. While the Jackets haven't provided a more concrete update on Merzlikins, he will have just four more games to get back on the ice this season after Thursday's tilt.

Greaves was recalled from AHL Cleveland on an emergency basis Thursday, according to Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.

Elvis Merzlikins was the first goaltender off the ice at practice Thursday but has been ruled out with an undisclosed injury, leaving Daniil Tarasov as Thursday's probable starter with Greaves as his backup. Greaves is 2-2-2 with a 2.83 GAA and a .905 save percentage in six NHL starts this season.

Talbot will tend the twine on the road against Florida on Thursday, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Talbot will make his seventh consecutive appearance in goal, having gone 3-2-1 with a spectacular 1.78 GAA and .939 save percentage in his previous six contests. With the Wings heading into a back-to-back, fantasy managers can likely expect Alex Lyon to get the road start versus the Lightning on Friday.

Soderblom will defend the visiting crease in Boston on Thursday, Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio reports.

Soderblom is 0-3-2 in his last five appearances, allowing 22 goals on 138 shots (.841 save percentage). He will face the Bruins, who are generating 2.68 goals per game in 2024-25, which ranks 28th in the league.

Andersen was the first goaltender off the ice at morning skate and is expected to be between the pipes in Washington on Thursday, per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.

Andersen had his seven-game winning streak snapped Saturday in Boston, allowing five goals on 27 shots (.815 save percentage). He is 13-6-0 with a 2.11 GAA and a .914 save percentage across 19 appearances this season. The Capitals lead the NHL in scoring, averaging 3.58 goals per game in 2024-25.

Oettinger will tend the twine at home against Winnipeg on Thursday, Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine reports.

Oettinger hasn't lost in regulation over his last eight appearances, going 6-0-2 with a 2.11 GAA and .936 save percentage. With the playoffs around the corner, the Stars have been rotating their backstops, so fantasy managers should probably expect to see Casey DeSmith in the crease at home against Utah on Saturday. Still, once the postseason begins, it figures to be all Oettinger, all the time.

Head coach Patrick Roy said Thursday that Sorokin is out with a lower-body injury, not a back issue, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Sorokin is expected to miss Thursday's tilt versus the Rangers. He is 29-23-6 with a 2.77 GAA and a .905 save percentage over 59 appearances this season. Look for Marcus Hogberg to start Thursday with emergency callup Tristan Lennox as the backup goaltender. Consider Sorokin day-to-day at this time.

Lindgren will guard the home goal versus Carolina on Thursday, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.

Lindgren has taken over as the Capitals' No. 1 goaltender as Logan Thompson is out of action with an upper-body injury. Lindgren will make his third straight start and is 1-1-0 since replacing Thompson, allowing seven goals on only 44 shots (.841 save percentage). Overall, Lindgren is 18-13-3 with a 2.71 GAA and an .894 save percentage across 36 appearances in 2024-25. The Hurricanes are generating 3.21 goals per game this season, which ranks ninth in the NHL.

Merzlikins was the first goalie off the ice during Thursday's morning skate, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports, indicating that he's expected to draw the home start against the Sabres.

Although head coach Dean Evason said after Thursday's morning skate that Merzlikins would "maybe" be the team's starting netminder against Buffalo, the fact that the 30-year-old was the first goaltender off the ice during the team's morning skate indicates that he'll presumably defend the home crease. Over five appearances this month, Merzlikins has gone 2-2-0 with a 4.10 GAA and .865 save percentage.

Hogberg was the first goalie to leave the ice Thursday, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports, indicating he'll be between the pipes at home versus the Rangers.

Hogberg has gone six games without registering a win, posting a 0-2-2 record, 3.89 GAA and .864 save percentage in those contests. Since Ilya Sorokin (upper body) is dealing with an injury, the Isles may have to turn the reins over to Hogberg for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign.