NHL Player News

Shesterkin will defend the home crease against the Maple Leafs on Thursday, Mark Masters of TSN reports.

Shesterkin will make his fourth consecutive start following the Olympic break. Across his last three outings, he's gone 1-0-2 with a 3.20 GAA and .885 save percentage. He started on the road against Toronto on Oct. 16 and turned aside 22 of 24 shots (.917 save percentage) in an overtime loss.

Simashev was summoned from AHL Tucson on Thursday.

Simashev was selected sixth overall by the franchise in 2023 and the 21-year-old has played 24 games this season at the NHL level, picking up one assist and 26 blocked shots. He has been more successful for Tucson this season, potting eight goals and 20 assists in 30 appearances. The Mammoth acquired MacKenzie Weegar from Calgary on Wednesday, but it will take time to process his visa. The Mammoth currently have six defensemen on the roster, as Olli Maatta was dealt to the Flames in the Weegar deal, necessitating the recall of Simashev.

Hischier pocketed two assists in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout win over the Maple Leafs.

The 27-year-old center had a hand in tallies by Timo Meier in the first period and Arseny Gritsyuk in the second. It was Hischier's first multi-point effort since Jan. 23, snapping a sluggish 10-game stretch in which he'd managed four goals but zero helpers. On the season, Hischier's up to 20 goals and 45 points in 62 contests, putting him on pace to potentially fall short of 60 points in a full season for the first time since 2019-20.

Gritsyuk scored a goal and added an assist in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout win over Toronto.

The Devils fell behind by a goal in each period, with Gritsyuk pulling the home side level in the second before helping to set up Connor Brown's tying tally in the third. It was Gritsyuk's first multi-point performance since Jan. 20, and through his first 58 NHL games the 24-year-old rookie has 11 goals, 26 points, 127 shots on net, 50 hits, 22 PIM and a minus-6 rating.

Markstrom stopped 24 shots in regulation and overtime and both shootout attempts he faced in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs.

The two teams traded goals in the three regulation periods, with New Jersey coming from behind each time, but Markstrom shut the door in OT before denying William Nylander and Auston Matthews in the shootout. Markstrom has won three straight starts and has allowed three goals or fewer in seven straight, going 4-3-0 over that stretch with a sharp 2.14 GAA and .918 save percentage.

James (leg) will be sidelined for 8-10 weeks after undergoing surgery, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports Thursday.

James will miss the remainder of the regular season and could be sidelined through more than one playoff series, assuming the Lightning go that far. As a rookie, the 23-year-old winger put up seven goals, eight assists and 56 shots in 43 contests while averaging 12:14 of ice time.

Stolarz turned aside 44 shots in regulation and overtime but couldn't stop either shootout attempt he faced in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Devils.

The Maple Leafs had a few regulars sitting out ahead of potential trades, and they got outshot 47-27 on the night. Stolarz was still able to earn his team a point with some huge stops, but Paul Cotter and Jesper Bratt both beat him clean to his glove side in the shootout. Stolarz has gone 0-1-2 in four outings since the Olympic break thanks to erratic offensive support, but his 2.58 GAA and .925 save percentage during that time deserve a better record.

Goncalves is sidelined with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports Thursday.

Goncalves has already been ruled out for Thursday's clash with the Jets, but his day-to-day classification could open the door for him to return for Saturday's matchup with the Maple Leafs. Once given the all-clear, the natural center should retake a bottom-six role, especially with Dominic James (leg) sidelined for the rest of the regular season.

Edvinsson scored a goal and added an assist in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Golden Knights.

Both points came in the first period as Detroit jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but it slipped away late. It was Edvinsson's first multi-point performance since Dec. 20, and while the 23-year-old blueliner isn't yet supplying consistent offense for the Wings, he's hardly been a disappointment. Over 52 games this season, Edvinsson's delivered eight goals, 20 points, 113 blocked shots, 68 hits, 67 PIM, 63 shots on net and a plus-8 rating.

DeBrincat produced a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Golden Knights.

Both points came in the first period as Detroit jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but it slipped away late. DeBrincat tends to be streaky, but he's heating up with two goals and five points over the last three games. The 28-year-old winger remains on pace for a career-best campaign, racking up 32 goals and 62 points in 62 contests.