NHL Player News

Hellberg was assigned to AHL Texas on Sunday.

Hellberg was the backup goalie behind Jake Oettinger in Saturday's 2-1 overtime win over St. Louis. The 33-year-old Hellberg's return to the minors may bode well for the availability of Casey DeSmith (illness) ahead of Monday's home matchup against Washington.

Campbell was reassigned to AHL Grand Rapids on Sunday.

Campbell was recalled under emergency conditions with Cam Talbot (lower body) unavailable, but the former didn't see any game action. With Alex Lyon (lower body) also expected back soon, the 32-year-old Campbell could be in for an extended stay in the minors.

Blackwood turned aside 37 shots in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Predators.

Getting his first start since being traded from the Sharks to the Avalanche, Blackwood took a shutout into the third period but had to settle for his first win with his new club. The 28-year-old should get first crack at the top job in the revamped Colorado crease ahead of Scott Wedgewood. Blackwood has a 2.95 GAA and .912 save percentage through 20 outings this season, while his 7-9-3 record should improve quickly with a better offense supporting him.

Forsberg (undisclosed) won't travel with the Senators on their upcoming road trip and remains without a timeline for return, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports.

The Senators will be without their backup netminder as they start a nine-game road trip Tuesday in Seattle. Leevi Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville to serve as Linus Ullmark's backup in Forsberg's absence.

Saros stopped 29 of 32 shots in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Avalanche, with Colorado's final two goals getting scored into an empty net.

The 29-year-old netminder kept the Avs off the board in the first period and through the first half of the second, but the Predators' defense began to break down after that. Saros hasn't given up fewer than three goals in eight straight starts, going 0-5-3 over that stretch with a 3.40 GAA and .885 save percentage, but the issues have more to do with the team in front of him than his own play -- especially with Roman Josi (lower body), Alexandre Carrier (upper body) and Jeremy Lauzon (lower body) all currently sidelined.

Oettinger made 15 saves in Saturday's 2-1 overtime win over the Blues.

Jordan Kyrou got a puck past Oettinger midway through the first period just after a St. Louis power play had expired, but the netminder was mostly untroubled the rest of the way -- the Blues generated only nine shots on net over the final two frames of regulation, and none in OT. Oettinger has allowed three goals or fewer in seven straight starts, going 4-3-0 over that stretch with a 2.30 GAA and .909 save percentage.

Binnington turned aside 35 shots in Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars.

Jordan Kyrou gave St. Louis an early lead by beating Jake Oettinger just after a power play had expired midway through the first period, but Dallas dominated the rest of the game and eventually banked the win on a great individual effort by Matt Duchene in OT. Binnington has just one win in his last five starts, going 1-2-2 with a 3.19 GAA and .899 save percentage, while Joel Hofer has won his last three outings, but as yet there's been no suggestion a switch at the top of the Blues depth chart is on the horizon.

Greaves stopped 23 shots in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Ducks.

Making his second straight start since being recalled from AHL Cleveland, Greaves didn't get a lot of help from his defense, and Anaheim's OT winner came on an Alex Killorn breakaway. Elvis Merzlikins (3.06 GAA and .888 save percentage) and Daniil Tarasov (4.25 GAA and .857 save percentage) have had shaky starts to the season, so the door could be open for Greaves to work his way to the top of the Columbus depth chart if he can string together some good outings. So far so good for the 23-year-old netminder, who has allowed six goals on 64 shots since his promotion.

Gibson made 39 saves in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blue Jackets.

Columbus grabbed a 3-2 lead midway through the third period as the home squad out-shot Anaheim 17-5 in the final frame of regulation, but Gibson held on and gave the Ducks a chance to tie it up and eventually win it on an Alex Killorn breakaway in OT. Gibson had lost his last four starts, and since an appendectomy cost him roughly the first month of the season, the veteran netminder has gone 5-4-1 with a 3.00 GAA and .906 save percentage while splitting the crease with Lukas Dostal.

Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Sunday.

Merilainen will accompany Ottawa on the team's four-game road trip before the holiday break. Anton Forsberg (undisclosed) didn't make his scheduled start against Pittsburgh on Saturday after suffering an injury while warming up for the game. With Forsberg staying behind for the trip, Linus Ullmark will likely see an increased workload.