NHL Player News

Tarasov will defend the road crease against Edmonton on Thursday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.

The Blue Jackets will be playing the first half of a back-to-back set Thursday, so Tarasov will be between the pipes for the first time since Nov. 16. He hasn't been very effective over his last four starts, going 0-3-1 with a 4.78 GAA and .833 save percentage.

Husso will defend the visiting crease in Ottawa on Thursday, Daniella Bruce of the Red Wings' official site reports.

Husso will make his third straight appearance after replacing the injured Cam Talbot (lower body) against Vancouver on Dec. 1. Husso is still looking for his first win of the season, as he is 0-2-2 with a 4.22 GAA and an .856 save percentage in four NHL games this season. The Senators have found the back of the net 75 times in 24 games (3.13 goals per game).

Pickard will be between the pipes at home versus Columbus on Thursday, Tony Brar of Oilers TV reports.

Pickard has appeared in just one of the Oilers' last six contests but performed well, stopping 28 of 31 shots in a victory over Utah. If he can continue to play to this level, Pickard could steal some more starts away from Stuart Skinner but is unlikely to take over as the No. 1 option for Edmonton.

Vladar will defend the home crease versus St. Louis on Thursday, according to Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

Vladar will make his third straight start as Dustin Wolf remains on the bench. Vladar is coming off a 16-save shutout over Columbus, evening his record at 5-5-3 with a pair of shutouts, a 2.65 GAA and a .904 save percentage. St. Louis enters the matchup averaging 2.54 goals per game.

Wedgewood will get the road start in Carolina on Thursday, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.

Wedgewood will make his second appearance -- and first start -- for the Avalanche since his trade from Nashville on Saturday. Wedgewood came on in relief of Alexandar Georgiev on Tuesday with the Avs trailing 4-0 in the first period and proceeded to stop all 22 shots, as Colorado came back to defeat Buffalo 5-4. Wedgewood has a serious opportunity to grab the top job from Georgiev and will get his first chance Thursday in Carolina. The Hurricanes are third in NHL scoring, averaging 3.72 goals per game.

Vanecek was the first goaltender off the ice during morning skate and is slated to patrol the visiting crease in Tampa Bay on Thursday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Vanecek has not been effective between the pipes this season, as he is 3-5-1 with a 3.52 GAA and an .894 save percentage. He is currently the backup to Mackenzie Blackwood on the Sharks depth chart, and Vanecek's job could be in peril, as the Sharks' goaltender of the future, Yaroslav Askarov, is making a case for a spot on the NHL roster given his 7-3-1 record with a 1.91 GAA and a .940 save percentage at AHL San Jose. Vanecek will take on the Lightning, who are second in NHL scoring, averaging 3.74 goals per game.

Bobrovsky (personal), who has been ruled out for Thursday's road game against the Flyers, could return for Saturday's home matchup against San Jose, Katie Engleson of Scripps Sports reports.

Bobrovsky will be unavailable for a second consecutive matchup Thursday while him and his wife prepare to welcome their second child, but head coach Paul Maurice said Thursday that the netminder could rejoin the Panthers when they return home Saturday. Spencer Knight will draw the start against Philadelphia on Thursday, while Chris Driedger will be available as a backup.

Hellebuyck is expected to serve as the starting goaltender during Thursday's road game against Buffalo, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.

Hellebuyck continues to see plenty of playing time for the Jets early in the season, but he's taken losses in his last three starts, as Winnipeg scored just one goal in each of those games. During that stretch, he posted a 2.71 GAA and .914 save percentage, so there isn't too much cause for concern, especially since the Jets are still tied for fourth in the NHL with 3.65 goals per game.

Knight will get the starting nod on the road against the Flyers on Thursday.

Knight underwhelmed in his last outing, giving up five goals on 16 shots (.688 save percentage) in a 5-4 overtime defeat to the Penguins on Tuesday. With Sergei Bobrovsky (personal) not making the trip, the 23-year-old Knight will make his third straight start for the Panthers. Once the Cats are back in Florida, Bobrovsky should retake the starting role versus San Jose on Saturday.

Ullmark is expected to defend the home crease versus Detroit on Thursday, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia.

Ullmark is 1-3-2 over his last six starts, giving the 31-year-old a 5-7-2 record with a 3.06 GAA and an .888 save percentage this season. Ullmark will face the Red Wings, who are averaging 2.60 goals per game.