NHL Player News

Saros will defend the road goal in Utah on Thursday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

Saros is 5-1-1 in his last seven starts. Overall, the Finnish netminder is 28-20-8 with a 3.12 GAA and an .895 save percentage across 57 appearances in 2025-26. The Mammoth are generating 3.30 goals per contest, ninth in the league this season.

Kokko was summoned from AHL Coachella Valley on an emergency basis Thursday.

Kokko was recalled as Philipp Grubauer is day-to-day with a lower-body injury while Matt Murray left the team to take care of a family matter. That leaves Joey Daccord as the only goalie available Thursday versus Vegas, necessitating the recall of Kokko. Kokko had an 18-10-2 record with a 3.10 GAA and a .903 save percentage across 34 AHL games this season. He made his NHL debut last season, allowing two goals on six shots in relief of Joey Daccord in a 7-2 loss to St. Louis.

The Kraken announced Thursday that Murray is away from the team due to a family matter.

Murray has been back in action for a month after missing time due to a lower-body injury, but he's now tending to a family matter. Niklas Kokko was recalled from AHL Coachella Valley and will likely serve as Joey Daccord's backup Thursday against the Golden Knights, although the Kraken haven't yet named a starter. It's not yet clear when Murray will be able to return, but his next chance to do so will be Saturday against the Flames.

Vejmelka was the first goalie off the ice during Thursday's morning skate, Cole Bagley of KSL Sports reports, indicating that he'll draw the home start against the Predators.

Vejmelka is in the midst of a four-game winning streak in which he's posted a 3.25 GAA and .879 save percentage. He'll draw a fifth consecutive start Thursday, and he's gone 2-0-0 with a 1.96 GAA and .923 save percentage over a pair of road starts against Nashville this year.

Hellebuyck will be between the road pipes versus St. Louis on Thursday, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.

Hellebuyck has appeared in 18 of the Jets' 21 games since the Olympic break, including seven straight starts. Along the way, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner is 9-5-4 with a 2.70 GAA, but he's still looking for his first shutout of the 2025-26 season. As long as the Jets are in the mix for a playoff spot, Hellebuyck figures to get the start and could feature in both ends of a back-to-back against the Golden Knights and Mammoth on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

Binnington will patrol the home crease versus Winnipeg on Thursday, according to Lou Korac of NHL.com.

Binnington will make his first start in four games as Joel Hofer has taken over as the No. 1 goalie in St. Louis. Binnington is 12-19-7 with a 3.29 GAA and an .874 save percentage over 39 games in 2025-26. The Jets are generating 2.84 goals per game, 25th in the league this season.

Gustavsson will get the starting nod on the road against the Stars on Thursday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Gustavsson has given up four or more goals in three of his last four outings but still managed a 2-2-0 record. In three previous matchups with Dallas, the Swedish netminder is 2-1-0 with a .915 save percentage and 1.99 GAA, ratios he'll need to maintain if the Wild are going to try to push for the No. 2 spot in the Central Division.

Blackwood will defend the home crease versus Calgary on Thursday, according to Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports.

Blackwood has not been great in his last three starts, going 0-2-0 while allowing 12 goals on 68 shots (,824 save percentage). Overall, Blackwood is 21-10-1 with a 2.58 GAA and an .899 save percentage across 35 appearances this season. The Flames are 30th in NHL scoring, generating 2.57 goals per game.

Murashov was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday, per Pittsburgh studio host Dan Potash.

Murashov has seen action in five games for the Penguins this season, posting a 1-1-2 record with one shutout, a 2.56 GAA and an .897 save percentage in five appearances. He had a 23-8-3 mark with a ,922 save percentage at the AHL level prior to his recall.

Bobrovsky will start Thursday's road game against Ottawa.

Bobrovsky struggled mightily in a road start against Pittsburgh on Saturday, allowing six goals on 19 shots (.684 save percentage) before being pulled in the second period. He got the last two games off but will return to the crease Thursday. The 37-year-old netminder has made two starts against Ottawa this year -- one at home and one on the road -- and he's gone 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .915 save percentage across those outings.