NHL Player News

DeSmith will defend the visiting net in Columbus on Thursday, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.

The 34-year-old veteran has been one of the best backup goaltenders in 2025-26, posting a 10-3-5 mark with one shutout, a 2.46 GAA and a .911 save percentage over 19 appearances. The Blue Jackets are generating 2.94 goals per game, 21st in the NHL this season.

Schmid was the first goalie off during Thursday's morning skate, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports, indicating that he'll draw the road start against Boston.

Schmid is in the midst of a four-game winning streak in which he's posted a 2.07 GAA and .917 save percentage. Although Adin Hill will likely serve as the Golden Knights' primary netminder now that he's healthy, Schmid should be able to earn some playing time if he can continue to perform at a high level. Schmid will have a tough matchup Thursday, as the Bruins rank ninth in the NHL with 3.28 goals per game.

Woll stopped 39 shots in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Red Wings.

Both netminders played well, but Woll got let down by his defense in OT -- Easton Cowan lost his footing, and control of the puck, on the wrong side of center ice while trying to cycle back, springing Dylan Larkin and Moritz Seider for a two-on-nothing break that Larkin converted. It was still a strong return to form for Woll after he'd coughed up 11 goals on 62 shots in his prior two outings. The 27-year-old netminder has only one regulation loss in his last 11 appearances, going 6-1-3 with a 3.20 GAA and .902 save percentage.

Gibson made 30 saves in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.

Scott Laughton whacked a puck past the veteran netminder early in the first period, but Gibson slammed the door shut the rest of the way and was eventually rewarded. He extended his win streak to seven starts in the process, a stretch in which he's posted a dazzling 1.83 GAA and .934 save percentage, and Gibson is the fourth goalie in the NHL this season to reach 20 wins, a group that includes Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy, Colorado's Scott Wedgewood and Utah's Karel Vejmelka.

Saros will be between the home pipes versus Ottawa on Thursday, according to Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.

Saros was a top-10 goaltender as recently as two seasons ago, but his play since the start of the 2024-25 campaign has been average at best. He is 19-16-3 with a 3.01 GAA and an .897 save percentage in 38 appearances this season. The Senators are tied for 10th in NHL scoring, generating 3.27 goals per game in 2025-26.

Hellebuyck is slated to start Thursday's home game against the Panthers, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.

Hellebuyck got the night off in the second half of a back-to-back set Tuesday against St. Louis, but he'll return to the crease Thursday for the sixth time in the Jets' last seven games. Across his last five outings, he's gone 3-1-1 with a 2.79 GAA and .905 save percentage.

Merzlikins (illness) is well enough Thursday to back up Jet Greaves versus Dallas, according to Columbus sports reporter Dave Maetzold.

Merzlikins was forced to leave Tuesday's tilt versus Ottawa after the first stanza due to his illness. Merzlikins was saddled with the loss, giving up two goals on seven shots in a 4-1 defeat. He is 8-8-1 with a 3.81 GAA and an .882 save percentage across 18 games this season.

Korpisalo will patrol the home crease versus Vegas on Thursday, Scott McLaughlin of WEEI reports.

Korpisalo has won his last three starts, giving up three goals on 80 shots in victories over Calgary, Pittsburgh and Chicago. He is 9-8-0 with a 3.09 GAA and an .896 save percentage across 19 outings this season. The Golden Knights are sixth in NHL scoring this season, tallying 3.33 goals per game.

Montembeault will defend the home crease versus Buffalo on Thursday, per Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.

Montembeault is 4-0-1 in his last five starts, allowing 15 goals on 160 shots (.906 save percentage). Montembeault is 9-6-2 with the Canadiens this season and while his record is good, his peripherals of a 3.44 GAA and an .873 save percentage are not. The Sabres are scoring 3.27 goals per game, tied for 10th with Ottawa this season.

Greaves is slated to guard the home cage versus Dallas on Thursday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.

Greaves has won his last two starts and came on in relief Tuesday versus the Senators, turning aside 12 of 13 shots. Overall, the 24-year-old netminder is 14-12-6 with a 2.70 GAA and a .908 save percentage across 33 appearances this season. The Stars are tied for seventh in NHL scoring, generating 3.32 goals per game in 2025-26.