NHL Player News

Merzlikins is expected to start on the road against Colorado on Saturday, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.

Merzlikins has struggled this campaign with a 6-6-1 record, 4.03 GAA and .877 save percentage in 14 appearances. His last start was Dec. 20, and he's allowed at least three goals in each of his past 11 appearances. The Avalanche are a tough assignment, as they rank first in goals per game with 4.05. They did lose back-to-back games Sunday and Tuesday against Florida and Tampa Bay, respectively, but the Avalanche rebounded with an 8-2 victory over Ottawa on Thursday.

Kuemper was the first goalie off during Friday's morning skate, Jared Shafran of the Kings' official site reports, indicating that he'll draw the road start against Winnipeg.

Kuemper has gone 2-1-1 with a 3.40 GAA and .877 save percentage over his last four outings, and he'll draw a fifth consecutive start Friday. He made two starts against Winnipeg earlier this season -- one at home and one on the road -- and he went 1-1-0 with a 1.53 GAA and .940 save percentage during those appearances.

Commesso was recalled from AHL Rockford on Friday.

Arvid Soderblom was absent from morning skate ahead of Friday's game against the Capitals due to an illness. While Spencer Knight will operate as the starter against Washington, Commesso's recall signals that Soderblom will likely be inactive, which would put Commesso in line to operate as the backup. If Soderblom is forced to miss additional time, Commesso could start in Nashville on Saturday in the second half of a back-to-back set.

Lindbom was called up from AHL Henderson on Friday.

Lindbom was recalled since Carter Hart suffered a lower-body injury in the opening frame Thursday versus Columbus and did not return. It is expected that Lindbom will back up Akira Schmid in the interim. Lindbom is 1-4-2 with a 3.14 GAA and an .870 save percentage across seven NHL starts this season.

Comrie will patrol the home crease versus Los Angeles on Friday.

Comrie will get his second start in 12 games, as the Jets played Connor Hellebuyck on Thursday in a 4-3 loss to Edmonton. Comrie is 6-9-1 with a 3.49 GAA and an .880 save percentage, not great numbers for a Jets team that's trying to snap an 11-game losing streak. The Kings are not a high-scoring team, as they sit in 28th in NHL scoring, generating 2.67 goals per game.

Hofer will start Friday's road game against Utah, Chris Pinkert of the Blues' official site reports.

Hofer has sat for three of the Blues' last four games, but he'll draw the start Friday after Jordan Binnington struggled mightily during Wednesday's loss in Chicago. Hofer has gone 4-1-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .930 save percentage over his last five starts. He's made two starts against Utah this year, going 1-0-0 with a 2.65 GAA and .875 save percentage.

Thompson will start Friday's road game against Chicago, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.

Thompson enters Friday's matchup in the midst of a cold spell in which he's gone 0-3-1 with a 3.26 GAA and .898 save percentage over his last four starts. That stretch includes a home shootout loss to the Blackhawks on Jan. 3, but he was relatively effective during that matchup, turning aside 31 of 33 shots (.939 save percentage).

Gibson will defend the visiting cage in Montreal on Saturday, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

Gibson is 11-2-0 with a 2.17 GAA and a .927 save percentage since the beginning of December, cementing his role as the Red Wings' No. 1 goaltender. Overall, Gibson is 15-9-1 with a pair of shutouts, a 2.86 GAA and an .898 save percentage across 26 outings. The Canadiens are tied for fourth in NHL scoring with Edmonton, averaging 3.39 goals per game.

Knight will be between the home pipes versus Washington on Friday, Vinnie Parise of The Hockey News reports.

Knight enters the contest on a three-game winning streak. He is 13-11-6 with a 2.61 GAA and a .910 save percentage across 30 appearances this season. The Capitals are generating 3.25 goals per game, tied with Anaheim for ninth in the NHL.

Vejmelka was the first goalie off during Friday's morning skate, Brogan Houston of Deseret News Sports reports, indicating that he'll draw the home start against the Blues.

Vejmelka has been productive over the past month, going 7-2-0 with a 2.45 GAA and .908 save percentage. He's made a pair of road starts against the Blues this season, and he went 1-1-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .872 save percentage across those outings.