NHL Player News

Saros is set to start on the road against Seattle on Thursday, per Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.

Saros has a 15-12-3 record, 2.93 GAA and .898 save percentage in 30 appearances in 2025-26. He stopped 28 of 31 shots in a 4-3 win over Utah in his last start Monday. Nashville ranks 22nd in goals per game with 2.85.

Hogberg turned aside five of seven shots after replacing David Rittich early in the third period of Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Mammoth.

It was a rough afternoon for the Islanders as a whole, but Hogberg didn't look great on the first puck to get past him, a Dylan Guenther shot that trickled through the netminder's five-hole. It was Hogberg's first action since he was called up from AHL Bridgeport last weekend, but Rittich's shakier outing could open the door for his backup to get the start Saturday against the Maple Leafs. Through 14 AHL outings this season, Hogberg has a 3.08 GAA and .881 save percentage.

Grubauer will start in goal at home versus the Predators on Thursday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

Grubauer will start for the third time in five games, though this is the start of the third of four consecutive back-to-back sets for the Kraken. He's allowed just two goals on 74 shots over his last two games, both wins. The Predators have won five of their last six games with 20 goals scored in that span.

Rittich gave up five goals on 14 shots before being replaced by Marcus Hogberg early in the third period of Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Mammoth.

The two teams were scoreless through the first period, but Utah got the rout started on a Dylan Guenther goal just 36 seconds into the second frame. Rittich eventually got the hook after a pair of power-play tallies by the visitors in the first six minutes of the third. The veteran netminder was making his sixth straight start with Ilya Sorokin (lower body) on the shelf, a stretch in which Rittich has gone 3-2-1 while allowing 13 goals on 158 shots (.918 save percentage). He might get a breather for the Islanders' next game Saturday at home against the Maple Leafs.

Vejmelka turned aside 20 shots in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Islanders.

After a scoreless first period in which Vejmelka kicked out all 11 shots he faced, the Mammoth took control over the final 40 minutes and made their netminder's job a lot easier. Vejmelka missed the prior two games due to an upper-body injury, but that's been about the only thing to derail him of late -- he's won five of his last six starts, allowing 15 goals on 151 shots (.901 save percentage) over that stretch.

Merilainen stopped 26 shots in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Capitals.

Washington struck twice in the first period to put Ottawa in an early hole, but Merilainen kept his focus and didn't get beaten again until late in the third. The 23-year-old netminder is handling No. 1 duties for the Senators while Linus Ullmark (personal) is away from the team, and on the season Merilainen is 5-7-0 in 12 outings with a 3.46 GAA and .872 save percentage.

Thompson made 28 saves in Thursday's 4-3 loss to Ottawa.

The Capitals took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission, but Thompson couldn't make it stick, allowing a pair of goals in both the second and third periods. The 28-year-old netminder has just one win in his last five outings, giving up 21 goals on 158 shots (.867 save percentage) over that stretch as his hot start to the season fades in the read view mirror.

Talbot will protect the road goal Thursday versus the Penguins, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.

Talbot has won his last two outings, allowing four goals on 60 shots in those games. The 38-year-old is starting in the second half of a back-to-back after John Gibson earned a 2-1 win over the Jets on Wednesday. The Penguins have scored 18 goals over their last four games, going 3-1-0 in that span.

Johansson is expected to start on the road against the Kings on Thursday, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.

Johansson stopped 31 of 35 shots in a 5-4 shootout win over Montreal in his last start Sunday. He's 8-6-1 with a 2.82 GAA and an .896 save percentage in 16 outings in 2025-26. The Kings rank 29th in goals per game with 2.58.

Kuemper will guard the home goal versus the Lightning on Thursday, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.

Kuemper will make his first start since sustaining an upper-body injury Dec. 15 versus the Stars. He was activated from injured reserve Tuesday. Kuemper has a tough task ahead, as the Lightning have scored 23 goals during their five-game winning streak.