NHL Player News
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MacKenzie Blackwood G | SJ
Sharks' Mackenzie Blackwood: Leaves ice first
Blackwood was the first goalie off the ice Monday, Max Miller of NHL.com reports, indicating he'll patrol the home crease versus Detroit.
Blackwood has been seeing the majority of the workload ahead of Vitek Vanecek (undisclosed) but could be in danger of losing starts to Yaroslav Askarov, who was called up from AHL San Jose in light of Vanecek's injury. The 27-year-old Blackwood is struggling for wins, posting a 3-5-3 record to go with a 2.98 GAA, a 914 save percentage and one shutout in 11 outings.
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Justus Annunen G | COL
Avalanche's Justus Annunen: Set to face Flyers
Annunen will defend the road net Monday against Philadelphia, Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports reports.
Annunen allowed three goals on six shots before being pulled early in Friday's 5-2 loss to Washington. He has a 5-3-0 record with a 2.92 GAA and an .881 save percentage through nine appearances this season. Philadelphia is tied for 19th in the league with 2.83 goals per game in 2024-25.
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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen G | BUF
Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Ready to play
Luukkonen (undisclosed) is healthy and available, allowing the team to send Devon Levi down to the minors, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.
Luukkonen missed Buffalo's last two games due to his undisclosed injury but should be available to play again. The 25-year-old netminder hasn't been confirmed as the starter for Wednesday's matchup with the Kings, but fantasy managers can probably expect him to feature in that one before splitting the back-to-back against the Ducks and Sharks on Friday and Saturday, respectively, with James Reimer.
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Yaroslav Askarov G | SJ
Sharks' Yaroslav Askarov: Summoned by NHL club
Askarov was recalled from AHL San Jose on Monday.
Askarov was sent to the minors ahead of the regular season, but he'll join the NHL club after Vitek Vanecek (undisclosed) sustained an injury Saturday against the Penguins. Askarov is the best goaltending prospect in pro hockey and has gotten off to a hot start in the AHL this season, posting a 6-3-0 record, 1.92 GAA and .939 save percentage over nine games. Mackenzie Blackwood and Vanecek have been inconsistent early in the 2024-25 campaign, so it's possible that Askarov sticks with the Sharks if he performs well in the near future.
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Filip Gustavsson G | MIN
Wild's Filip Gustavsson: Defending cage against Blues
Gustavsson will patrol the blue paint on the road versus St. Louis on Tuesday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Gustavsson has suffered just one regulation loss in his last four outings but that defeat could probably be laid at the feet of his offense considering the netminder stopped 38 of 40 shots (.950 save percentage). With the backstop already having earned eight victories this year, he should easily top his personal best of 22 wins from the 2022-23 campaign.
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Charlie Lindgren G | WAS
Capitals' Charlie Lindgren: Tending twine Monday
Lindgren will defend the cage on the road versus Utah on Monday, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.
Lindgren takes the second game of the Caps' back-to-back after Logan Thompson started versus Vegas on Sunday. It's been a middling start to the campaign for the 30-year-old Lindgren, as he is 4-4-0 with a 2.66 GAA and .897 save percentage through eight appearances. Meanwhile, Thompson is undefeated in regulation, going 8-0-1 in nine contests. While the duo have been splitting the workload, Lindgren could be in danger of conceding more starts to Thompson as the season progresses.
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Connor Ingram G | UTA
Hockey Club's Connor Ingram: Set to start Monday
Ingram will patrol the home crease Monday against Washington, according to Cole Bagley of KSL Sports.
During his last outing, Ingram stopped 17 of 20 shots in a 4-0 loss to Nashville on Nov. 9. He has a 6-3-3 record with a 3.40 GAA and an .879 save percentage across 12 appearances this campaign. Washington is coming off a 5-2 win over Vegas on Sunday and ranks first in the league with 4.24 goals per game in 2024-25.
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Casey DeSmith G | DAL
Stars' Casey DeSmith: Gets starting nod Monday
DeSmith will be between the pipes at home versus Anaheim on Monday, Brian Rea of FanDuel Sports Network Southwest reports.
DeSmith will get the surprise start after No. 1 Jake Oettinger was working in the starter's crease at Monday's game-day skate. It's the first start for the 33-year-old DeSmith since Nov. 2 against the Panthers, with his only other appearance during November having come in relief. On the year, DeSmith is 2-2-1 while sporting a career-best 1.79 GAA, but he shouldn't be expected to see a ton of opportunities this year behind the workhorse Oettinger.
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Stuart Skinner G | EDM
Oilers' Stuart Skinner: Between pipes Tuesday
Skinner will tend the twine for Tuesday's road game at Ottawa, Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels reports.
With Calvin Pickard already named the starter for Monday's matchup with Montreal, the decision to go with Skinner for the second game of the back-to-back shouldn't come as a surprise. While the 26-year-old Skinner has managed a 2-1-1 record in his last four outings, he's also given up at least three goals in each of those contests. Still, he figures to remain the No. 1 option in Edmonton unless Pickard can string together some strong performances.
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Calvin Pickard G | EDM
Oilers' Calvin Pickard: Starting in Montreal
Pickard will guard the road goal Monday versus the Canadiens, according to Tony Brar of Oilers TV.
Pickard is coming off a 20-save effort in Thursday's 3-2 overtime win over Nashville. He has a 4-2-0 record with a 2.49 GAA and an .890 save percentage through seven appearances this season. Montreal is tied for 19th in the league with 2.83 goals per game in 2024-25.