NHL Player News

Oettinger will defend the cage against the Sharks at home Friday, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Oettinger is riding a four-game winning streak during which he is sporting a 2.00 GAA, .934 save percentage and one shutout. With no back-to-backs on the short-term schedule, the Minnesota native could see a heavy workload heading into the Christmas break -- though Casey DeSmith has been playing well enough to see some extra starts outside of back-to-backs.

Luukkonen will tend the twine on the road versus Winnipeg on Friday, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.

Luukkonen has seen his role reduced this season, playing in just eight of the Sabres' last 19 outings. In those appearances, the Finnish backstop has put up decent numbers, going 4-3-1 with a 2.51 GAA. While the Sabres continue to carry three netminders, at some point, Luukkonen will have to get more starts if he continues to perform at his current level.

Dobes will be between the pipes on the road against Toronto on Saturday.

Dobes will take the first game of the Habs back-to-back, which likely means Sam Montembeault will guard the cage at home against the Blues on Sunday. The 24-year-old Dobes has struggled in his last eight outings, registering a 4.05 GAA and 3-3-2 record -- though that stretch does include a 24-save victory over the Leafs on Nov. 22.

Markstrom will get the starting nod at home against the Golden Knights on Friday, Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News reports.

Markstrom has managed a decent 4-3-1 record despite posting a 3.22 GAA and .876 save percentage in his last eight outings. While the netminder has seen a slightly higher share of the workload, he has been splitting the net with Jake Allen, logging 10 appearances in the Devils' last 18 contests. Heading into a back-to-back, Markstrom will go Friday while Allen figures to get the nod on the road versus Boston on Saturday.

Comrie is going through his usual starting routine at morning skate and is expected to defend the home goal versus Buffalo on Friday, Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press reports.

Comrie has struggled since No. 1 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Nov. 22. Comrie is 1-4-1 with a 3.36 GAA and an .888 save percentage since then and will try to turn his slump around. The Sabres are tied for 17th in NHL scoring, generating 3.00 goals per game.

Hildeby is expected to get the starting nod against the Canadiens at home Saturday, Jonas Siegel of The Athletic reports.

Hildeby came into Thursday's clash versus Carolina in relief of the injured Joseph Woll (lower body), stopping all nine shots he faced. With Anthony Stolarz (upper body) also sidelined, the Leafs may have to give the 24-year-old Hildeby a heavy dose of starts heading into the Christmas break.

Merilainen stopped 23 of 26 shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Rangers, with New York's final tally getting scored into an empty net.

Merilainen has seen his workload pick up of late, as he's started three of the last six games for the Sens. The results haven't been there -- the 23-year-old has lost all three of those starts, giving up nine goals on 79 shots (3.13 GAA and .886 save percentage) during the skid, but those numbers are actually an improvement on his 3.36 GAA and .876 save percentage for the season. Ottawa seems intent on making sure Linus Ullmark doesn't get overworked, but Merilainen isn't inspiring much confidence when he does find himself in the crease.

Shesterkin turned aside 25 shots in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Senators.

The Rangers grabbed a 2-0 lead before the 10-minute mark in the first period, and Shesterkin made sure the home side never got level, with the only two pucks to get past him on the night coming on Ottawa power plays. The 29-year-old netminder has allowed three goals or fewer in six straight starts, going 5-1-0 over that stretch with a 2.18 GAA and .922 save percentage as he slips back into his Vezina form.

Bobrovsky stopped 27 shots in Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Predators.

The two-time Vezina Trophy winner took a shutout into the third period after Carter Verhaeghe had given the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the first, but the lack of support eventually caught up to Bobrovsky. Ryan O'Reilly jammed a puck past him midway through the third, before Steven Stamkos slotted homer the winner with less than a minute left in OT. Bobrovsky has gone four straight starts without getting into the win column, posting an 0-3-1 record during that skid, and since the beginning of November he's gone 5-5-1 in 11 outings with a 3.23 GAA and .875 save percentage.

Saros made 30 saves in Thursday's 2-1 overtime win over the Panthers.

Carter Verhaeghe got a puck past Saros late in the first period, but the veteran netminder shut down the Florida offense the rest of the way, giving Nashville a chance to finally solve Sergei Bobrovsky in the other crease. Saros has won three straight starts, allowing just five goals on 86 shots during that stretch to even his record on the season at 9-9-3 with a 2.86 GAA and an .897 save percentage over 21 appearances.