NHL Player News

Merilainen was the first goaltender off the ice at morning practice, per TSN 1200 Ottawa, and is expected to start at home versus the Rangers on Thursday.

Merilainen is 3-3-0 with a 3.40 GAA and an .874 save percentage in six starts this season. The Rangers are 27th in scoring this season, scoring 2.64 goals per game, but they have been much stronger on the road, scoring 54 goals in 16 contests, tied with Dallas for the NHL lead.

Johansson will defend the home crease versus Pittsburgh on Thursday, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.

Johansson has won his last two starts, allowing four goals on 45 shots in victories over Washington and the Rangers. The netminder is 5-2-0 with a 2.92 GAA and an .895 save percentage over eight games this season. The Penguins are generating 3.16 goals per game, 10th in the NHL.

Sorokin was the first goalie off during Thursday's morning skate, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports, indicating that he'll draw the home start against the Avalanche.

Sorokin was in the starter's crease during morning skate, so it isn't very particularly surprising to see him draw the start against Colorado. He put an end to a three-game losing streak Tuesday against the Lightning, turning aside 30 of 31 shots (.968 save percentage) in a 2-1 victory. He started on the road against Colorado on Nov. 16, and he allowed three goals on 27 shots (.889 save percentage) en route to a 4-1 loss.

Merzlikins will be between the pipes at home versus Detroit on Thursday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.

Merzlikins will make consecutive appearances in the crease for the first time this season, having allowed three goals on 33 shots in a win over New Jersey on Monday. In 10 outings this year, the 31-year-old Latvian is sporting a 5-5-0 record, 3.50 GAA and .895 save percentage. Fantasy managers can expect Merrzlikins and Jet Greaves to split the upcoming back-to-back versus Florida and Washington on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Bobrovsky will defend the home crease against the Predators on Thursday, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports.

Bobrovsky has been in a bit of a skid recently, going 0-3-0 with a 4.53 GAA and .831 save percentage over his last three starts. He'll have a favorable matchup as he attempts to get back on track, as the Predators are scoring just 2.62 goals per game this season, which is tied for the fourth-worst mark in the league.

Halverson was recalled from AHL Syracuse on Thursday.

Halverson hasn't yet appeared in a game for the Lightning this year, but he'll join the NHL club ahead of Thursday's home game against the Penguins. Halverson has gone 9-4-0 with a 2.58 GAA and .901 save percentage over 13 appearances with Syracuse to begin the season.

Dobes stopped 29 shots in regulation and overtime and all three shootout attempts he faced in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Jets.

After getting shelled for seven goals in Colorado last Saturday, Dobes bounced back with a much better effort. The 24-year-old netminder might be making another push to move past Sam Montembeault on Montreal's depth chart -- he's won three of his last four starts and allowed three goals or fewer in five of his last six, although his 3.11 GAA and .891 save percentage on the season remain mediocre.

Comrie turned aside 29 shots in regulation and overtime and two of three shootout attempts in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Canadiens.

Cole Caufield beat him through the five-hole to open the shootout, and while Comrie shut down Montreal's last two shooters, Winnipeg's three skaters couldn't get a puck past Jakub Dobes. Comrie has been shouldering a heavy workload while Connor Hellebuyck (knee) has been on the shelf, going 2-4-1 with seven outings with a lackluster 3.14 GAA and .891 save percentage, but so far the Jets have only called upon Thomas Milic when playing a back-to-back.

Markstrom stopped 25 shots in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Stars.

The veteran netminder was locked in a scoreless tie with Jake Oettinger through the first half of the game, but the Devils' defense gave Miro Heiskanen plenty of open ice to pot the game's first tally midway through the second period, and the New Jersey offense never woke up. Markstrom has lost three of his last five starts, and since the beginning of November he's gone 5-3-1 in nine outings with a 2.97 GAA and .893 save percentage while splitting the workload in the crease with Jake Allen.

Oettinger made 30 saves in Wednesday's 3-0 win over New Jersey.

The 26-year-old netminder won his fourth straight start in stellar fashion, recording his second shutout of the season. Oettinger has turned things around after a bumpy beginning to the campaign, and over his last eight outings he's gone 7-1-0 with a 2.25 GAA and .916 save percentage.