NHL Player News

Thompson is expected to start on the road against Anaheim on Friday, according to Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post.

Thompson has won his past four starts while allowing just five goals on 101 shots (.950 save percentage). He's 12-6-1 with a 2.02 GAA and a .919 save percentage in 19 outings this season. The Ducks have a 16-10-1 record, but they've gone just 5-7-0 across their past 12 games and are coming off a 7-0 loss to Utah on Wednesday.

Husso will patrol the blue paint at home against Washington on Friday, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports.

Husso will be making his fifth straight appearance in the crease, having gone 2-2-0 with a 3.46 in his prior four outings. With both Lukas Dostal (upper body) and Petr Mrazek (lower body) both on the shelf, Husso figures to get a heavy workload moving forward.

Lankinen was the first goalie to leave the ice Friday, Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650 reports, indicating he'll be in goal versus the Mammoth at home.

Lankinen is stuck in a four-game losing streak and has secured just one victory in his last eight outings, posting a 1-4-3 record and 3.42 GAA. With Thatcher Demko (lower body) still on injured reserve, fantasy managers can likely expect Nikita Tolopilo to take the second half of the back-to-back at home versus Minnesota on Saturday. For now, Lankinen should continue to see the bulk of the workload at least until Demko is cleared to play.

Askarov will defend the visiting net in Dallas on Friday, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Askarov was sensational in November, going 8-2-0 with a 1.88 GAA and a .944 save percentage, but he had his problems Wednesday, giving up four goals on 12 shots before he was replaced late in the opening period. He is 10-7-1 with a 3.15 GAA and a .903 save percentage across 18 appearances this season. The Stars are fifth in NHL scoring, registering 3.43 goals per game.

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.