NHL Player News

Skinner stopped 23 of 24 shots in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the Wild.

Skinner wasn't able to win consecutive games, but this was another strong effort in a game where the Oilers couldn't solve Jesper Wallstedt in the other crease. Skinner is 2-2-0 with eight goals allowed on 96 shots over his last four games, an improvement from his work earlier in November. Through 20 starts this season, Skinner is at a 9-8-3 record with a 2.90 GAA and an .888 save percentage. The Oilers host the Kraken on Thursday, a team Skinner has seen recently when he posted a 26-save shutout in Seattle on Saturday.

Saros made 27 saves in a 5-1 win over the Flames on Tuesday.

It was his second straight win. Saros has scuffled since late October, going 4-7-1 since Oct. 28. Overall, he's 8-9-3, with a 2.97 GAA and an .893 save percentage. This Preds team is tough to play behind, and they sit in a tie for dead-last in the NHL with just 22 points.

Lankinen stopped 28 of 31 shots in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Avalanche.

Given the quality of the opponent, this was a decent performance for Lankinen. The Canucks scored once early in the first period, but they generated just 22 shots on net in total and couldn't cash in again. The 30-year-old netminder has lost four straight games (0-3-1), but he's been a little better in his two most recent losses with five goals allowed on 54 shots in that span. For the season, Lankinen is at a 4-8-3 record with a 3.48 GAA and an .883 save percentage over 15 appearances. The Canucks have a home back-to-back up next, as they'll host the Mammoth on Friday and the Wild on Saturday. Lankinen should get one of those games, while Nikita Tolopilo (personal) or Jiri Patera would be in line for the other.

Wedgewood's back tightened up on him, and that's the reason he was pulled from Tuesday's game versus the Canucks, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports.

Wedgewood's exit in the second period came with little warning, but the first-place Avalanche opted to take a cautious approach with a goalie who's been key to their success. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 11 shots in relief of Wedgewood to earn the win. Wedgewood's injury doesn't appear to be significant at this time, though head coach Jared Bednar didn't confirm the goalie's availability for Thursday versus the Islanders.

Wolf made 11 saves in relief Tuesday in a 5-1 loss to Nashville.

He came into the game in the third period and allowed one goal. Wolf has been outplayed lately by Devin Cooley, who had a rough night through two frames. Overall, Wolf's 6-12-2 with a 3.16 GAA and an .891 save percentage in 20 starts.

Cooley allowed four goals on 16 shots Tuesday before he was replaced after two periods by Dustin Wolf, who made 11 saves in a 5-1 loss to Nashville.

Cooley had been hot leading into Tuesday -- he was 3-0-1 in four starts since Nov. 19 -- but the Flames helped make him look human against the Preds. Cooley is still 3-3-2 with a 2.17 GAA and a .920 save percentage in eight starts (11 appearances) this season. He will go into the record book as the goalie who allowed Steven Stamkos' 1,200th NHL point, a tap-in blocker side that stood as the winner.

Blackwood stopped all 11 shots he faced in relief of Scott Wedgewood (upper body) in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Canucks.

Blackwood was called upon just over halfway through the second period, entering after a TV timeout. The 28-year-old didn't face much traffic to close out that frame, and while the Canucks generated more shots in the third, he held them at bay to collect his sixth straight win. He's allowed just nine goals on 149 shots (.940 save percentage) during the streak, which includes everything but his season debut. Blackwood and Wedgewood were starting to settle into an even share of the crease, but Wedgewood's injury could lead to Blackwood getting significant playing time for a while, depending on the severity. The Avalanche begin a four-game road trip versus the Islanders on Thursday, and it includes a back-to-back (Saturday against the Rangers, Sunday versus the Flyers).

Bobrovsky made 26 saves in a 4-1 loss to Toronto on Tuesday.

He allowed three goals. Bob is 10-8-0, but he has lost three straight games, and his .883 save percentage this season is the worst of his career. Still, the Panthers don't need Bobrovsky to be excellent in the regular season -- he has delivered two straight Stanley Cup wins in the last two years. His Hall of Fame credentials carry him on the ice, but Bob is a frustrating fantasy netminder.

Woll made 26 saves in a 4-1 win over Florida on Tuesday.

Sam Reinhart was the only kitty to beat Woll. The winger was alone on the slot and waited out the netminder, beating him over the glove while shorthanded. Woll is 3-3-1 with a 2.53 GAA and a .925 save percentage in seven starts. He has stabilized the Leafs' blue paint while Anthony Stolarz (upper body) is out.

Wedgewood (upper body) will not return to Tuesday's game versus the Canucks.

It wasn't obvious what caused Wedgewood to leave the game in the middle of the second period, but the team was able to clarify that it was an injury. He stopped 10 of 11 shots before his exit, but Wedgewood left with the game tied at 1-1, so he won't get a result. Mackenzie Blackwood took over in goal and will see the bulk of the starts if Wedgewood misses any additional time. The Avalanche are beginning a four-game road trip Thursday versus the Islanders.