NHL Player News
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Brandon Halverson G | TB
Lightning's Brandon Halverson: Keeps rolling Friday
Halverson posted a 25-save shutout in AHL Syracuse's 4-0 win over Charlotte on Friday.
Halverson notched his second shutout in his last three outings, and he's won five starts in a row. He's matched his career high for shutouts in a season with five this year. He's 18-6-3 with a 2.18 GAA and a .912 save percentage over 28 appearances.
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Lucas Beckman G | OTT
Senators' Lucas Beckman: Posts third shutout
Beckman recorded a 29-save shutout in QMJHL Chicoutimi's 3-0 win over Rouyn-Noranda on Friday.
Beckman picked up his first shutout in six appearances with the Sagueneens, a span in which he's gone 5-1-0. For the season, he's 9-15-3 with three shutouts, a 2.91 GAA and a .913 save percentage over 29 appearances between Chicoutimi and Baie-Comeau, where he started the season. Beckman's performance has been much better for Chicoutimi, which is one of the best teams in the Q.
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Samuel Hlavaj G | MIN
Wild's Samuel Hlavaj: Pulled vs. United States
Hlavaj was pulled in the second period of Slovakia's 6-2 loss to the United States in the semifinals of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday after allowing four goals on 23 shots.
Hlavaj left the contest midway through the second frame when Slovakia was trailing by four goals. His exit from the contest indicates that he will probably start in the bronze-medal game against Finland on Saturday.
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Connor Hellebuyck G | WPG
Jets' Connor Hellebuyck: Makes 22 saves in semifinal win
Hellebuyck stopped 22 of 24 shots in Team USA's 6-2 win over Slovakia in the semifinals of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday.
Hellebuyck allowed two goals in the final frame, but the United States had a healthy lead at that point of the game. Hellebuyck will probably get the nod again in Sunday's gold-medal matchup against Canada, which would be a much more difficult challenge.
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Jordan Binnington G | STL
Blues' Jordan Binnington: Big when needed in win over Finland
Binnington stopped 15 shots in Canada's 3-2 win over Finland in Friday's semifinal matchup at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Canada outshot Finland 39-17 but were down 2-0 early in the second period after a power-play goal by Mikko Rantanen and a shorthanded strike by Erik Haula. However, Binnington shut the door the rest of the way and gave his team a chance to mount another comeback. The Blues netminder will need to come up big one more time when Canada takes on the United States in Sunday's gold-medal game.
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Juuse Saros G | NSH
Predators' Juuse Saros: Lead slips away in semis
Saros made 36 saves in Finland's 3-2 loss to Canada in the semifinals of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday.
Finland took a 2-0 lead early in the second period, but Canada kept the pressure up and eventually got three pucks past Saros, two of them on power plays. The Predators netminder has been a big part of his team's push for a medal, and he'll likely be between the pipes again Saturday when Finland faces Slovakia for the bronze medal.
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Erik Portillo G | LA
Kings' Erik Portillo: Sent back down
Portillo was loaned to AHL Ontario on Friday.
Portillo was called up by Los Angeles on Thursday, but he'll head back to the minors a day later. He'll presumably be available for Ontario's weekend series against Tucson and will likely stay with the Reign once the NHL season resumes.
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Jakub Malek G | NJ
Devils' Jakub Malek: Returns to AHL
Malek was reassigned to AHL Utica on Wednesday.
Malek was recalled from Utica on Wednesday to serve as a practice goaltender. He was filling in for Jacob Markstrom, who was playing for Team Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics. However, Markstrom will rejoin the Devils soon after Sweden's elimination in the quarterfinals.
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Samuel Hlavaj G | MIN
Wild's Samuel Hlavaj: Starting against United States
Hlavaj will start for Slovakia during Friday's semifinal matchup against the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Hlavaj has made four appearances at the Olympics, going 3-1-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .932 save percentage. He'll face a tough test against the United States, but he was productive against Germany during the quarterfinals, allowing two goals on 27 shots in the 6-2 victory.
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Matt Villalta G | UTA
Mammoth's Matt Villalta: Assigned to Tucson
Villalta was assigned to AHL Tucson on Friday.
After being recalled by the Mammoth on Tuesday, Villalta will return to the minors a few days later and will presumably be available for the Roadrunners' weekend series against Ontario. Villalta will likely remain in the minors once Utah resumes play Wednesday against Colorado.