NHL Player News

Kuznetsov (upper body) will be a healthy scratch versus the Ducks on Thursday, Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan reports.

Kuznetsov missed time with an upper-body injury, having last played March 14 versus the Islanders, but he has at least been upgraded to the healthy scratch category. At this point, fantasy managers will have to take a wait-and-see approach for when he might get back into the lineup.

Cooley will tend the home twine versus Anaheim on Thursday, Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan reports.

Cooley has won two games in a row, including a 32-save performance against the Lightning on Sunday in a 4-3 victory. Cooley is 9-9-4 with a 2.49 GAA and a .915 save percentage over 26 games this season. The Ducks are 11th in NHL scoring this season, generating 3.27 goals per game.

Talbot (undisclosed) has been ruled out of Friday's clash in Buffalo, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports Thursday.

Talbot "tweaked something", according to head coach Todd McLellan. The Red Wings will call up a goaltender from AHL Grand Rapids to back up John Gibson on Friday. Talbot should be considered day-to-day at this time, and his status for Saturday's game in Philadelphia is questionable.

Vanecek will start Thursday's home game against the Capitals, Brogan Houston of the Deseret News reports.

Vanecek stopped all 10 shots he saw in a relief appearance at home against the Oilers on Tuesday, and he'll start for the third time in Utah's last six games Thursday. Across five appearances this month, he's gone 2-1-1 with a 1.86 GAA and .923 save percentage.

Blackwood will be between the road pipes in Winnipeg on Thursday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Blackwood was strong in his last performance, allowing two goals on 32 shots in a 6-2 victory over Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Overall, the 33-year-old is 20-8-1 with three shutouts, a 2.42 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 31 appearances. The Jets are generating 2.83 goals per contest, 24th in the league this season.

Askarov will patrol the crease on the road versus the Blues on Thursday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.

Askarov last featured for the Sharks back on March 10 versus the Sabres, a stretch of seven games on the shelf due to his lower-body injury. Prior to getting hurt, the netminder had allowed at least three goals in 22 of his last 24 outings, posting a 10-11-2 record and 4.01 GAA. With the amount of offensive support the Sharks can offer these days -- 3.03 goals per game -- Askarov doesn't need to be perfect but will need to be better to get them into the playoffs in the future.

Toffoli (lower body) will be a game-time decision in St. Louis on Thursday, according to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Toffoli has missed the last two games with the injury, including the first game of a three-game road trip. Toffoli has 18 goals, 26 assists and 151 shots on goal across 67 appearances this season. He will slot back on the second line and first power play if he returns to action Thursday.

Ostlund missed practice Thursday after suffering an upper-body injury, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.

Ostlund has found the back of the net just once in his last 18 outings, recording 17 shots while adding seven helpers. If the 22-year-old center can't suit up against the Red Wings on Friday, it could mean more ice time for Zach Benson, as well as seeing Alex Tuch reclaim a power-play role.

Harkins (upper body) will not be in the lineup to face Calgary on Thursday, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports.

Harkins is currently mired in a 26-game goal drought during which he registered a mere 24 shots while chipping in five helpers. Given his lack of offensive upside, few fantasy managers figure to be impacted by the 28-year-old center's potential absence. Nathan Gaucher could step into a fourth-line role in Harkins' absence.

Wallstedt will guard the visiting cage in Florida on Thursday, per Joe Smith of The Athletic.

Wallstedt is 14-8-6 with four shutouts, a 2.75 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 30 appearances this season. The rookie netminder will face the Panthers, who are 20th in league scoring, averaging 2.94 goals in 2025-26.