NHL Player News

DeSmith stopped 20 of 21 shots in Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Flames.

DeSmith has won his last three starts while allowing two or fewer goals each time. He's one of the best backups in the league, although the fact that the Stars are riding a 10-game winning streak makes his job a bit easier. DeSmith has posted a 1.33 GAA and a .926 save percentage in his three appearances during the Stars' ongoing winning run. That said, he should remain as the Stars' firm No. 2 option behind Jake Oettinger, so it's uncertain when he'll make another start.

Frost scored a goal in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Stars.

Frost has recorded points in back-to-back games following a four-game stretch without finding the scoresheet. However, the 26-year-old hasn't been a consistent scoring threat, and his bottom-six role doesn't boost his chances of garnering much fantasy appeal. He has 13 goals, 29 points and 100 shots on net through 60 appearances this season.

Cooley allowed two goals on 18 shots faced in relief in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Stars.

Cooley entered the game in the second period after Dustin Wolf allowed four goals on 17 shots faced. The Flames have been slumping defensively of late, but Cooley has been decent despite his 1-2-1 record over his last five games. He owns a 2.60 GAA and a .922 save percentage in that span, so he could return to the starting lineup when the Flames take on the Senators on Thursday.

Monahan scored a shorthanded goal in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Predators.

The tally tied the game at 2-2 early in the second period, as Monahan's toe-drag let enough traffic build up in front of Justus Annunen that he was able to pinball a shot home. Monahan has two shorties on the season, and they've come in the last two games as he begins to regain something close to his 2024-25 form. Over the last 12 contests, the veteran center has scored six of his 12 goals on the season.

Wolf was pulled in the second period of Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Stars after he allowed four goals on 17 shots.

Wolf has dropped back-to-back games and has only two wins in his last seven outings. Tuesday's showing was particularly bad, but he didn't get much help against a Stars team that was riding a nine-game winning streak going into the contest. Wolf has gone 3-9-1 with a 3.31 GAA and an .892 save percentage since the beginning of January.

Merzlikins turned aside both shots he faced during a brief relief appearance in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Predators.

Jet Greaves left the game midway through the first period to get checked for a concussion and missed a little over eight minutes, with Merzlikins holding down the fort in the meantime. Both netminders have put up impressive numbers lately, as they work in a timeshare. Over his last nine outings, Merzlikins has gone 6-2-0 with a 2.39 GAA and .911 save percentage.

Greaves stopped 21 shots in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Nashville.

The 24-year-old netminder missed a chunk of the first period to get checked for a concussion after taking an elbow from Nick Blankenburg. However, Greaves received clearance to return and kept the visitors off the scoreboard in the third to help the Blue Jackets rally from a 2-1 deficit. He hasn't taken a regulation loss since Jan. 8, going 7-0-1 over his last nine outings with a 2.34 GAA and .915 save percentage. Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins have been sharing time in the Columbus crease, but those plans could change if the team decides to ride the hot hand.

Annunen made 24 saves in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Blue Jackets.

The Predators took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but goals by Sean Monahan and Charlie Coyle -- both of which deflected in off bodies in front -- flipped the script. The 25-year-old Annunen has been a decent backup lately, going 2-2-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .906 save percentage over his last five outings.

Frank inked a two-year, $4 million contract extension with Washington on Wednesday.

Frank is currently mired in a 13-game goal drought during which he recorded three assists, 15 shots and 16 blocks while averaging 12:49 of ice time. The 28-year-old winger has set new personal bests in games played (52), goals (11) and assists (12) this season and should continue to be a presence in the Caps' bottom-six.

Cossa was recalled from AHL Grand Rapids on Wednesday.

Cossa hasn't appeared in an NHL game yet this season, but he made a relief appearance with the Red Wings in 2024-25. The decision to bring up the 23-year-old netminder doesn't bode well for John Gibson's (upper body) availability against the Golden Knights on Wednesday -- though Gibson likely would have been serving in a backup role anyway. Look for Cossa to serve as the No. 2 option versus Vegas behind Cam Talbot.