NHL Player News

Rantanen (illness) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against Columbus, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.

Rantanen continues to deal with an illness and isn't with the Stars ahead of Thursday's matchup, so he'll be unavailable for a second consecutive game. However, his status for Friday's home game against the Blues hasn't yet been determined. Rantanen has had a strong start to the season, recording 19 goals, 44 assists, 79 PIM, 37 hits and 35 blocked shots while averaging 20:09 of ice time over 48 appearances.

Jarry will be between the home pipes versus Pittsburgh on Thursday, Tony Brar of Oilers TV reports.

Jarry will face his former Pittsburgh teammates for the second time since he was dealt to Edmonton on Dec. 12. Jarry was victorious against the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Dec.16, turning aside 26 shots in a 6-4 win in only his second game in an Edmonton uniform. Jarry is 13-4-2 with a 2.61 GAA and a .908 save percentage over 20 games with both clubs this season. The Penguins are 12th in NHL scoring, generating 3.24 goals per game this season.

Head coach Jon Cooper said Thursday that McDonagh (lower body) won't play over the weekend but is now considered day-to-day, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.

While McDonagh will be unavailable for the Lightning's two-game road trip that includes games in Chicago on Friday and in Columbus on Saturday, Cooper said Thursday that the defenseman will "definitely" return to game action before the Olympic break. Following their road trip, the Lightning will have five games remaining before the league's layoff, and McDonagh's next opportunity to suit up will be Monday against the Mammoth.

DeSmith will defend the visiting net in Columbus on Thursday, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.

The 34-year-old veteran has been one of the best backup goaltenders in 2025-26, posting a 10-3-5 mark with one shutout, a 2.46 GAA and a .911 save percentage over 19 appearances. The Blue Jackets are generating 2.94 goals per game, 21st in the NHL this season.

Schmid was the first goalie off during Thursday's morning skate, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports, indicating that he'll draw the road start against Boston.

Schmid is in the midst of a four-game winning streak in which he's posted a 2.07 GAA and .917 save percentage. Although Adin Hill will likely serve as the Golden Knights' primary netminder now that he's healthy, Schmid should be able to earn some playing time if he can continue to perform at a high level. Schmid will have a tough matchup Thursday, as the Bruins rank ninth in the NHL with 3.28 goals per game.

Woll stopped 39 shots in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Red Wings.

Both netminders played well, but Woll got let down by his defense in OT -- Easton Cowan lost his footing, and control of the puck, on the wrong side of center ice while trying to cycle back, springing Dylan Larkin and Moritz Seider for a two-on-nothing break that Larkin converted. It was still a strong return to form for Woll after he'd coughed up 11 goals on 62 shots in his prior two outings. The 27-year-old netminder has only one regulation loss in his last 11 appearances, going 6-1-3 with a 3.20 GAA and .902 save percentage.

Larkin scored the overtime winner and added an assist in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Maple Leafs.

After helping to set up Simon Edvinsson for Detroit's opening tally late in the first period, Larkin took advantage of a giveaway by Easton Cowan at center ice to convert a two-on-nothing break for the Wings. The GWG was Larkin's seventh of the season, adding to what was already a new career high. The 29-year-old center also extended a modest point streak to three games, and through 10 contests in January he's produced four goals and nine points.

Gibson made 30 saves in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.

Scott Laughton whacked a puck past the veteran netminder early in the first period, but Gibson slammed the door shut the rest of the way and was eventually rewarded. He extended his win streak to seven starts in the process, a stretch in which he's posted a dazzling 1.83 GAA and .934 save percentage, and Gibson is the fourth goalie in the NHL this season to reach 20 wins, a group that includes Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy, Colorado's Scott Wedgewood and Utah's Karel Vejmelka.

Saros will be between the home pipes versus Ottawa on Thursday, according to Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.

Saros was a top-10 goaltender as recently as two seasons ago, but his play since the start of the 2024-25 campaign has been average at best. He is 19-16-3 with a 3.01 GAA and an .897 save percentage in 38 appearances this season. The Senators are tied for 10th in NHL scoring, generating 3.27 goals per game in 2025-26.

Hellebuyck is slated to start Thursday's home game against the Panthers, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.

Hellebuyck got the night off in the second half of a back-to-back set Tuesday against St. Louis, but he'll return to the crease Thursday for the sixth time in the Jets' last seven games. Across his last five outings, he's gone 3-1-1 with a 2.79 GAA and .905 save percentage.