NHL Player News

Tarasov stopped 36 of 38 shots in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Sabres, with Buffalo's final goal getting scored into an empty net.

With the game tied 1-1 midway through the third period, Beck Malenstyn put Buffalo in the lead with a shot from the blue line. However, Tarasov felt his glove was impeded by Mattias Samuelsson's stick, which prevented him from making the save. However, the Panthers lost the coach's challenge for goaltender interference. Tarasov had coughed up 10 total goals over his prior two outings, so even though it was a third straight loss, it was an encouraging performance from the 26-year-old netminder. On the season, Tarasov sports an 8-9-2 record with a 2.80 GAA and .903 save percentage.

Tuch scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Friday's 3-2 win over the Panthers.

The 29-year-old winger opened the scoring late in the first period, snapping a shot past Daniil Tarasov from the slot. Tuch ended a brief three-game point drought with the performance, but over his last nine games, he has racked up six goals and nine points. He has 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists) on the season.

Lyon made 28 saves in Friday's 3-2 win over the Panthers.

Facing the team that helped him turn his career around in 2022-23, Lyon was locked in and couldn't be faulted for either of Florida's goals -- one came on a second-period power play for the Panthers, while the other came late in the third when Rasmus Dahlin tried to clear a puck out of the crease and instead banked it into the net off the back of Lyon's legs. The veteran netminder has won five of seven starts since returning from a lower-body injury in late January, going 5-2-0 with a 2.32 GAA and .930 save percentage.

Oettinger was the first goaltender off the ice at morning skate, Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine reports, and is slated to defend the home cage versus Nashville on Saturday.

Oettinger is on a six-game winning streak, despite his poor peripherals, as he has allowed 18 goals on 132 shots (.864 save percentage). Oettinger is 23-10-4 with a 2.73 GAA and an .897 save percentage in 37 appearances this season. The Predators are 21st in NHL scoring, averaging 2.93 goals per game.

Ullmark will defend the road net against Toronto on Saturday, per Julian McKenzie of The Athletic.

Ullmark is coming off an 18-save effort in Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to Detroit. He has a 16-8-6 record this campaign with a 2.82 GAA and an .884 save percentage through 31 appearances. Toronto is tied for 14th in the league this season with 3.22 goals per game.

Matinpalo (undisclosed) has been ruled out of Saturday's tilt in Toronto, Julian McKenzie of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old defenseman probably sustained the injury during the 2026 Winter Olympics because he will miss his second straight NHL game following the break. Matinpalo has four assists, 27 hits and 33 blocked shots in 30 games with the Senators this season. It's unclear at this time if he will be available for Tuesday's game against Edmonton.

Talbot will be between the road pipes in Carolina on Saturday, Daniella Bruce of the Red Wings' official site reports.

Talbot's last start was Jan. 22, a span of 37 days, though he did come on in relief Jan. 31 versus Colorado. Talbot is 11-7-3 with a 3.00 GAA and an .892 save percentage across 24 appearances this season. The Hurricanes are sixth in NHL scoring, generating 3.41 goals per game.

Vasilevskiy will patrol the home crease versus Buffalo on Saturday, according to Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site.

Vasilevskiy is 17-0-1 in his last 18 starts with a gaudy 1.90 GAA and a .925 save percentage. Overall, Vasilevskiy is 28-7-3 with a 2.11 GAA and a .920 save percentage across 38 starts this season. The Sabres are ninth in NHL scoring, generating 3.34 goals per contest.

Girard (lower body) will be good to go for Saturday's game against the Rangers, Josh Yohe of The Athletic reports.

Girard sat out Friday's practice, but he will be available for Saturday's matinee matchup against the Rangers. After being acquired in a trade with Colorado on Tuesday, he had one shot on goal and four blocked shots in 17:53 of ice time against New Jersey on Thursday.

Skinner will defend the visiting goal against the Rangers on Saturday, Josh Yohe of The Athletic reports.

Skinner is 19-12-5 with a pair of shutouts in 36 starts for Pittsburgh and Edmonton this season. One of his two shutouts came against the Rangers on Oct. 14, when he stopped 30 shots while he was a member of the Oilers. The Rangers have posted 2.60 goals per game, tying the team for 27th in the league this campaign.