NHL Player News
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Alex Lyon G | BUF
Sabres' Alex Lyon: Gets starting nod Thursday
Lyon will be between the pipes at home against the Penguins on Thursday, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.
Lyon is 4-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and one shutout in his last five outings and has racked up 14 wins this year, matching his 2024-25 total. In fact, the veteran backstop could set a new career-best mark and top the 21 victories he recorded with the Red Wings back in 2023-24, especially if Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen remains sidelined after the Olympic break.
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Rickard Rakell C | PIT
Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Not available Thursday
Rakell (lower body) has been ruled out of Thursday's clash in Buffalo, Josh Yohe of The Athletic reports.
Rakell was injured during the morning skate. Rakell has 10 goals and 24 points across 35 games this season. Look for Rutger McGroarty to enter the lineup with Rakell on the shelf.
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Noel Acciari C | PIT
Penguins' Noel Acciari: Dealing with illness
Acciari is considered a game-time decision for Thursday's matchup against the Sabres due to an illness, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
Acciari hasn't missed a game since early December, but he's a question mark for the Penguins' final game before the Olympic break due to his illness. Even if he's sidelined against Buffalo, it wouldn't be surprising to see him return to action when Pittsburgh resumes play against the Devils on Feb. 26.
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Brandon Bussi G | CAR
Hurricanes' Brandon Bussi: Facing Rangers
Bussi will be between the visiting pipes against the Rangers on Thursday, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.
Bussi has won his last six starts and is a gaudy 22-3-1 with a 2.24 GAA and a .904 save percentage. This is his first season in the NHL, but at the age of 27, Bussi is not eligible for the Calder Trophy. The Rangers are generating 2.66 goals per game in 2025-26, good for 26th in the NHL.
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Arturs Silovs G | PIT
Penguins' Arturs Silovs: First goalie off Thursday
Silovs was the first goalie off during Thursday's morning skate, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports, indicating that he'll draw the road start against Buffalo.
Silovs has had mixed results in recent weeks, going 2-2-2 with a 2.15 GAA and .921 save percentage over his last six starts. He'll face a touch opponent in the Penguins' final game ahead of the Olympic break, as the Sabres are tied for sixth in the NHL with 3.39 goals per game this year.
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Calum Ritchie C | NYI
Islanders' Calum Ritchie: Cleared to play Thursday
Ritchie (lower body) will return to the lineup Thursday in New Jersey, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports.
It was thought that the Islanders would sit Ritchie one more game in order to give him the extra time off during the Olympic break, but Ritchie is expected to see second-line time between Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin, as well as first-unit power-play time. Ritchie had seven goals and 15 points in 40 games prior to missing six games with his injury.
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Elias Salomonsson D | WPG
Jets' Elias Salomonsson: Returned to AHL
Salomonsson was reassigned to AHL Manitoba on Thursday.
Salomonsson has played 13 games with the Jets in his rookie season and has failed to pick up a point. The blueliner has 14 hits and 13 blocked shots while averaging 16:58 of ice time. Salomonsson had a goal and seven assists in 25 AHL games before his recall.
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Ilya Sorokin G | NYI
Islanders' Ilya Sorokin: Tending twine Thursday
Sorokin will get the starting nod in New Jersey on Thursday, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com.
Sorokin has allowed eight goals on 77 shots in his last two starts, going 1-1-0. Sorokin is 19-13-2 with a 2.48 GAA and a ,915 save percentage this season. He has a league-leading six shutouts across 34 games in 2025-26. The Devils are 31st in NHL scoring, averaging 2.54 goals per game.
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Jordan Greenway LW | BUF
Sabres' Jordan Greenway: Game-time call
Greenway (abdomen) will be a game-time decision versus Pittsburgh on Thursday, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.
Greenway has missed the last six games. He has one goal, four assists, 48 hits and 15 blocked shots across 33 games this season. Isak Rosen could be the odd-man out of the lineup, if Greenway is given the green light to play.