NHL Player News
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Clay Stevenson G | WAS
Capitals' Clay Stevenson: Beaten three times Tuesday
Stevenson stopped 18 of 21 shots in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Flyers. The fourth goal was an empty-netter in the final seconds of the game.
Stevenson has started each of the Capitals' last three games due to the absences of Logan Thompson (upper body) and Charlie Lindgren (lower body). Stevenson stopped 48 of 52 shots in his previous two starts, so he was due to return to earth sooner than later. If Thompson can't play in Thursday's home matchup against Nashville, Stevenson could make another start.
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Noah Laba C | NYR
Rangers' Noah Laba: Slated to play Thursday
Laba (upper body) feels ready to play Thursday versus Carolina, per Peter Baugh of The Athletic.
Laba exited Saturday's match against Pittsburgh, but it seems he won't miss a full game due to the injury. He has eight goals, 16 points, 22 PIM and 72 hits in 53 outings in 2025-26. Laba will probably play in a bottom-six role against the Hurricanes.
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Alexei Protas C | WAS
Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Extends point streak
Protas recorded a shorthanded goal and had two shots on net in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Flyers.
Protas found the back of the net for the first time since Jan. 24, but the 25-year-old playmaker has routinely found ways to remain productive for the Capitals. Aside from extending his current point streak to three games with this goal, this was also Protas' fourth goal and eighth point across 15 games since the beginning of January.
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Sam Montembeault G | MON
Canadiens' Sam Montembeault: Between pipes versus Jets
Montembeault will tend the twine on the road against Winnipeg on Wednesday.
Montembeault has watched from the bench for the last four outings, as Jakub Dobes featured in each of those contests. The 29-year-old Montembeault has allowed three or more goals in five of his past six outings, going 3-2-1 with an .880 save percentage during that span.
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Joonas Korpisalo G | BOS
Bruins' Joonas Korpisalo: Gets starting nod Wednesday
Korpisalo will be between the pipes on the road versus the Panthers on Wednesday, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports.
Korpisalo has been on the bench for the last three contests. He was solid in January, when he posted a 4-0-1 record and made 134 saves on 144 shots. In his 21 appearances this year, Korpisalo is sporting a 10-8-1 with one shutout, a 3.12 GAA and an .895 save percentage.
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Justus Annunen G | NSH
Predators' Justus Annunen: Set to start Thursday
Annunen is slated to start Thursday's road game against Washington, Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean reports.
Annunen is poised to get the second half of Nashville's back-to-back after Juuse Saros starts at home against the Wild on Wednesday. Annunen has made five appearances since the start of the calendar year, going 2-1-1 with a 2.87 GAA and .907 save percentage.
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Juuse Saros G | NSH
Predators' Juuse Saros: In goal Wednesday
Saros will get the starting nod at home versus Minnesota on Wednesday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
Saros will take the first game of the Preds' back-to-back, which likely means Justus Annunen will get the nod for Thursday's road matchup with Washington. The veteran Saros was given the hook his last time out after giving up five goals on 21 shots against the Blues on Monday, though he avoided taking the loss thanks to his teammates.
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Kirill Marchenko RW | CLB
Blue Jackets' Kirill Marchenko: Game-time call Wednesday
Marchenko (illness) is slated to be a game-time decision Wednesday against Chicago, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.
Marchenko missed Tuesday's 3-0 win over New Jersey. He has 19 goals and 46 points in 50 outings in 2025-26. If Marchenko can return to the lineup against the Blackhawks, Danton Heinen could be a healthy scratch, and Isac Lundestrom will probably return to the fourth line.
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Jet Greaves G | CLB
Blue Jackets' Jet Greaves: Starting against Chicago
Greaves will defend the home crease against the Blackhawks on Wednesday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.
Greaves has picked up wins in five of his last six outings, going 5-0-0 with a 2.47 GAA and .914 save percentage during that time. He'll have a favorable matchup against the Blackhawks, who are scoring 2.70 goals per game this year, which is the seventh-worst mark in the NHL.
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Reid Schaefer LW | NSH
Predators' Reid Schaefer: Promoted from minors
Schaefer was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Schaefer will provide some cover for the Predators heading into a back-to-back versus the Wild and Capitals on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. In his last nine NHL outings, the 22-year-old winger was unable to find the back of the net while putting 10 shots on net and generating two helpers.