NHL Player News
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Joel Hofer G | STL
Blues' Joel Hofer: Struggles against Mammoth
Hofer allowed four goals on 23 shots in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Mammoth.
Hofer hadn't allowed more than three goals in any of his last five outings. He's played well enough to earn a timeshare in the crease with Jordan Binnington, who has remained volatile this season. Hofer is now 9-9-2 with a 2.94 GAA and an .897 save percentage over 24 appearances. The Blues will likely turn to Binnington on Saturday in Vegas, but this crease is still very much up for grabs until one goalie can string some positive starts together.
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Karel Vejmelka G | UTA
Mammoth's Karel Vejmelka: First to 20 wins this season
Vejmelka stopped 26 of 28 shots in Friday's 4-2 win over the Blues.
Vejmelka is the first goalie to reach the 20-win mark this season. He's on a bit of a roll with five wins over his last six outings, allowing just 14 goals on 163 shots in that span. The 29-year-old netminder is at 20-11-2 with a 2.63 GAA and an .898 save percentage through 34 appearances. His workload is a plus for fantasy managers, as Vitek Vanecek hasn't played well enough for Vejmelka to get much rest yet. The Mammoth's next game is Sunday versus the Blue Jackets.
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Anton Forsberg G | LA
Kings' Anton Forsberg: Works third period Friday
Forsberg stopped all three shots he faced in relief of Darcy Kuemper in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Jets.
Forsberg played the third period for his first action over five games in January. Darcy Kuemper has struggled since returning from an upper-body injury, but Forsberg's play wasn't all that special during Kuemper's absence. On the season, Forsberg is 6-6-3 with a 2.64 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 16 appearances. Both of the Kings' goalies are clear fades heading into Saturday's road matchup versus the Oilers.
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Darcy Kuemper G | LA
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Pulled after two periods
Kuemper gave up five goals on 16 shots in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Jets.
Kuemper exited the game after two periods, allowing Anton Forsberg to get some work. The 35-year-old Kuemper still looks a bit off after an upper-body injury -- in five starts since his return, he's allowed a total of 19 goals on 130 shots, going 2-2-1 in that span. Overall, Kuemper is now at a 12-8-7 record with a 2.50 GAA and a .905 save percentage. He's best avoided in fantasy until he can right the ship. The Kings play in Edmonton on Saturday, but it's not yet clear which goalie will get the nod for that contest.
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Eric Comrie G | WPG
Jets' Eric Comrie: Snaps team's skid Friday
Comrie allowed one goal on 24 shots in Friday's 5-1 win over the Kings.
Comrie played just once during an 11-game winless stretch for the Jets, giving up six goals to the Maple Leafs on New Year's Day. The 30-year-old bounced back from his personal four-game losing streak with this effort, limiting the Kings to a Quinton Byfield tally in the second period. Comrie improved to 7-9-1 with a 3.33 GAA and an .884 save percentage over 17 appearances. His playing time will likely remain low unless the Jets opt to give Connor Hellebuyck more rest.
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Drew Commesso G | CHI
Blackhawks' Drew Commesso: Loses season debut
Commesso stopped 19 of 24 shots in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Capitals.
Commesso received a tough assignment, filling in for Spencer Knight (illness) and Arvid Soderblom (illness) on short notice. The 23-year-old Commesso wasn't up to the challenge, though the depleted lineup in front of him didn't do any favors. He may be needed to start Saturday in Nashville as well if Knight and Soderblom remain under the weather with the stomach bug that is ravaging the Blackhawks' locker room.
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Logan Thompson G | WAS
Capitals' Logan Thompson: Cruises to win Friday
Thompson stopped 23 of 24 shots in Friday's 5-1 win over the Blackhawks.
Thompson ended a four-game skid, in which he allowed 13 goals on 128 shots while going 0-3-1. Given his success from earlier in the year, that's not a terrible cold spell for the 28-year-old netminder, though it was still a positive to see him take care of business against a Chicago team that was ravaged by an illness. Thompson is up to 16-12-4 on the year with a 2.35 GAA and a .916 save percentage over 32 starts. The Capitals are back in action Sunday versus the Predators to close out this quick two-game road trip.
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Remi Poirier G | DAL
Stars' Remi Poirier: Earns shutout over Griffins
Poirier posted a 29-save shutout in AHL Texas' 2-0 win over Grand Rapids on Friday.
This was Grand Rapids' second regulation loss of the season, so that's some impressive work for Poirier. It's been tough times in Texas for the 24-year-old goalie, who is 9-10-4 with a 2.64 GAA and a .908 save percentage over 23 contests this season, numbers roughly in line with his work last year. Poirier won't get many looks in Dallas as long as Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith are both available.
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Arvid Soderblom G | CHI
Blackhawks' Arvid Soderblom: Out of action Friday
Soderblom (illness) is not expected to suit up Friday versus the Capitals, Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio reports.
The Blackhawks are dealing with significant illness issues, which will sideline both Soderblom and Spencer Knight. Drew Commesso was called up from AHL Rockford earlier in the day and will get the start, and he may be needed Saturday in Nashville as well if neither of the two regular goalies are healthy.
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Spencer Knight G | CHI
Blackhawks' Spencer Knight: Unavailable Friday
Knight (illness) will not start as previously scheduled in Friday's home game versus the Capitals, Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio reports.
Knight was initially scheduled to start, but he has fallen ill. It's not clear if he'll be ready for Saturday's game in Nashville given the quick turnaround during a back-to-back set.