NHL Hockey Player News

Markstrom will start Tuesday against the Nashville Predators as the struggling Flames will be desperate to win consecutive games for the first time this season. The Flames' poor start to the season (3-7-1) has been highly scrutinized as the team ranks bottom-five in the league offensively (2.55 GF / GP) and defensively (3.64 GA / GP). Markstrom has a 3.03 GAA and .897 SV% and has lost seven consecutive games (0-6-1). That said, the Flames are listed as rare favourites (-131) at home against the Predators.

The Red Wings received positive news on Tuesday as Robby Fabbri was activated from the injured reserve and will make his return to the Red Wings lineup on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Fabbri, who has dealt with injuries his entire career, was injured in the Red Wings' first game of the season but still managed to score one point (1G / 0A) in 14:44 time-on-ice. He will likely skate on the third line alongside Joe Veleno and Daniel Sprong.

Binnington will return to the Blues' crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup to Joel Hofer in the team's most recent contest on Saturday, a 6-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Binnington has been unpredictable when called upon this season but has shown more good than bad, sporting a 2.38 GAA and .924 SV% in seven contests (3-1-1). The Blues have struggled to provide Binnington with goal support all season (2.40 GF / GP) but are coming off a season-best six-goal performance that they will hope to carry into their matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, who are -138 road favourites.

Mayfield just recently worked his way back into the lineup, playing two consecutive games, after missing seven straight with a lower-body injury. He did not participate in practice on Monday but, after participating in Tuesday's morning skate, is expected to play against the Minnesota Wild. Mayfield has one point (0G / 1A), five shots, five hits, and 13 blocks while averaging 19:27 time-on-ice through three games.

Pelech did not play on Saturday because of a lower-body injury and his availability to return to the Islanders lineup on Tuesday won't be confirmed until closer to game-time. The 29-year-old Pelech is averaging 20:33 time-on-ice and has racked up one point (0G / 1A), 20 blocks, and 12 hits in nine games this season.

Horvat played 20:06 on Saturday, recording two points (0G / 2A), but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, making him a game-time decision for the Islanders' Tuesday night matchup against the Minnesota Wild. Horvat is averaging 19:43 time-on-ice this season and has nine points (4G / 5A) through 10 games.

Luukkonen served as the backup on Saturday to allow Devon Levi to return to the crease but appears to be the Sabres' starter on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In his most recent game, Luukkonen surrendered five goals on 19 shots in a lopsided 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers. Before that, Luukkonen was in the midst of a four-game stretch (3-1-0) where he saved 113 of 122 shots (.926 SV%). The Sabres will hope that Luukkonen can re-channel that early-season form as they are heavy +200 road underdogs on Tuesday.

Larkin has played all 12 games for the Red Wings this season but his status for Tuesday will not be determined until closer to puck drop. Larkin did not attend practice on Monday but participated in the team's morning skate on Tuesday. He is averaging 19:50 time-on-ice, has 17 points (5G / 12A), and 41 shots on goal.

Harvey-Pinard appears to be inching closer to a return but will remain out of the Canadiens' lineup on Tuesday. Harvey-Pinard hasn't played since leaving Thursday's contest against the Arizona Coyotes with a lower-body injury after just six shifts and 5:06 TOI. The 24-year-old has yet to score this season but has four assists, nine SOG, and two PIMs in 10 games played before his injury.

Gadjovich signed with the Panthers in the offseason but, after serving as a healthy scratch for the team's first 11 games, is being loaned to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL for a conditioning assignment. Last season, Gadjovich had seven points (3G / 4A), 57 penalty minutes, and 92 hits in 35 games with the San Jose Sharks.

Shesterkin appears to be nearing a return but will sit out for a second consecutive game as he tends to an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old Vezina Trophy winner has had a good start to the season prior to his injury, with his 6-2-0 record, .913 SV% and 2.36 GAA. Jonathan Quick has manned the starter's crease in Shesterkin's absence.

Quick will get his second consecutive start as Igor Shesterkin will remain out of the lineup on Tuesday with a lower-body injury. On Saturday, Quick allowed four goals on 40 shots as the Rangers gave up a 3-0 lead en route to losing 5-4 in a shootout to the Minnesota Wild. That said, Quick has played well on a whole this season, posting a 1.42 GAA and .948 SV% in four games (2-0-1) but will be put to the test Tuesday against a Detroit Red Wings team that is averaging the sixth-most goals per game this season (3.75).

Raanta is the likely starter for the Hurricanes on Tuesday in their first game without Frederik Andersen, who is away from the team to tend to a blood clotting issue. In five games this season (3-1-0), Raanta has played well below his career average, posting a 3.03 GAA and .870 SV%, but should see the majority of action between the pipes in the interim. Going forward, he will also battle for time with Pyotr Kochetkov, recalled from Syracuse (AHL) on Monday, and possibly Jaroslav Halak, who joined the team on a free-agent tryout. The Hurricanes are -203 home favourites on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres, who are 6-6-0 on the season.

Varlamov is coming off his league-leading second shutout of the season and appears to be the starting goalie for the Islanders on Tuesday when they host the Minnesota Wild. Varlamov has been tremendous in his limited action between the pipes this season, even outperforming teammate and perennial Vezina-finalist Ilya Sorokin, posting a league-best 1.00 GAA and .972 SV% through three games (2-1-0). The Islanders will be tested against the Wild and their ninth-ranked offence (3.55 GF / GP) but still rank as -128 home favourites.

With news that Frederik Andersen will be out indefinitely because of a blood clotting issue, the Hurricanes have recalled Kochetkov from the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. Kochetkov recently had a great three-game stint in the AHL (3-0-0), posting a 1.63 GAA and .932 SV%, which starkly contrasts his poor 4.33 GAA and .836 SV% from an earlier three-game stint (0-3-0) with the Hurricanes. Antti Raanta will likely be the go-to option between the pipes while Andersen is away from the team. The Hurricanes also announced on Monday that veteran goalie Jaroslav Halak will be joining the team on a free-agent tryout.

Skinner will draw his third start in four games Monday after taking a breather for Saturday's loss vs. Nashville. The 25-year-old was an All-Star in 2022-23 but has been horrendous this season, with his 1-3-1 record, .861 SV% and 3.62 GAA. He takes on the red-hot Vancouver Canucks on the road Monday, who have won three straight games and lead the NHL in goals per game (4.36).

Demko will look to build on the best start of his career on Monday as he will be the Canucks' starting goalie against the Edmonton Oilers. Demko is coming off a 27-save, 2-0 shutout victory over the Dallas Stars, his second shutout of the season, a career-high already. Through eight games (6-2-0), Demko has a gaudy 1.55 GAA and .947 SV%, trailing only Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins in both categories among goalies that have started at least four games. The Canucks are slight -101 home underdogs against an Oilers team that is 2-7-1 but has enough offensive threats on their roster to make any opposing goalie uncomfortable.

Oettinger will be the starter for the Stars on Monday after suffering his first regulation loss of the season on Saturday, a 2-0 loss at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks. Loss aside, Oettinger has been reliable and consistent, giving the Stars a chance to win every night, sporting a 1.97 GAA and .938 SV% through seven games (5-1-1). Oettinger and the Stars will be challenged on Monday by the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins, who are off to a blistering 9-1-1 start, outscoring opponents 35-21. That said, the Stars are -141 home favourites in what should be a low-scoring game between two of the top five defensive teams in the league.

Eyssimont will be the odd-man out on Monday as Tyler Motte (upper-body) returns and Austin Watson retains his place in the lineup. In 11 games this season, Eyssimont has registered three goals, one assist, and 21 shots on goal with an ATOI 10:25.

Motte has missed the Lightning's previous 10 games due to an upper-body injury and was be a game-time decision Monday vs. Toronto. The 28-year-old is in his eighth NHL season and has only appeared in one game in 2023-24 where he was forced to leave after just 7:55 TOI. He will take his spot back on the third line with Alex Barre-Boulet and Anthony Cirelli on Monday.