NHL Hockey Player News

Skinner has been stellar early in his tenure with the Jets and will return to the crease on Thursday. The 27-year-old Canadian goalie stopped 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. He has a 2.47 GAA and .917 SV% in four games this season (3-1-0). The Jets enter action on Thursday as -126 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team coming off a season-high five-goal output in a 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Kevin Lankinen has started the 2025-26 season abysmal, posting a dreadful 6.88 GAA and .786 SV% in six outings (1-5-0). As a result, the Canucks will roll with Merilainen, who has been their more reliable goalie. Merilainen was solid in his most recent outing, saving 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%), but he didn't get enough goal support and lost 3-2 to the New York Islanders. The 24-year-old Finnish goalie has a 2.40 GAA and .926 SV% in five appearances (1-1-0). Still, the Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +252 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers team coming off an impressive 7-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Schaefer has been in and out of the lineup regularly to start the 2026-27 season, but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday. The 23-year-old forward is averaging 10:38 time-on-ice and has zero points in three games.

Dahlin scored a goal in Monday's game against the Florida Panthers but exited the game after 9:06 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. He will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday, but could be an option on Saturday. The 26-year-old Swedish defenseman has four points (2G / 2A) in six games this season. He remains day-to-day.

Varlamov made his season debut last week, returning to the crease for the first time in nearly two years, and will face the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. The veteran 38-year-old goalie shook off some rust, allowing three goals on 22 shots (.864 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers, and hopes to return to form with one game under his belt. The Islanders enter action on Thursday as +144 road underdogs against a Senators team off to an impressive 5-2-0 start.

With Justus Annunen still navigating an undisclosed injury, the Predators will continue to rely on Saros. Saros is coming off his worst performance in the young 2026-27 season, allowing five goals on 25 shots (.800 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 31-year-old Finnish goalie has a 3.17 GAA and .897 SV% in five games (2-2-1). The Predators enter Thursday as -135 home favourites against a San Jose Sharks team that has scored just seven goals in its last four games (1-3-0).

The season-ending injury to Igor Shesterkin sparked panic among the Rangers faithful, but rookie Dylan Garand has been an impressive replacement so far. The 24-year-old Garand was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 26 shots (.962 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has a stellar 1.15 GAA and .951 SV% in four games (3-1-0). The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as +117 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that has scored fewer than two goals in three of their last five games (2-3-0).

Maatta's time on ice was limited to 17:27 in Minnesota's previous game, and he will not play on Thursday due to an upper-body injury. The 32-year-old Finnish defenseman is averaging 21:24 time on ice and has two assists in six games. Matt Kiersted will make his season debut, replacing Maatta.

Olli Maatta (upper body) will not play on Thursday, allowing Kierstad to enter the lineup for his season debut. The 28-year-old Kierstad spent most of last season in the AHL, where he scored 12 points (4G / 8A) in 49 games for Iowa.

Wallstedt has been busy with Filip Gustavsson (hip) sidelined, and he got his first night off in Minnesota's previous game, but the team fared poorly without him, losing 5-2 to the Winnipeg Jets. Wallstedt emerged as Minnesota's starting goalie in the playoffs and has carried that momentum into the 2026-27 season. The 23-year-old Swedish goalie has an outstanding 1.82 GAA and .933 SV% in six games (4-1-1). Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as -140 home favourites against a St. Louis Blues team on a two-game winning streak.

Matthew Murray has served as Jusse Saros' backup over the last week, and Annunen's status has continued to fluctuate, with his availability for Thursday's game against the San Jose Sharks uncertain. The 26-year-old Annunen had a successful 2025-26 season as Jusse Saros' backup, posting a solid 2.68 GAA and .906 SV% in 28 appearances (10-12-2).

Bourque played only 8:15 of ice time in last Thursday's 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens before leaving the game with an upper-body injury and has not played since. The 24-year-old Bourque has played a meaningful middle-six role for the Predators this season and has one assist in four games.

Kevin Lankinen has started the 2025-26 season abysmal, posting a dreadful 6.88 GAA and .786 SV% in six outings (1-5-0). As a result, the Canucks will roll with Merilainen, who has been their more reliable goalie. Merilainen was solid in his most recent outing, saving 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%), but he didn't get enough goal support and lost 3-2 to the New York Islanders. The 24-year-old Finnish goalie has a 2.40 GAA and .926 SV% in five appearances (1-1-0). Still, the Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +252 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers team coming off an impressive 7-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Luukkonen had a dreadful start to the season, allowing 12 goals on 53 shots (.782 SV%) in his first three games (1-2-0), but has been encouraging in his last two outings (2-0-0), saving 48 of 52 shots (.923 SV%). With Alex Lyon (upper body) still sidelined, the Sabres will continue to rely on Luukkonen and hope he can build some momentum from his previous games. The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as -157 home favourites against the 3-3-0 New York Islanders.

The Blackhawks welcomed Connor Bedard (shoulder) back into the lineup for his season debut in a 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, a bright note in an otherwise disappointing 2-5-0 start to the season. The team hopes to build on the momentum of their superstar captain's return, turning to Knight to tend the twine on Thursday. The 25-year-old Knight had a solid first full season in Chicago, but has a subpar 3.64 GAA and .885 SV% through five games this season (2-3-0). Chicago enters Thursday's contest as +114 home underdogs against a surprising 4-1-1 Winnipeg Jets team.

Nazar was suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head against Bo Horvat, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 22-year-old Nazar has three points (1G / 2A) in five games this season.

Eklund left the ice early in the first period during last Thursday's 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, needing assistance due to an ankle injury. He had surgery one week later and will be out until at least late December. The 23-year-old Swedish forward was getting favourable deployment early in his tenure with the Senators and scored two points (1G / 1A) in four games.

Sanderson has not played since suffering a lower-body injury in the first period of Ottawa's season-opening game, but appears to be nearing a return. He will miss at least one more game, with his next chance to return being on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Jacob Markstrom exited Monday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres early in the second period for precautionary reasons and was replaced by Akira Schmid, who saved 18 of 21 shots (.857 SV%) in the losing effort. Schmid will likely continue to tend the twine in the interim, but Markstrom should be back on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators.

Gudas played 12:27 time-on-ice in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, but was battling an undisclosed injury and did not play on Tuesday. The hard-hitting defenseman is averaging 13:08 time-on-ice, recording zero points and 13 hits in six games.