Nystrom did not play in Carolina's most recent game, but he will draw back into the lineup on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 23-year-old first-year blueliner is averaging 16:26 time-on-ice and has three assists in 21 games this season.
Murchison was a fifth-round pick, 158th overall, of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old defenseman is in his first full professional campaign, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in 21 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL).
Carl Grundstrom will draw into the lineup for his second game of the season, resulting in Deslauriers being a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. The 34-year-old Deslauriers is averaging 8:20 time-on-ice, recording zero points, 17 penalty minutes, and 48 hits in 13 games this season.
Nicolas Deslauriers will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks, allowing Grundstrom to re-enter the lineup. The 28-year-old Grundstrom played 10:17 time-on-ice and was held off the scoresheet in his only game this season.
The Hurricanes have not been in top form lately, 3-4-0 in their last seven, something that can't be said when Bussi has been between the pipes. The 27-year-old first-year NHLer has been excellent when called upon for the Hurricanes, winning six straight, and posting a 2.21 GAA and .903 SV% through nine games this season (8-1-0). The Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as -195 home favorites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has fumbled its way to a 2-1-4 record in its last seven games.
Vladar has not played since allowing five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) over a week ago in a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins and hopes to rebound after a prolonged break when he returns to the crease on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old Czech goalie has been reliable tending the twine for the Flyers most of the season, showcasing a serviceable 2.59 GAA and .906 SV% in 16 games (10-5-1). The Flyers enter Tuesday's contest as -158 home favorites against a Sharks team coming off an impressive 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Islanders have quietly been one of the better teams in the NHL over the last month, going 10-5-1, largely credited to the improved play of Ilya Sorokin. The 30-year-old Sorokin is coming off a 32-save performance for his third shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He boasts a solid 2.47 GAA and .912 SV% in 20 games this season (10-8-2). The Islanders enter Tuesday's contest as +122 road underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights team on a four-game winning streak.
Lizotte will be sidelined for at least week after being placed on Injured Reserve due to an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old Lizotte has five points (3G / 2A) through 27 games in a bottom-six role with the Penguins this season. In addition to Lizotte, Pittsburgh also placed Evgeni Malkin (upper body) on Injured Reserve, prompting the recall of Danton Heinen and Samuel Poulin from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
Malkin has missed the last couple of games due to an upper-body injury and has retroactively been placed on Injured Reserve. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer has turned back the clock this season, with 29 points (8G / 21A) in 26 games. He has not finished a season above a point-per-game pace since the 2022-23 season. In addition to Malkin, Pittsburgh also placed Blake Lizotte (undisclosed) on Injured Reserve, prompting the recall of Danton Heinen and Samuel Poulin from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
With Evgeni Malkin (upper body) and Blake Lizotte (undisclosed) placed on Injured Reserve, Pittsburgh has recalled Danton Heinen and Samuel Poulin from Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AHL). The 24-year-old Poulin has been excellent in the AHL this season, with 20 points (9G / 11A) in 21 games.
With Evgeni Malkin (upper body) and Blake Lizotte (undisclosed) placed on Injured Reserve, Pittsburgh has recalled Danton Heinen and Samuel Poulin from Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AHL). The 30-year-old Heinen is an NHL veteran of 575 games, but has spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he has 18 points (6G / 12A) in 12 games.
Hunt will make his first appearance since November 19th as the Wild are opting to dress seven defensemen on Monday. He will slot into the lineup in place of Tyler Pitlick, who is out with an undisclosed injury.
Wild head coach John Hynes mentioned the Wild were dealing with some game-time decisions for Monday night's game, though it appears Pitlick is the only one unavailable. Daemon Hunt will draw into the lineup in his place.
Seattle has been outscored 21-9 during a five-game losing streak (0-4-1), and hopes for better results on Monday with Grubauer tending the twine. Despite massive struggles in his tenure with the Kraken, the 34-year-old Grubauer has a 4-0-1 record this season, posting a 2.63 GAA and .894 SV%. Seattle enters Monday's contest as +117 home underdogs against a Minnesota Wild team that has followed up a seven-game winning streak with losses in three of its last four (1-2-1).
The Sabres hope to snap a two-game losing skid (0-2-0) with Luukkonen between the pipes on Monday against the Calgary Flames. Luukkonen allowed three goals on 19 shots (.864 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 26-year-old Finnish netminder has a 2.57 GAA and .895 SV% in nine games this season (4-4-1). Buffalo enters the action on Wednesday as a -106 road favorite against a suddenly surging Calgary team that is 6-3-1 in its last 10 games.
Vejmelka is sporting a pedestrian 2.64 GAA and .894 SV% in 22 games this season (12-7-2), but appears to be rounding into form over the last two weeks. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has quality starts in four of his last six games (3-3-0), including a shutout, while saving 129 of 139 shots (.928 SV%). He will return to the crease on Monday, with the Mammoth entering the contest as slight -107 home favorites against a Los Angeles Kings team coming off an explosive 6-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Point has not played in nearly three weeks due to an undisclosed injury, but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old Point has had a slow start to the 2025-26 season, with only 11 points (3G / 8A) in 21 games after finishing the previous three seasons above a point-per-game pace.
Tampa Bay is on a three-game losing skid and will be eager to welcome Kucherov back into its lineup on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 32-year-old Kucherov could have a nagging injury, missing three games this season, but it has not deterred him from his offensive prowess, with 34 points (12G / 22A) in 25 games. He has especially turned it on lately, with 15 points (3G / 12A) in his last seven games.
