Heinola was drafted 20th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but has never been able to transition into a full-time NHLer. The 25-year-old Finnish defenseman has 12 points (1G / 11A) in 58 career NHL games.
The struggling 1-3-2 Red Wings will turn to Tarasov to tend the twine for just the second time this season on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 27-year-old Tarasov hasn't been called upon much this season, but he was excellent in his only outing, stopping all 30 shots he faced and recording a shutout in a 1-0 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Tarasov has a favourable matchup on Thursday against the Flyers, one of the few teams that have been more offensively challenged than the Red Wings, scoring just 10 goals in eight games (0-5-3).
Matheson did not play on Tuesday and will miss at least one more game with a lower-body injury. The 32-year-old defenseman is averaging 24:09 time-on-ice and has one assist in five games this season. The Canadiens recalled defenseman David Reinbacher from Laval (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Sogaard was recalled yesterday for precautionary reasons as it was unclear if Dennis Hildeby (undisclosed) would be able to suit up. The 25-year-old Sogaard spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, posting a 3.69 GAA and .874 SV% in 27 games (7-13-4) with the Belleville Senators.
The Hurricanes drafted Nadeau 30th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old forward had a brief stint in the NHL last season, scoring three goals in 12 games with the Hurricanes. That said, he has spent most of his professional career in the AHL and is coming off a tremendous season with the Chicago Wolves (AHL), scoring 56 points (27G / 29A) in 52 games.
Nurse exited Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins with an upper-body injury after 17:39 of ice time. The 31-year-old defenseman received a five-minute major penalty for fighting earlier in the game. Nurse has played a key role on San Jose's blueline early this season, averaging 20:35 time on ice. Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky did not have an update on Nurse's status.
The Montreal Canadiens drafted Reinbacher fifth overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The promising young defenseman played two games with the Canadiens last season, recording an assist, but has otherwise played exclusively in the AHL. The 21-year-old scored 24 points (5G / 19A) in 57 games with Laval (AHL) last season.
Beaudoin was drafted 24th overall by Utah in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut this season. The 20-year-old forward is averaging 8:47 time-on-ice and has zero points in four games. Justin Dowling was recalled from Hartford in a corresponding move.
Dowling, a 36-year-old NHL veteran of 154 games, only played twice last season, but could get a chance to draw into New York's lineup after being recalled from Hartford (AHL) on Wednesday. Cole Beaudoin was reassigned to Hartford in a corresponding move.
The Stars have been stout defensively early in the 2026-27 season, allowing only 11 goals in six games. Unfortunately for their goaltending tandem of Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith, the team's offence has been nearly nonexistent, scoring just 13 goals and paving the way for a subpar 2-3-1 record. DeSmith will return to the crease for only the second time this season. The 35-year-old goalie was solid in his only outing, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%), but again lacked goal support, as the Stars lost 2-1 to the Nashville Predators. The Stars enter Wednesday's contest as +119 road underdogs against an Avalanche team that beat them 3-2 yesterday.
Surprisingly, Colorado hasn't leaned on Scott Wedgewood much this season and has relied on Blackwood between the pipes in five of their first six games. Wedgewood's tremendous 2025-26 season, posting a 2.02 GAA and .921 SV% in 45 appearances (31-6-6), should at least earn him close to a timeshare by season's end, even if the team is showing early-season favour for Blackwood. The 34-year-old Wedgewood saved 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in his only game this season, a 7-3 win over the Calgary Flames. Colorado enters Wednesday's contest as -131 home favourites against a Dallas Stars team they defeated 3-2 yesterday.
Johnston was a late scratch for Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche due to illness and will remain sidelined for Wednesday's rematch. Before Tuesday, Johnston had never missed a game in his young career, playing 333 consecutive games. The 23-year-old forward, who scored a career-high 45 goals last season, has just four assists through five games in 2026-27.
Wolf finished as the Calder Trophy runner-up as a rookie in the 2024-25 season, but followed it with a disappointing 2025-26 season, posting a 3.01 GAA and .899 SV% in 57 games (23-29-3). Hoping to return to form in 2026-27, Wolf has played poorly, reflecting a struggling team in front of him that has scored only eight goals in five games (0-5-0). The 25-year-old American goalie has an ugly 5.42 GAA and .816 SV% in three games this season (0-3-0). The Flames enter Tuesday's contest as +148 road underdogs against a 4-1-0 Anaheim Ducks team.
With unproven rookie Sebastian Cossa as his backup, Vejmelka is likely due for a heavy workload again this season and will be between the pipes for the fifth time in seven games. The 30-year-old Vejmelka was excellent in his previous outing, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. He has a 2.13 GAA and .907 SV% in five appearances this season (3-1-0). Utah enters Tuesday's contest as -156 home favourites against a rolling Toronto Maple Leafs team that has scored 14 goals in their last three games (2-0-1).
