NHL Hockey Player News

Despite getting the victory in each of his first two starts of the season, Andersen would have been hoping for a better start to the year following a relatively down season in 2022-23 which saw him post a .903 SV% across 34 appearances, but his performance thus far has left plenty to be desired. His perfect 2-0-0 record masks the fact that he’s surrendered eight goals on just 60 shots, good enough for a measly .867 SV% and a 3.84 GAA. The Hurricanes have one of the more capable backups in the league in Antti Raanta, and with Pyotr Kochetkov also waiting in the wings in Syracuse (AHL), Andersen will need to turn his game around fast if he wants to maintain his status as Carolina’s undisputed number one.

Couturier missed the Flyers' practice Monday as he is banged up with an undisclosed injury but is showing positive signs of returning Tuesday as Philadelphia hosts Vancouver. The 30-year-old centre missed the entire 2022-23 season with a back injury but has been off to a solid start so far in 2023-24 with an assist, three SOG, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus while averaging 20:19 TOI in two games. If he does play Tuesday, expect him to be atop both Philadelphia's top line and power play unit.

The Stars, who have only played one game this season (1-0-0) and have been off for five days, are expected to welcome Hintz into the lineup for his season debut. Primarily centring one of the league's top lines with Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski, Hintz recorded a career-high 75 points (37G / 38A) last season. Hintz will retake his spot on the top line as Tyler Seguin will move down to a line with Mason Marchment and Matt Duchene.

After alternating between Hill and Logan Thompson in their first two games, the Golden Knights will turn to Hill for his second consecutive start. Hill has picked up where he left off in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording a stellar 1.01 GAA and .964 SV% in two starts this season (2-0-0). The defending Stanley Cup Champion Golden Knights have been remarkable as a whole, outscoring opponents 12-3 en route to a 3-0-0 start to the season. Tonight, however, they are slight +104 road underdogs in a rematch against the team they defeated in the Western Conference Finals, the Dallas Stars. The Stars are expected to welcome star center Roope Hintz into the lineup for his season debut.

Oettinger is expected to make his second start of the season after an impressive 23-save performance in a 2-1 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues in the Stars' season-opener. Oettinger and the Stars should be well rested, having not seen game-action in five days, and are listed as slight -115 road favourites over the defending Stanely Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights. In three games against the Golden Knights last season (3-0-0), Oettinger was lights-out, recording a 0.96 GAA and .967 SV%. This rematch of the Western Conference Finals makes for a highly contested matchup in what has traditionally been low-scoring affairs between the two teams.

Grubauer will get the start for the Kraken on Tuesday as they search for their first win of the season. The Kraken are +134 home underdogs tonight and will be hard-pressed for a victory against the undefeated Colorado Avalanche (2-0-0). Seattle has started the season on a terrible note, scoring only twice in their first three games (0-2-1). Despite this, Grubauer has played relatively well for the Kraken, recording a 2.55 GAA and .918 SV% in two games (0-2-0). Grubauer struggled last season with a 2.85 GAA and .895 SV% but was consistently good against his former Avalanche club, posting a 1.70 GAA and .928 SV% in three appearances (1-0-1).

Plasek had six goals, nine assists, and 10 PIMs across 31 games played on loan with HC Olomouc (Czachia) in 2022-23 and has been dealt to Pittsburgh alongside Jack Rathbone for Ty Glover and Mark Friedman Tuesday. The 23-year-old left-winger was Vancouvers' 2019 sixth-round pick (175th overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Rathbone has a goal, two PIMs and a +4 plus/minus through two games with Abbotsford (AHL) so far in 2022-23 and has been dealt to Pittsburgh alongside Karel Plasek for Ty Glover and Mark Friedman. The 24-year-old defensemen was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (95th overall) and has two goals and five points in 28 career NHL games played. In 2022-23, he had a goal, an assist, 12 SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus in 11 games with Vancouver.

Glover had been assigned to the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) for the start of the 2023-24 season but has been traded to Vancouver alongside Mark Friedman for Jack Rathbone and Karel Plasek. The 23-year-old forward was signed as an undrafted free agent by Pittsburgh out of Western Michigan University (NCAA) in 2021-22 and has yet to appear in the NHL. In 2022-23, he had seven goals, five assists, 15 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus in 49 games played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Friedman appeared in two games so far this season for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) and has failed to pick up a point but has now been traded to Vancouver alongside Ty Glover for Jack Rathbone and Karel Plasek. The 27-year-old defensemen has played five NHL seasons for both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and has four goals, eight assists, and 49 PIMs in 65 career games played. He is expected to take the spot of Noah Juulsen in Vancouvers' defensive unit.

Buchnevich's status for Thursday night remains unlikely but he seems to be progressing towards a return as he recovers from an upper-body injury. In his two games played this season, Buchnevich has been ineffective, being held without a point or shot on goal. He should slot back onto the top line and top powerplay unit when he returns to the lineup.

This is a promising sign as Carlsson looks poised to make his NHL debut imminently. Carlsson was the second overall pick for the Ducks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft after scoring 25 points (10G / 15A) as an 18-year-old in the Swedish Hockey League. The talented young center will likely slide into a top-6 role when he is deemed fit to play.

Haula is day-to-day and his status remains unclear for the Devils' next game on Friday against the New York Islanders. So far this season, Haula has primarily centred a third line with Dawson Mercer and Alexander Holtz. He has been very effective in this role and is off to a great start, with three points (2G / 1A), nine shots, and four hits in three games.

Grubauer will likely get the start for the Kraken on Tuesday as they search for their first win of the season. The Kraken are +134 home underdogs tonight and will be hard-pressed for a victory against the undefeated Colorado Avalanche (2-0-0). Seattle has started the season on a terrible note, scoring only twice in their first three games (0-2-1). Despite this, Grubauer has played relatively well for the Kraken, recording a 2.55 GAA and .918 SV% in two games (0-2-0). Grubauer struggled last season with a 2.85 GAA and .895 SV% but was consistently good against his former Avalanche club, posting a 1.70 GAA and .928 SV% in three appearances (1-0-1).

Carrier's status for Tuesday night's tilt against the Dallas Stars remains uncertain as he continues to work his way back from an upper-body injury. Carrier has sat out the last two contests for the Golden Knights and has zero points, three shots, one hit, and two penalty minutes in his only game this season.

Howden has served his suspension for two-games for an illegal check to the head on Seattle's Brandon Tanev and will return to Vegas' lineup Tuesday vs. Dallas. The 25-year-old forward had an assist, 15 PIMs and a SOG through 16 shifts and 11:57 TOI in his only game played this season. He is expected to return to his role on Vegas' fourth line alongside Nicolas Roy and Keegan Kolesar.

Husso will make his return to the Red Wings crease on Tuesday after witnessing backup James Reimer make a 23-save shutout in their last contest. In his first two games this season (1-1-0), Husso has shown mixed results, recording a 3.57 GAA and .863 SV%. The Red Wings will hope that competition between him and Reimer can inspire him to elevate his game to last year's early season form that saw him record a .922 SV% and three shutouts in his first 13 games (8-2-3). The Red Wings are +110 home underdogs against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has outscored opponents 11-6 in their first three games (2-1-0).

Kaliyev will make his season debut after serving a four-game suspension issued to him during the preseason for a knee infraction against Chase De Leo of the Anaheim Ducks. The skilled right-winger is expected to line up on the Kings' third line with Trevor Moore and Phillip Danault. Last season, Kaliyev scored a career-high 28 points (13G / 15A) in 56 games while averaging only 11:41 time-on-ice.

Talbot looks likely to get his second start of the season on Tuesday night as the Kings faceoff against the Winnipeg Jets. The Kings, who have been outscored 10-7 in their first two games, are +120 road underdogs as they search for the first win of the season (0-1-1). In his first game, Talbot allowed four goals on 36 shots in a 5-2 season-opening loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Talbot has the front track for the starting role in Los Angeles but a strong performance tonight against the Jets will go a long way in garnering him more net security.

Campbell looks likely to get the start for the Oilers on Tuesday night and will hope to bounce back from a miserable opening-game performance. Campbell allowed four goals on 16 shots before being relieved by Stuart Skinner en route to an 8-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers, who have been outscored 12-4 in their first two contests, are -135 road favourites tonight against the Nashville Predators as they search for their first victory of the season (0-2-0). The starting goalie position is still very much up for grabs in Edmonton and a strong performance for Campbell against the Predators could go a long way in securing some more starts down the line.