NHL Hockey Player News

The Ducks have alternated goalies in their first two games this season and will turn back to Dostal on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Dostal played well in his only outing this season, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken. The 25-year-old Czech netminder had a solid 2024-25 season, posting a 3.10 GAA and .903 SV% in 54 appearances (23-23-7), resulting in the offseason departure of John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings to solidify Dostal as the Ducks' undisputed starting goalie in 2025-26. The Ducks enter Tuesday's contest as -134 home favorites against a Penguins team that has scored only 8 goals in its first 3 games (2-1-0).

The Flames turned to Dustin Wolf in both games of their first back-to-back set this season, but will flip the script on the tail end of their second back-to-back on Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth, giving Cooley his first start this season. The 28-year-old Cooley made his NHL debut last season, posting a much-to-be-desired 4.98 GAA and .870 SV% in six contests (2-3-1). If the first week of the season is any indication, Cooley's deployment could be very limited in 2025-26, as Wolf could easily surpass the 53 appearances he had in the crease in 2024-25.

Brayden Pachal will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, allowing Miromanov to make his season debut in Calgary's fourth game of the season. The 28-year-old Miromanov played a career-high 44 games with the Flames last season, recording nine points (2G / 7A), 55 blocks, and 19 hits.

After playing in Calgary's first three games to start the season, Pachal will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old Pachal is averaging 13:38 time-on-ice and has a -1 plus/minus this season. Daniil Miromanov will draw into the lineup as Pachal's replacement.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, a day after a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, Nashville will turn to Annunen for his first start of the season. The 25-year-old Annunen posted a 3.17 GAA and .888 SV% in 23 appearances with the Predators (9-11-1) last season after being acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators enter the action on Tuesday as +156 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team off to a 1-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season.

Benson has not played in Buffalo's first three games due to an upper-body injury but could draw into the lineup in Wednesday's contest against the Ottawa Senators. The 20-year-old Benson scored 28 points (10G / 18A) in 75 games last season.

The Flames have rolled with Wolf in their crease in all three games this season (1-2-0), and will turn to him again in the front end of a back-to-back on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 24-year-old Wolf was the runner-up for the Calder trophy last season as the NHL's best rookie and will hope to improve in 2025-26 after a mediocre start, posting a 3.99 GAA and .865 SV%. The Flames enter Tuesday's contest as +150 home underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has been outscored 11-10 through three games (1-0-2).

Ilya Lyubushkin will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, allowing Petrovic to draw into the lineup for his season debut. The 33-year-old Petrovic has played only five regular-season NHL games since 2019-20 but has been a regular with the Stars over the last two postseasons, playing 24 combined games, potentially earning himself a larger role with the team in 2025-26.

Lyubushkin will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season, allowing Alex Petrovic to make his season debut on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 31-year-old Lyubushkin is averaging 12:56 time-on-ice, recording one point (0G / 1A), a +3 plus/minus, and six penalty minutes through two games.

The Stars have had a spread-out schedule to begin the 2025-26 season and will roll with Oettinger between the pipes for a third straight contest on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. Oettinger and the Stars are 2-0-0 to start the season, but have faced some adversity defensively. The 26-year-old netminder has a 3.84 GAA and .875 SV% through two games. Dallas enters its home opener on Tuesday as -189 home favorites against a Minnesota team that played last night and defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in a shootout.

Walman signed a seven-year contract worth $7 million AAV at the beginning of October but has not played a game yet in the 2025-26 season. He is hopeful to debut on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 29-year-old Walman had a goal, eight points and a +5 plus/minus in 15 games with the Oilers last season after being acquired at the Trade Deadline from San Jose.

Tkachuk exited Monday's game against the Nashville Predators after only 13:53 time-on-ice. Ottawa's head coach, Travis Green, said the team and doctors are trying to determine if Tkachuk will need surgery to address the injury. The 26-year-old Tkachuk scored points (0G / 3A) through three games this season.

Ben Jones started his 2025-26 campaign in the AHL, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in two games with the Iowa Wild, and has now been recalled by Minnesota. Minnesota has assigned Hunter Haight to Iowa in a corresponding move. The 26-year-old Jones played a career-high 26 games with Minnesota last season and scored zero points.

Haight was a healthy scratch on Monday after debuting in his first two NHL games, averaging 9:22 time-on-ice, and has not been sent down to the Iowa Wild (AHL). In a corresponding move, Minnesota has recalled Ben Jones.

Alec Regula (undisclosed) will not play on Tuesday against the New York Rangers, allowing Stecher to draw into the lineup for his season debut. The 31-year-old Stecher played 66 games with the Oilers last season and scored seven points (3G / 4A).

After a lengthy offseason, which included a change in agents, Jack Roslovic signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract last week with the Edmonton Oilers. The 28-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season after tying his career high in goals in 2024-25 with 22 and 39 points across 81 games played with Carolina. Noah Philp will exit the Oilers' lineup to accommodate Roslovic's debut.

Regula is battling an undisclosed injury and will not play on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old Regula has zero points and is averaging 15:54 time-on-ice through two games this season. Troy Stecher will draw into the lineup as Regula's replacement.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, a day after a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, Nashville will turn to Annunen for his first start of the season. The 25-year-old Annunen posted a 3.17 GAA and .888 SV% in 23 appearances with the Predators (9-11-1) last season after being acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators enter the action on Tuesday as +156 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team off to a 1-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season.

Batherson has been sidelined for Ottawa's first three games this season, recovering from an upper-body injury, but will draw into the lineup for his season debut on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 27-year-old right-winger is entering his eighth season in Ottawa after putting up career highs in points (67) last season across 82 games played.

Anthony Stolarz and the Maple Leafs surrendered the game-deciding goal in the final minute of yesterday's disappointing 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The Maple Leafs will hope to rebound in Tuesday's contest against the Nashville Predators, turning to Cayden Primeau for his first start as a Maple Leaf. The 26-year-old Primeau was acquired last week to accommodate the absence of Joseph Woll (personal). Primeau appeared in 11 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season (2-3-1), posting a 4.70 GAA and .836 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter Tuesday's contest as -177 home favorites against a Predators team that defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-1 yesterday.