NHL Hockey Player News

On the tail end of a back-to-back, the Blue Jackets will turn to Merzlikins on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Despite an unimpressive 3.14 GAA, Merzlikins is putting together his best season in years, posting a .909 SV% through seven games (4-3-0). The 31-year-old Latvian goalie has recorded a sub- .900 SV% in three straight seasons. The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight +103 road underdogs against a Kraken team that is 4-1-2 on home ice this season.

With Joey Daccord on Injured Reserve, Seattle continues rolling with their tandem of Matt Murray and Philipp Grubauer. Murray returns to the crease on Tuesday after a strong performance in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%). The 31-year-old Murray continues his search for his first win of the season, posting a 2.72 GAA and .900 SV% through three appearances (0-2-0). The Kraken enter Tuesday's contest as -113 home favorites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team coming off a disappointing 5-4 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers last night.

Nazar exited Friday's 4-0 win over the Calgary Flames in the first period after only 3:19 time-on-ice, did not play on Sunday, and will miss at least one more game as he continues his recovery from a mid-body injury. The 21-year-old Nazar has 11 points (5G / 6A) in 15 games this season.

Girard has not played since suffering an upper-body injury in Colorado's second game of the season, but should make his return to the lineup in one of Colorado's next four games during their home stand. The 27-year-old Girard has seen a decreased role in recent seasons, but still tallied 24 points (3G / 21A) in 73 games last season.

Wedgewood continues to see plenty of action even with Mackenzie Blackwood back in the lineup, and will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 33-year-old Wedgwood was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) in a dominant 9-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. He has a 2.37 GAA and .906 SV% in 13 games this season (9-1-2). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as a whopping -237 home favorite against the red-hot Ducks, who are riding a seven-game winning streak.

Binnington had a poor performance in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 15 shots (.733 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, leading to Joel Hofer tending the twine in consecutive games for the Blues. The 32-year-old Binnington will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, looking to improve on an ugly 3.54 GAA and .859 SV% in 11 appearances this season (3-5-2). The Blues enter the action on Tuesday as -145 home favorites against a Flames team that has been shut out in two straight games (0-2-0).

Declan Chisholm will return to Washington's lineup on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, sending van Riemsdyk to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 34-year-old van Riemsdyk is averaging 14:49 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 13 games this season.

Trevor van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, allowing Chisholm to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Chisholm is averaging 14:10 time-on-ice and has one assist in six games this season.

Eklund did not play in San Jose's three most recent games due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 23-year-old Eklund is off to a great start this season, scoring 11 points (5G / 6A) in 12 games.

The Capitals have lost two straight, falling to 7-7-1 on the season, and will turn to Thompson between the pipes on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old Thompson has been outstanding this season, but is coming off his weakest performance thus far, allowing three goals on 19 shots (.842 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has an impressive 1.61 GAA and .930 SV% in 10 games this season (6-4-0). The Capitals enter Tuesday's contest as +137 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that has won four straight.

Wedgewood continues to see plenty of action even with Mackenzie Blackwood back in the lineup, and will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 33-year-old Wedgwood was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) in a dominant 9-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. He has a 2.37 GAA and .906 SV% in 13 games this season (9-1-2). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as a whopping -237 home favorite against the red-hot Ducks, who are riding a seven-game winning streak.

Calgary's woes continue in the 2025-26 season, with another two-game losing streak, including being shut out in both games. The team will turn to Wolf on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Wolf was the runner-up for last season's Calder Trophy, but has been inconsistent to start the season, a byproduct of poor team play by the Flames. The 24-year-old goalie has a 3.26 GAA and .892 SV% in 14 games this season (4-9-1). The last-place Flames (4-11-2) enter Tuesday's contest as +132 road underdogs against a Blues team (5-8-3) that ranks only marginally better than them in the standings.

Brindley was drafted 34th overall by the Columbus Blues Jackets in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and has established himself as an NHL regular with the Avalanche early in the 2025-26 season. The 21-year-ld forward is averaging 8:58 time-on-ice and has five points (3G / 2A) through 14 games this season.

Kuemper has had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, yet to rediscover the form that earned him a Vezina finalist nomination last season, but has shown improvement lately. The 35-year-old Kuemper has been terrific in his last two games (2-0-0), posting a 1.00 GAA and .964 SV%. He has a 2.52 GAA and 905 SV% in 11 games this season (5-3-3). The Kings enter Tuesday's contest as slight -106 road favorites against a Montreal Canadiens team with points in six straight games (4-0-2).

The Sharks are playing their best hockey of the season so far, riding a three-game winning streak, and will turn to Nedeljkovic on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 29-year-old Nedeljkovic was excellent in his most recent game, saving 32 of 33 shots (.970 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. He has a 2.96 GAA and .906 SV% in seven games this season (3-2-2). The Sharks enter Tuesday's contest as +179 road underdogs against a Minnesota team that has outscored their opposition 7-2 in their last two games (2-0-0).

Cirelli suffered an upper-body injury in last Thursday's win over Vegas and has not played since. The 28-year-old Cirelli has 11 points (7G / 4A) in 14 games this season and could return to the lineup when Tampa Bay plays the New York Rangers on Wednesday.

Woll had been away from the team for nearly the first four weeks of the season, but fully returned to practice last week, and will start for the Marlies (AHL) on Tuesday as part of his conditioning assignment. The 27-year-old Woll started in exactly half of Toronto's games last season, posting a 2.73 GAA and .909 SV%, and could be poised for similar or greater deployment if he can find his footing while Anthony Stolarz continues to struggle.

The Stars are an impressive 6-1-3 in their last 10 games, but have not received top-tier goaltending from Oettinger in recent contests. The 26-year-old goalie has allowed 10 goals on 45 combined shots (.778 SV%) in his last two games (1-1-0). He has a 2.99 GAA, .893 SV%, and one shutout in 11 games this season (6-3-2). The Stars enter Tuesday's contest as +109 road underdogs against an Ottawa Senators team that is 5-2-1 at home this season.

Hedman played a season-low 17:51 time-on-ice in Tampa Bay's most recent game, and has been absent from the team's last two practices, tending to an undisclosed injury. The 34-year-old Hedman has 12 points (0G / 12A) through 15 games this season.

James was a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and is making an impressive mark in his first NHL season. Through nine games, the 23-year-old has four points (1G / 3A), all recording during his current two-game point streak.