NHL Hockey Player News

Dan Vladar has been exceptional tending the twine for the Flyers lately, but Ersson will get the nod on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Ersson struggled in his most recent outing despite not being overworked, allowing three goals on 13 shots (.769 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators. The 26-year-old ERsson has a 3.03 GAA and .864 SV% in five games this season (2-1-2). The Flyers enter Friday's contest as +120 road underdogs against the Blues.

Vejmelka was serviceable in his most recent game, albeit lightly tested, saving 17 of 19 shots (.895 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has had an up-and-down season, posting a 2.84 GAA and .882 SV% in 12 games (8-4-0). Utah enters Friday's contest as sizable -200 home favorites against a New York Islanders team riding a three-game winning streak.

With Alex Nedeljkovic returning from tending to a personal matter, the Sharks have reassigned Skarek back to the Barracuda (AHL). The Czech goaltender made his NHL debut in 2024-25 with the Islanders, but struggled with a 0-1-0 record, .872 SV% and 3.94 GAA. He has a 3.63 GAA and .875 SV% in six games (4-2-0) with the Barracuda this season.

Middleton has not played Minnesota's previous two games due to an illness but could be an option on Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 29-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:07 time-on-ice and has one assist in 16 games this season.

Borgen showed no signs of an injury in New York's most recent game, scoring his first goal of the season in a 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, but was absent from practice on Friday, tending to an upper-body injury. It's unclear if he will be able to play on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Hughes has already missed four games this season due to an injury and will be a game-time decision on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The talented 26-year-old defenseman has be great when in the lineup, scoring 13 points (1G / 12A) in 14, but has had trouble staying healthy recently, missing 14 games last season as well.

O'Connor has been effective in a middle-six role this season, playing every game this season, but could miss his first game of the season, as he continues recovering from an illness. The 27-year-old forward has eight points (4G / 4A) in 18 games this season.

With Thatcher Demko (groin) out week-to-week, Lankinen should see the majority of action between the pipes for the Canucks, beginning with Friday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 30-year-old Lankinen has been inconsistent this season but was excellent in relief of Demko on Tuesday, saving 20 of 21 shots (.952 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Lankinen has a 3.57 GAA and .885 SV% in nine games this season (3-5-1). The Canucks enter Friday's contest as sizeable +229 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team with an 11-5-0 record.

Gibson was playing reasonably well against his former club, the Anaheim Ducks, on Thursday night, saving 15 of 17 shots (.882 SV%), but exited the game during the second intermission due to an upper-body injury. The Red Wings mentioned after practice that Gibson will be okay and ready to join the lineup on Saturday.

The Blues have been a major disappointment early in the 2025-26 season, with a 6-8-3 record, but have points in three straight (2-0-1) and will likely turn to Binnington on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 32-year-old Binnington has struggled this season but was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 38 of 40 shots (.950 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames. He has a 3.21 GAA and .873 SV% in 12 contests this season (4-5-2). The Blues enter Friday's contest as -130 home favorites against a Flyers team with an 8-5-2 record.

Tkachuk suffered an injury in the third game of the season, underwent thumb surgery, and has been sidelined since. The Senators Captain is almost five weeks into his original 6-8 week recovery timeline and will be joining the team on their upcoming seven-game road trip. The 26-year-old Tkachuk scored points (0G / 3A) through three games this season prior to his injury.

Chabot suffered an upper-body injury in the first period of Tuesday's game and was unable to return. He did not play on Thursday and will miss at least one more game as he continues his recovery. The 28-year-old defenseman has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 17 games this season.

Akhtyamov was drafted in the fourth-round, 106th overall, by the Maple Leafs in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old goalie has yet to play an NHL game. He has a 2.82 GAA and .894 SV% in six games (4-2-0) with the Marlies (AHL) this season.

Woll did not overly impress during a two-game conditioning stint with the Marlies, going 0-1-1 while posting a 3.72 GAA and .885 SV%, but will return to the lineup for the Maple Leafs. 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 is injured.

After a week in the AHL with the Marlies, Cowan has been recalled by the Toronto Maple Leafs in response to Auston Matthews (lower body) being placed on Injured Reserve. The 20-year-old Cowan started the season with the Maple Leafs and scored four points (1G / 3A) in 10 games.

Matthews suffered a lower-body injury after being hit by Nikita Zadorov halfway through the second period of Tuesday's game and was unable to return. He was placed on Injured Reserve and will not be eligible to return until, at earliest, November 18th. The 28-year-old Matthew has 14 points (9G / 5A) in 17 games this season and is expected to be sidelined for at least one week. Max Domi has been elevated to Toronto's top powerplay unit to replace the injured Matthews.

Barron did not play Nashville's previous game, but he will return to the lineup when they hit the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday in Sweden. The 23-year-old defenseman is averaging 15:33 time-on-ice and has four points (0G / 4A) in 17 games this season.

The Hurricanes have been running a goalie rotation with three netminders over the past two weeks, and will likely turn to Kochetkov on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 26-year-old Kochetkov has been solid since returning from an injury and making his debut at the beginning of November, posting a 1.47 GAA and .936 SV% in three appearances (2-0-0). The Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as significant -262 home favorites against a Canucks team that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1).