NHL Hockey Player News

After giving Shesterkin the night off on Saturday, a 4-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings courtesy of a Jonathan Quick shutout, the Rangers will revert to Shesterkin on Tuesday in a battle against the league's first-place team, the Winnipeg Jets. Shesterkin has battled some adversity lately, allowing four or more goals in two of his previous four outings (2-2-0). Even so, Shesterkin has still had an impressive campaign, posting a 2.62 GAA and .920 SV% in 10 games (6-3-1). The Rangers enter the action on Tuesday as -115 home favorites over the Jets.

McTavish did not play on Sunday, and did not practice on Tuesday, but could still be an option for the Ducks on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 21-year-old McTavish has eight points (2G / 6A) in 13 games this season.

Fabbri is averaging 16:33 time-on-ice, the most in his career since the 2021-22 season with the Detroit Red Wings, but only has two points (2G / 0A) in 14 games this season. The 29-year-old Fabbri will be eligible to return, at the earliest, on November 18th against the Dallas Stars.

Fowler played a season-low 17:11 time-on-ice for the Ducks on November 5th and has missed two games since. The 32-year-old Fowler is leading all Ducks, averaging 21:17 time-on-ice this season and has two points (0G / 2A) in 12 games this season.

Smith was the 17th overall pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but has had trouble establishing himself at the NHL level. The 24-year-old puck-moving defenseman has not played an NHL game since a nine-game stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2022-23 season.

The red-hot Jets, boasting an NHL-record 14-1-0 start to the season, will turn to Hellebuyck between the pipes on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Partial a byproduct of stellar team play, Hellebuyck is an early-season favorite to repeat as the Vezina-trophy winner, boasting an immaculate 1.83 GAA and .935 SV% through 12 games this season (11-1-0). The Jets enter the action on Tuesday as slight +104 road underdogs against the Rangers.

Athanasiou, a one-time 30-goal scorer, clearing waivers on Tuesday and will report to the Rockford IceHogs (AHL). The 30-year-old Athanasiou scored 30 goals in 76 games in the 2018-19 season but has only scored 54 in 244 games since. He has zero points in five games this season with the Blackhawks.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, a night after defeating the Los Angeles Kings 3-1, the Flames will switch to Vladar between the pipes. Vladar has been solid while virtually splitting time with rookie Dustin Wolf this season, posting a solid 2.60 GAA and .906 SV% in eight games (3-3-2). The Flames enter the action on Tuesday as sizeable +196 road underdogs against a Vancouver Canucks club without Brock Boeser (upper body) for a second straight game.

The Utah Hockey Club, losers of three of their last four, will turn to Vejmelka between the pipes for the second time in four games. The 28-year-old Vejmelka has been used sparingly this season, taking a backseat to Connor Ingram, but has been serviceable in limited action, posting a 2.75 GAA and .899 SV% in three appearances (0-3-0). That said, Vejmelka and Utah HC will be challenged on Wednesday in a battle against the Carolina Hurricanes, 9-1-0 in their last 10.

The 26-year-old Stanley is averaging 15:13 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 11 games this season. Haydn Fleury will draw into the lineup as Stanley's replacement. Stanley won't be eligible to return until, at the earliest, November 16th, when the Jets visit the Florida Panthers.

Kahkonen was reclaimed off waivers by the Jets after losing him via waivers to the Colorado Avalanche earlier this season. The 28-year-old Kahkonen had one game to prove himself in an Avalanche uniform but allowed four goals on 20 shots (.800 SV%) in a losing effort and was placed back on waivers, reclaimed by the Jets. Kahkonen had a poor 2023-24 campaign split between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, posting a 3.64 GAA and .898 SV%.

Benning was acquired in a trade earlier this season that sent Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks. The 30-year-old Benning has not played a single game with the Maple Leafs since the trade and had zero points, 10 blocks, and nine hits in seven games with the Sharks.

Despite a hiccup in his previous outing, allowing seven goals on 27 shots (.741 SV%) in a 7-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Lankinen has been terrific in the Vancouver crease and will return to the net for a fifth straight time on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. The 29-year-old Lankinen has a 2.61 GAA and a .905 SV% in 10 games this season (7-1-2). The Canucks enter the action on Tuesday as sizeable -222 home favorites against a Flames club that defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 last night.

James van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Labanc to re-enter the lineup for the Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old has provided some offensive depth this season, scoring six points (1G / 5A) while averaging 11:27 time-on-ice in 10 games. Labanc had only nine points (2G / 7A) in 46 games with the San Jose Sharks last season.

Kevin Labanc will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Tuesday, sending van Riemsdyk to the press box as a healthy scratch. The veteran van Riemsdyk has four points (2G / 2A) in 12 games this season while averaging 10:58 time-on-ice.

Dante Fabbro will make his debut with the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, resulting in Harris being a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Harris is averaging 13:10 time-on-ice, has zero points, and a -3 plus/minus in eight games this season.

Jordan Harris will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Fabbro to make his debut with the Blue Jackets after being claimed off waivers from the Nashville Predators earlier this week. Fabbro spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 17th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Lekkerimaki was the 15th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old made his professional North American hockey debut last season but has yet to play an NHL game. He has seven points (5G / 2A) in seven games with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) this season.

The Blue Jackets have lost five straight and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Merzlikins has a 2.89 GAA and .899 SV% in seven games this season (2-4-1) and has shown glimpses of consistent play, including posting a .914 SV% in his previous five outings (2-2-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Tuesday as +144 road underdogs against a Kraken club with a 6-8-1 record.

Kahkonen was placed on waivers by the Jets earlier this season and claimed by the Avalanche. The 28-year-old Kahkonen had one game to prove himself in an Avalanche uniform but allowed four goals on 20 shots (.800 SV%) in a losing effort and was placed back on waivers, reclaimed by the Jets. Kahkonen had a poor 2023-24 campaign split between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, posting a 3.64 GAA and .898 SV%.