NHL Hockey Player News

The Red Wings rank fifth-worst in the league in terms of xGA/60 but their goaltending has kept them afloat at times, most notably when Lyon has been between the pipes. The 31-year-old Lyon is boasting a sensational 2.05 GAA and .940 SV% through five outings (2-2-0). That said, the Red Wings have lost two straight, outscored 8-5, and rank sixth-worth in the league offensively with only 25 goals in nine games. The Red Wings will face off against a Winnipeg Jets club that lost their first game of the season on Monday (8-1-0).

For the first time this season, the Blue Jackets will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes for consecutive games. After allowing seven goals on 48 shots (.854 SV%) in his first two contests, Merzlikins was tremendous in his third on Monday night, saving 31 of 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. The Blue Jackets enter the action on Wednesday as +130 home underdogs against a New York Islanders club that has only scored 22 goals in nine games this season, the third-fewest in the league.

Ostapchuk recorded an assist in his season debut on Tuesday, his eighth career NHL game, but has been loaned to the Belleville Senators (AHL). The 21-year-old Ostapchuk was the 39th overall pick of the Senators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Gaudette has been in Ottawa's lineup for all but one game this season but has regularly been a part of paper transactions, assigning him to Belleville (AHL) for salary cap implications. The 28-year-old Gaudette has been productive for Ottawa lately, with two two-goal games in his last three contests.

The 28-year-old 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%, but, with the ongoing struggles of Alexandar Georgiev, gets the opportunity to play on Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 28-year-old Kahkonen was solid in a two-game conditioning stint with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), posting a 2.57 GAA and .919 SV% despite losing both contests. Colorado enters the action on Wednesday as a slight -106 home favorite against Tampa Bay.

Tynan has been recalled from the Eagles (AHL) as a result of a Miles Wood (undisclosed) injury that will prevent him from playing on Wednesday night. The 32-year-old Tynan has 21 games of NHL experience but has not played in the NHL since a two-game stint with the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021-22 season. Tynan has four points (0G / 4A) in six games with the Eagles this season.

Wood will not play on Wednesday, another in a myriad of injuries for the Avalanche, and will be replaced by freshly recalled T.J. Tynan. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice.

Colton was injured in Monday's loss and is expected to "miss some time," so it's not surprising to see him land on IR to open up a spot on the Avalanche roster for Wednesday's game. It's unclear whether Artturi Lehkonen or Jonathan Drouin are ready to make their returns to replace Colton or if they will need to recall a forward from the AHL.

The Capitals did not have an update on Chychrun's status post-game but said he would be evaluated on Wednesday. It sounds like the Capitals are expecting Chychrun to miss some time, but expect them to release a timetable on his return in the coming days. Expect Alexander Alexeyev to replace Chychrun on Thursday if Matt Roy isn't ready to return to the lineup.

Utah's blueline has been shorthanded after John Marino went back surgery and Sean Durzi had shoulder surgery, so they've added an NHL-calibre defenseman to help fill the void. Maatta, who is in the final year of a two-year, $3.0M AAV deal, has no points, three SOG, seven blocked shots and three hits in seven games this season.

Things go from bad to worse for the Kings star. After being benched in Saturday's game vs. Utah, Fiala missed a team meeting and will be a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. the Sharks. Akil Thomas will make his season debut in Fiala's spot and it's unclear if he'll re-join the lineup for the second-half of the Kings' back-to-back on Wednesday.

On the opening night of a back-to-back, the Kings will turn to Rittich between the pipes. The 32-year-old Rittich started five straight games (3-2-0) before Darcy Kuemper returned from injury, posting a 3.09 GAA and .874 SV%. In his most recent outing, Rittich saved 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Rittich and the Kings will visit the Sharks in San Jose for a rematch on Tuesday, with the Kings entering the action as -288 road favorites.

Kapanen suffered an injury late in the 2nd period of Tuesday's game and was unable to return. We should receive an update on his status ahead of Thursday's game in Philadelphia.

Thompson will re-enter the lineup after sitting out the front-end of San Jose's back-to-back on Monday. The 22-year-old blue-liner has three assists in four games this season and will likely feature on the team's second power-play unit.

A fourth-round draft pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Cardwell will make his NHL debut on Tuesday night after an impressive start to the season with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL). Cardwell has one goal and four assists through six AHL games. He is expected to skate alongside Nico Sturm and Carl Grundstrom on the Sharks' fourth line.

Smith will draw out of the lineup alongside Klim Kostin and Henry Thrun as the Sharks opt to get some fresh bodies into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Will Smith, Ethan Cardwell, and Jack Thompson will enter the lineup in their place.

Thrun will draw out of the lineup alongside Klim Kostin and Givani Smith as the Sharks opt to get some fresh bodies into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Will Smith, Ethan Cardwell, and Jack Thompson will enter the lineup in their place.

Kostin will draw out of the lineup alongside Henry Thrun and Givani Smith as the Sharks opt to get some fresh bodies into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Will Smith, Ethan Cardwell, and Jack Thompson will enter the lineup in their place.

Smith re-enters the Sharks lineup on Tuesday after sitting out the front-end of their back-to-back on Monday. The 2023 fourth-overall pick is yet to register a point through seven NHL games.

The Sharks will opt to give Mackenzie Blackwood the night off as Vanecek gets the nod in the tail-end of their back-to-back on Tuesday. Vanecek struggled his last time out, surrendering seven goals on 42 shots in a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Golden Knights. He owns an .869 SV% and has failed to record a victory in his first five appearances. He will be hard-pressed to pick up his first win of the season on Tuesday with the Sharks entering action as +260 underdogs.