NHL Hockey Player News

Bobrovsky's early-season introduction to the Maple Leafs hasn't been overly encouraging. Still, he will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights in search of his first victory. The 38-year-old Bobrovsky has allowed six goals on 53 shots (.887 SV%) through two games this season (0-2-0). The Maple Leafs enter Thursday as +151 road underdogs against a Golden Knights team coming off a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken.

Surprisingly, Colorado hasn't turned to Scott Wedgewood this season and has rolled with Blackwood between the pipes for the first three games. Wedgewood's tremendous 2025-26 season, posting a 2.02 GAA and .921 SV% in 45 appearances (31-6-6), should at least earn him close to a timeshare by season's end, even if the team is showing early-season favour for Blackwood. Colorado enters Thursday's contest as significant -235 road favourites against a struggling Calgary team that has been outscored 16-3 through three games (0-3-0).

Hurricanes' Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour started Brandon Bussi in the first two games of the season, but he seems to be easing into an even goalie rotation, with Kochetkov tending the twine on Thursday in his second start of the season. The 27-year-old Kochetkov missed most of the 2025-26 season with a lower-body injury, but he played well in his return to action, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as enormous -337 home favourites against the surprisingly potent early-season offense of the Vancouver Canucks, who have scored 19 goals in their first four games (2-2-0).

Karel Vejmelka carried a heavy workload last season for Utah, and with rookie Sebastian Cossa as his backup for 2026-27, it was unclear how the crease would be split. That said, after a strong debut, saving 18 of 19 shots (.947 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the 23-year-old Cossa will return to the crease on Thursday for his second start in five games. The Mammoth enter Thursday as -121 road favourites against a Boston Bruins team that has scored only nine goals in four games (2-2-0).

Vancouver's stoutest defensive outing of the season came with Leevi Merilainen between the pipes in a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Still, the Canucks will turn to Lankinen on Thursday for his fourth start in five games. The 31-year-old Lankinen is coming off his best outing of the season, but he still struggled, allowing three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Lankinen has an ugly 6.50 GAA and .824 SV% in three games (1-2-0). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as significant +290 road underdogs against a 2-1-1 Carolina Hurricanes team.

Tampa Bay has relied heavily on Andrei Vasilevskiy in recent seasons, so its plan for 2026-27 with newcomer Dennis Hildeby remains unclear, but he will likely start on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 25-year-old Hildeby benefited from team injuries last season as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, earning a promotion to the NHL, where he played well when called upon, posting a 2.86 GAA and .914 SV% in 20 appearances (5-7-4). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as -139 home favourites against a Minnesota team that is 2-1-0 this season.

Saros has carried a heavy workload for the Predators in recent seasons, a trend that will continue into 2026-27, as he will tend the twine for the fourth straight time on Thursday. Despite Head Coach Andrew Brunette's trust, Saros is coming off his weakest outing of the season, allowing five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 31-year-old Finnish goalie has a 2.95 GAA and .907 SV% through three games (1-1-1). The Predators enter Thursday's contest as +141 road underdogs against a Montreal Canadiens team that is 1-1-1 this season.

Still without Alex Lyon (upper body), the Sabres will keep leaning on Luukkonen, turning to him for the third time in four games. That said, Luukkonen's de facto starting netminder role hasn't translated into success. The 27-year-old Finnish goalie has allowed eight goals on 37 shots (.784 SV%) in two outings, but has salvaged a 1-1-0 record. The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as slight +105 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars team coming off a one-sided 5-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

Just days after losing Aleksander Barkov (lower body), the Panthers' injury woes continued as Marchand exited Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury. Marchand began the season on the sidelines with an undisclosed injury and lasted only 9:36 on ice in his second game before suffering his latest ailment. Fortunately for Marchand and the Panthers, though he will miss some time, he is expected back in the lineup sometime in November.

Entwistle was an NHL regular for three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks between the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons, playing 188 combined games, but has spent the entirety of the past two seasons in the AHL. The 27-year-old forward had 11 points (5G / 6A) last season in 49 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).