NHL Hockey Player News

Ristolainen has played only four games this season, missing multiple multi-week stints due to injuries, but he appears to be nearing a return. The 31-year-old Finnish defenseman has battled injuries and missed significant time last season with a ruptured right triceps tendon, playing just 44 games, averaging 21:23 time on ice and scoring 14 points (1G / 13A).

Askarov has had an up-and-down 2026-27 season. After one of the best stretches of his career at the NHL level, Askarov allowed 11 goals on 54 shots in two games (0-2-0), but rebounded in his most recent outing, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win over the New York Islanders. The 24-year-old goalie has allowed two or fewer goals in six of his last eight games (3-5-0). The Sharks enter Monday's outing as +124 home underdogs against a Pittsburgh Penguins team coming off a 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

Matheson has not played in over two weeks due to a lower-body injury, but appears to be nearing a return. Before his injury, the 32-year-old Matheson averaged 23:45 time on ice and had four points (1G / 3A) in eight games.

Fowler was outstanding in the opening month of the season, posting a 1.84 GAA and .932 SV% in eight October games (7-1-0). That said, he had a catastrophic meltdown in his first game of November, as the Montreal Canadiens blew a 4-0 lead over the Winnipeg Jets in the final three minutes of an eventual 5-4 overtime loss. That said, the 21-year-old Fowler wasn't phased by the loss, bouncing back in his next two games (1-0-1), saving 48 of 52 shots (.923 SV%).

After a poor start to the 2026-27 season, Vladar was turning things around, but he finds himself in another funk. The 29-year-old Czech goalie allowed four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames. Vladar has allowed three or more goals in each of his past four games (1-1-2). The Flyers enter Wednesday's game as +179 road underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers team that is 5-1-1 in their last seven games.

Gawdin was a fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Blue in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The 29-year-old forward has only play 13 NHL game and spent most of his career in the AHL, where he has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 16 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack this season.

Myatovic was drafted 33rd-overall by the Ducks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut earlier this season, scoring zero points in four games. The 21-year-old forward has eight points (5G / 3A) this season in 11 games with the San Diego Gulls (AHL).

Vasilevskiy is coming off a solid 2025-26 season, winning his second Vezina Trophy, but he has been far from stellar to start the 2026-27 season. The 32-year-old Vasilevskiy struggled in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. He has uncharacteristically allowed three or more goals in eight of 13 games this season (8-4-1). Still, Tampa Bay enters Wednesday's game as -126 road favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that has scored two or fewer goals in three of their last six games (4-2-0).

Cousins was on the receiving end of a thunderous open-ice hit from Washington's Jacob Chychrun in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Capitals and left the game shortly after. The 33-year-old Cousin is averaging 9:45 time-on-ice and has three points (2G / 1A) in 19 games this season.

Korpisalo recently made his season debut after returning from a lower-body injury and will return to the crease on Wednesday, suggesting the Rangers intend to rotate goalies for the time being. The 32-year-old Korpisalo saved 25 of 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his only outing, a 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. The Rangers enter Wednesday's game as -139 road favourites against a Calgary Flames team coming off a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Byram has played only six games this season and has been sidelined for over a month, with little insight into his upper-body injury. The 25-year-old defenseman was signed to a massive six-year deal worth $12.5M AAV ($75.0M total) in the offseason. When Byram returns to the lineup, expect him to be a fixture on the team's top power-play unit. It's unclear when Byram is targeting a return, but his presence at practice is an encouraging sign.

MacEwen played 9:13 time-on-ice in yesterday's 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, but is dealing with a wrist issue and did not practice today. The 30-year-old is averaging 8:17 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 14 games this season.

Stromgren made his season debut earlier this month and played four consecutive games, scoring two goals, but will be scratched on Wednesday. The 23-year-old was drafted 45th overall by the Flames in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but has yet to make a lasting impact at the NHL level. He made his NHL debut last season and went scoreless in three games. He has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 11 games this season with the Wranglers (AHL).