NHL Hockey Player News

Ullmark was excellent in his first game of the season, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and will return to the crease on Monday against his former team, the Boston Bruins. The 33-year-old Swedish goalie had an inconsistent 2025-26 season with Ottawa, posting a 2.73 GAA and .891 SV% in 49 games (28-12-8), and will need to improve in 2026-27 if the Senators hope to return to the postseason. Ottawa enters Monday's contest as slight -115 road favourites against a Bruins team off to a 2-1-0 start.

The Stars have gotten adequate play from Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith through two games this season, but they've amassed only one goal and are off to an unexpected 0-2-0 start. The 27-year-old Oettinger had a subpar 2025-26 season, posting a 2.59 GAA and .899 SV% through 54 games (35-12-6), but he was solid in his season opener, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in an eventual 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The Stars enter Monday's contest as -199 home favourites against a San Jose Sharks team that has scored nine goals through two games (2-0-0).

Bowen Byram did not play on Saturday, as he tended to a personal matter, but he was back at practice on Monday. The 25-year-old defenseman is still searching for his first point with the Blackhawks. He is averaging 24:59 time-on-ice and has a -4 plus/minus through two games this season.

Murashev made his NHL debut last season, recording a 2.56 GAA and .897 SV% in five appearances (1-1-2). The 22-year-old goalie is expected to play a larger role this season, possibly in a timeshare, but his debut has been delayed by a strong opening two games from Arturs Silovs (2-0-0). Still, hopes are high for Murashov this season, who has excelled at every other level, including posting a solid 2.20 GAA and .919 SV% last season in 38 games (24-9-4) with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). Pittsburgh enters the action on Monday as -175 home favourites against the Winnipeg Jets, who are coming off a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings yesterday.

Filip Hallander will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing Koivunen to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Koivunen was solid in his season debut, scoring one goal in 13:50 time-on-ice.

Annunen did not dress in Saturday's game due to an undisclosed injury, but he returned to practice on Monday. The 26-year-old Annunen had a successful 2025-26 season as Jusse Saros' backup, posting a solid 2.68 GAA and .906 SV% in 28 appearances (10-12-2).

Vasilevskiy had a forgettable season-opening outing, allowing four goals on 24 shots (.833 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers, but he returned to form in his next outing, saving 20 of 21 (.952 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Washington Capitals. The 32-year-old goalie has a solid 2025-26 season, winning his second Vezina Trophy, and will likely be relied upon heavily again in 2026-27. Tampa Bay enters the action on Monday as sizeable -218 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has been outscored 13-4 through three games this season (0-1-2).

Severson has been recovering from shoulder surgery in April and has finally returned to practice as a full participant. The 32-year-old Severson played an integral part of the Blue Jackets' blueline last season, averaging 21:04 time on ice and scoring 32 points (8G / 24A) in 71 games. The team will lean on him again in 2025-26 as they hope to battle for a playoff spot.

Vladar had a miserable season-opening performance, allowing seven goals on 38 shots (.816 SV%) in a 7-0 blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, which led to Joseph Woll starting the Flyers' next two games. Woll played exceptionally in his two outings (2-0-0), but Vladar, coming off a terrific 2025-26 season that led the Flyers to the postseason, will get every chance to succeed early. The 29-year-old Vladar returns to the crease on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Philadelphia entering the action as +191 road underdogs.

Filip Hallander will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing Koivunen to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Koivunen was solid in his season debut, scoring one goal in 13:50 time-on-ice.

Murashev made his NHL debut last season, recording a 2.56 GAA and .897 SV% in five appearances (1-1-2). The 22-year-old goalie is expected to play a larger role this season, possibly in a timeshare, but his debut has been delayed by a strong opening two games from Arturs Silovs (2-0-0). Still, hopes are high for Murashov this season, who has excelled at every other level, including posting a solid 2.20 GAA and .919 SV% last season in 38 games (24-9-4) with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). Pittsburgh enters the action on Monday as -175 home favourites against the Winnipeg Jets, who are coming off a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings yesterday.

Kuraly played the first three games of the season for Boston, but he will be a healthy scratch on Monday, making way for Matthew Poitras (lower body) to make his season debut. The 33-year-old Kuraly is averaging 12:13 time-on-ice and has zero points so far this season.

Poitras missed the final portion of training camp and preseason games due to a lower-body injury, but he will return to the lineup to make his season debut on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. After taking encouraging steps by playing 33 games in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons in Boston, Poitras was limited to just three NHL games in 2025-26, spending most of the season with Providence (AHL), where he scored 44 points (13G / 31A) in 69 games.

Jeremy Swayman had a miserable 2024-25 season after signing a massive eight-year contract extension, posting an ugly 3.11 GAA and .892 SV% in 58 games (22-29-7). There were concerns in the organization regarding the contract, but he followed that up with a solid 2025-26 season, posting a 2.71 GAA and .907 SV% in 55 games (31-18-4). Now, the 27-year-old goalie seems to be continuing his upward trajectory, opening the season with a 1.47 GAA and .947 SV% through his first two games (2-0-0). The Bruins enter the action on Monday as +105 home underdogs against the Ottawa Senators.

Crozier has not played in either of Tampa Bay's first two games, but he will make his debut on Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 26-year-old defenseman played a career-high 35 games with Tampa Bay last season, averaging 16:01 time-on-ice and scoring 10 points (1G / 9A).

James is recovering from a broken hand that sidelined him for the entirety of training camp, but he could make his return to the lineup on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old forward made his NHL debut last season, tallying 15 points (7G / 8A) in 43 games with Tampa Bay.

Lilleberg exited Saturday's game due to an undisclosed injury and is expected to remain sidelined for at least a week. The 25-year-old Norwegian defenseman played 50 games last season with the Lightning, tallying 12 points (4G / 8A) and averaging a career-high 17:18 time on ice.

With Jake Sanderson (lower body) expected to miss at least two more games, Ottawa has recalled Donovan from Belleville (AHL). The 22-year-old defenseman has spent the past two seasons playing primarily in the AHL. He scored 21 points (4G / 17A) in 61 games last season with Belleville.