NHL Hockey Player News

Slaggert averaged 12:18 time-on-ice and scored six points (2G / 4A) in 33 games with the Blackhawks last season. If Andre Burakovsky (undisclosed) in unable to play, expect Slaggert to draw into the Blackhawks lineup on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.

With Montembeault continuing to struggle this season, allowing four or more goals in five of his last seven games (3-3-1), the Canadiens will continue their goalie rotation, turning to Dobes on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 24-year-old Dobes has been excellent this season, but is coming off his first loss of the 2025-26 season, allowing four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils. He has a solid 2.25 GAA and .920 SV% in seven games this season (6-0-1).

Markstrom allowed three goals on 24 shots (.875 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York islanders on Monday, and will likely return to the crease on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 35-year-old Markstrom has an ugly 3.82 GAA and .872 SV% in seven games (4-2-1), but has been better lately, posting a 2.30 GAA and .920 SV% in his last three outings (2-0-1). The Devils enter Wednesday's contest as -141 road favorites against a surprising Blackhawks team riding a three-game winning streak.

Burakovsky was absent from practice on Wednesday, tending to an undisclosed injury, and his status is uncertain for the Blackhawks' game against the New Jersey Devils. Burakovsky has been outstanding lately, playing on a line with Connor Bedard, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last seven games.

Hyman missed the second half of last year's playoffs after enduring an upper-body injury and has yet to play in the 2025-26 season. At the beginning of training camp, Head Coach Kris Knoblach stated he is hopeful the 32-year-old can return in early November, a timeline that seems to be holding true, as Head Coach Knoblach stated he may return to the lineup as early as Thursday. Hyman is just one season removed from a 54-goal campaign in 2023-24 and will hope to get off to a hot start when he is able to return.

The Red Wings have been outscored 10-2 during a three-game losing skid (0-3-0) and hope to turn it around on Thursday, with Gibson tending the twine against his former team, the Anaheim Ducks. The 32-year-old Gibson allowed four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%) in his first meeting against the Ducks on October 31st. He has had an up-and-down start with the Red Wings, posting a 3.15 GAA and .882 SV% in nine games (4-5-0).

After a hot start to the season, Utah finds itself on a three-game losing streak (0-3-0), hoping to snap it on Wednesday with Vejmelka tending the twine against the Buffalo Sabres. Vejmelka had a forgetful performance in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 23 shots (.739 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.91 GAA and .881 SV% in 11 games this season (7-4-0). The Mammoth enters Wednesday's contest as -195 home favorites against a Sabres team they defeated 2-1 in overtime less than a week ago.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, the Oilers will turn to Pickard on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Pickard allowed five goals on 21 shots (.762 SV%) in his most recent outing, entering a 9-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in relief. The 33-year-old Pickard has an ugly 4.00 GAA and .836 SV% in six appearances this season (2-2-1). Stuart Skinner was between the pipes earlier this week when the Oilers defeated the Blue Jackets 5-4 in overtime.

Fleury has been a regular for the Jets this season, but exiting Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks after only 6:38 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Fleuery has played 15 games this season. He has not played more than 47 games since his rookie season in 2017-18.

The Blackhawks are firing on all cylinders lately, outscoring their opposition 14-3 during a three-game winning streak, and will likely turn to Knight to tend the twine on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. Knight was outstanding in his most recent outing, saving all 33 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the Calgary Flames, recording his first shutout of the season. The 24-year-old netminder has an excellent 2.33 GAA and .926 SV% through 11 games this season (6-3-2). The Blackhawks enter the action on Wednesday as +133 home underdogs against a Devils team that leads the Eastern Conference with 23 points (11-4-1).

The Oilers had a 5-4 come-from-behind overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, snapping a three-game losing skid (0-3-0), and will roll with Skinner on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Skinner has struggled immensely lately, posting a 3.30 GAA and .863 SV% in his last six games, but has salvaged a serviceable 3-1-2 record. The 27-year-old goalie has a 2.91 GAA and .883 SV% in 12 games this season (5-4-3). The Oilers enter the action on Wednesday as -131 road favorites against a Flyers team that has earned points in three straight games (2-0-1).

The Rangers have had a wildly inconsistent 2025-26 season, struggling to score, but have won two of their last three (2-1-0), and will turn to Shesterkin on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old Shesterkin played well in his most recent outing, saving 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%) in a 6-3 win over the Nashville Predators. He has a 2.46 GAA and .909 SV% in 13 games this season (5-6-1). The Rangers enter Wednesday's contest as +123 road underdogs against a Lightning team that has won seven of their last eight (7-1-0).

Grebenkin is averaging 9:20 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 11 games this season. Expect Nicolas Deslaurier as a likely candidate to replace Grebenkin in the lineup.

Chabot suffered an upper-body injury in the first period of Tuesday's game and was unable to return. He will not play on Thursday against the Boston Bruins, and is being reevaluated. The 28-year-old defenseman has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 17 games this season.

Foerster was drafted 23rd overall by the Flyers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has shown strides towards becoming a reliable offensive producer at the NHL level. After scoring a career-high 43 points (25G / 18A) in 81 games last season, he was off to a strong start in 2025-26, with seven points (4G / 3A) in 11 games. He returned to practice on Tuesday and could return to his regular deployment in the Flyers' top-six on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers.

After two poor outings (1-1-0), allowing eight goals on 39 combined shots (.795 SV%), Vladar returned to his elite early-season form in his last outing, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators. The 28-year-old Czech goalie will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers, looking to build on a solid 2.18 GAA and .917 SV% through nine games this season (6-3-0). The Flyers enter Wednesday's contest as +118 home underdogs against an Oilers team that has lost three of their last four (1-3-0).

Hamilton left last Thursday's game vs. Montreal with an undisclosed injury, and has been sidelined since. He is expected to miss at least the next three games while the team is on a road trip. With Hamilton out, Simon Nemec has seen an expanded role, including deployment on the team's top powerplay unit.