NHL Hockey Player News

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).

Olofsson played 10:48 of ice time in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken but exited the game with an undisclosed injury. The 31-year-old Swedish forward was off to a strong start to the 2026-27 season, scoring five points (4G / 1A) in four games, including a recent promotion to the Golden Knights' top power-play unit. Trevor Connelly took Olofsson's spot on the Golden Knights' top power-play unit at practice on Thursday.

The Golden Knights have turned to Carter Hart in three of four games this season, but Hill played well in his only outing and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 30-year-old Hill saved 18 of 20 shots in an October 4th 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Hill is hoping to bounce back after an ugly 2025-26 season, posting a 3.04 GAA and .871 SV% in 27 appearances (10-9-6). The Golden Knights enter Thursday as -164 home favourites against a 2-2-0 Maple Leafs team.

Bernard-Docker was fighting for one of Detroit's final defensive spots after signing a two-year, $1.6 million AAV contract extension in the offseason, but has not had a chance to play in the opening week of the season due to an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old is entering his seventh NHL season and second with the Red Wings after putting up a goal, five points and 25 PIMs in 63 games last season.

Stanley was a fourth-round pick of the Senators in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, but has yet to make his NHL debut. The 21-year-old defenseman made his professional debut last season with Belleville (AHL), playing six games after completing his collegiate career with Cornell University.

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.

Barron signed a one-year, $1.575 million contract with the Nashville Predators in the offseason, but was claimed off of waivers by the St. Louis Blues before the start of the season. The 24-year-old Barron played 52 games with the Predators last season, averaging 14:15 time-on-ice and recording nine assists.

Victor Mancini will draw into Vancouver's lineup on Thursday, sending Schenn to the press box as a healthy scratch. Schenn was regularly a healthy scratch last season while splitting time between Buffalo and Winnipeg, but will sit for the first time this season in game five.

Luke Schenn will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Mancini to suit up for his season debut. The 24-year-old Mancini played 24 games with the Canucks last season, averaging 13:44 time-on-ice and tallying three assists.

Siegenthaler left Tuesday’s game vs. Utah with an undisclosed injury and did not return, but could return to the lineup as soon as Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old Siegenthaler played all 82 games with the Devils last season, averaging 19:29 time-on-ice and scoring 16 points (0G / 16A).

DeBrusk did not play in Vancouver's previous game because of an illness, but he returned to practice Tuesday, and should play on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 29-year-old DeBrusk is averaging 15:36 of ice time and has one assist in two games this season. He is expected to be relied upon heavily in Vancouver's top six this season.