NHL Hockey Player News

Tampa Bay has scored fewer than two goals in three of six games this season (4-2-0), leaving little margin for error for the goaltending. That said, Vasilevskiy, the reigning 2025-26 Vezina Trophy winner, has performed below expectations so far, posting a 2.45 GAA and a lowly .886 SV% in five outings (3-2-0). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as a significant -257 home favourite against the surprisingly potent early-season offence of the Seattle Kraken, who average 4.14 goals per game through seven games (5-2-0).

Luukkonen had a dreadful start to the season, allowing 12 goals on 53 shots (.782 SV%) in his first three games (1-2-0), but has been encouraging in his last two outings (2-0-0), saving 48 of 52 shots (.923 SV%). With Alex Lyon (upper body) still sidelined, the Sabres will continue to rely on Luukkonen and hope he can build some momentum from his previous games. The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as -157 home favourites against the 3-3-0 New York Islanders.

Anthony Stolarz had a poor showing in Toronto's previous game, a 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth, failing to build on momentum from an encouraging opening couple of performances. As a result, the Maple Leafs will turn to Bobrovsky on Thursday. The 38-year-old Bobrovsky was serviceable in his last outing, stopping 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in his first win of the season, a 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Bobrovsky has a 2.97 GAA and .907 SV% in four games (1-2-1). The Maple Leafs enter Thursday's contest as slight -113 home favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that has been outscored 26-19 in seven games this season (3-3-1).

Entering the 2026-27 season, the Devils' goaltending tandem of Jake Allen and Nico Daws faced scrutiny after failing to acquire a replacement number-one goalie following Jacob Markstrom's off-season departure. Six games into the season, the Devils have allowed an average of 3.67 goals per game, and the scrutiny has been justified, driven by poor showings from Nico Daws. The 25-year-old Daws has allowed nine goals on 51 shots (.824 SV%) in two games. He hopes to solidify his presence in the crease on Thursday, as the Devils enter action as -134 home favourites against a red-hot 6-2-0 New York Rangers team.

Hours after clearing waivers, Toronto has acquired 23-year-old Finnish forward Aatu Raty from Vancouver for Brandon Buhr and Jacob Quillan. Raty was Vancouver's 2021 2nd-round pick (52nd overall) but struggled to fit with the Canucks, putting up four goals, 29 points and 42 PIMs in 118 games played across five seasons.

Qullan's time in Toronto ended after two NHL seasons, when the 24-year-old was traded alongside Brandon Buhr for Aatu Raty from Vancouver. Quillan appeared in 23 games with the Maple Leafs last season, picking up a goal, three points and a -5 plus/minus. He should provide the Canucks with offensive depth this season.

Philadelphia will keep its goalie rotation going on Thursday, turning to Joseph Woll in Detroit as they search for their first win of the 2026-27 season in game 9. Despite being winless in four starts to begin his career in Philadelphia, Woll has looked very solid, as proven by his .914 SV% and 2.95 GAA. He heads to Hockeytown to take on the struggling Red Wings, who have won one of their first six games played to start the season.

With Taylor Hall's health still up in the air for Friday, Felix Unger Sorum has been recalled from Chicago (AHL). The 21-year-old has made one previous NHL appearance, picking up an assist across 14:35 of TOI in a one-game showing last season.

Gauthier left Saturday's game with an upper-body injury and did not return. The 22-year-old Swedish goal scorer joined practice in a limited capacity on Monday and returned to full participation on Thursday. Gauthier has four points (2G / 2A) in five games this season. His next chance to return will be on Friday against the Boston Bruins.

Nurse exited Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins with an upper-body injury after 17:39 of ice time. The 31-year-old defenseman received a five-minute major penalty for fighting earlier in the game. If Nurse is able to suit up, expect Luca Cagnoni to be a healthy scratch.

Jack St. Ivany will re-enter Winnipeg's lineup on Thursday, sending Bauer to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Bauer made his NHL debut this season and is averaging 8:30 time-on-ice through four games.

Tyrel Bauer will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing St. Ivany to re-enter the lineup. The 27-year-old St. Ivany is averaging 14:13 time-on-ice in two games this season.

Primarily an AHL player, Kirkland appeared in at least 20 games for the Calgary Flames the past two seasons and was acquired by the Minnesota Wild in the offseason. The 29-year-old forward scored two points (1G / 1A) in 20 games with the Flames last season.

Lambos was the 26th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old defenseman play one game with Minnesota last season, his NHL debut, but spent most of the season in Iowa (AHL), where he scored 19 points (8G / 11A) in 70 games.

Lund was a second-round pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but he has yet to make a full-time mark at the NHL level. The 22-year-old forward scored three points (2G / 1A) last season in 11 games with the Sharks.

Barre-Boulet has 19 points (12G / 7A) in 72 career NHL games, but has spent most of his time in the AHL. The 29-year-old forward scored 70 points (26G / 44A) last season in 70 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

After leading Vegas to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, Hart has been favoured between the pipes early in the 2026-27 season and will return to the crease on Thursday. The 28-year-old goalie allowed three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%) in his most recent game, a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. He has a 2.41 GAA and .906 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as significant -308 home favourites against a Calgary Flames team that has only scored 12 goals this season (1-5-0).

Vejmelka hasn't been outstanding this season, but his 4-1-0 record has helped Utah get off to a strong start. The 30-year-old Czech goalie allowed four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in his most recent game, but received enough goal support to salvage a 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has a 2.46 GAA and .895 SV% this season. The Mammoth enter Thursday's contest as slight -112 road favourites against the high-flying Edmonton Oilers, who average 4.8 goals per game through six games this season (5-0-1).

After a 0-5-0 start, the Flames hope to build momentum off their first win of the season, improving to 1-5-0. Wolf was instrumental in the win, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. The 25-year-old American goalie has a 4.56 GAA and .839 SV% in four games (1-3-0). The Flames enter Thursday’s contest as significant +266 road underdogs against a 6-2-0 Vegas Golden Knights team.

Granlund played 20:52 time-on-ice in Anaheim's previous game, but he is dealing with an upper-body injury and is out day-to-day. The 34-year-old Finnish forward is off to a strong start this season, with eight points (2G / 6A) in six games.