The Sabres acquired Crevier in the offseason and he has been rewarded with a four-year, $16 million contract ($4.0M AAV). The 25-yera-old defenseman played a career high 78 games last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, averaging 17:08 time-on-ice and scoring 25 points (7G / 18A).
Lankinen struggled in Vancouver's season opener, allowing five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%), but got plenty of help in an eventual 6-5 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks will likely need Lankinen to be more stoic between the pipes on Thursday in a rematch against the Oilers. Expectations are low for the Canucks this season, but Lankinen will hope to improve on last season's ugly 3.70 GAA and .876 SV% in 47 outings (11-27-5). The Canucks enter the action as +187 home underdogs.
After years of being regarded as a highly promising prospect, Askarov's first full NHL season in 2025-26 left something to be desired, posting an underwhelming 3.63 GAA and .883 SV% in 47 games (21-20-4). With intentions of returning to the postseason for the first time in over half a decade, the Sharks will need Askarov to live up to the skill set that made him the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He will tend the twine on Thursday, as the Sharks enter the action as +127 home underdogs against a Florida Panthers team that won 1-0 over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
A night after being pummeled 7-0 in their season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers will likely change things up between the pipes, turning to newcomer Joseph Woll for his team debut. The 28-year-old Woll spent the first few seasons of his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but they parted ways after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, posting a 3.34 GAA and .898 SV% in 39 outings (15-16-7). The Flyers hope to rebound on Thursday, entering the action as +149 road underdogs against the New Jersey Devils.
Lundestrom had Achilles surgery in July and remains out month to month, likely through the end of the calendar year. The 26-year-old Swedish forward averaged 12:23 last season in 68 games with the Blue Jackets, scoring 12 points (4G / 8A).
With Joonas Korpisalo (lower body) on Injured Reserve, out week-to-week, the Rangers have recalled Garand from Hartford (AHL). The 24-year-old Garand made his NHL debut last season, posting a 1.62 GAA and .948 SV% in three games (2-0-1). The Rangers play a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday, so Garand could potentially tend the twine as soon as Friday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Korpisalo joined the Rangers in the offseason, but his team debut will be delayed after he landed on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury. The 32-year-old Finnish goalie posted a 3.15 GAA and .894 SV% last season in 31 games with the Boston Bruins (14-9-6). The Rangers have recalled Dylan Garand from Hartford (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Vejmelka was a busy goalie last season, and he should continue that role in 2026-27, as his backup is Sebastian Cossa, who, while he has a promising future, has only one career NHL appearance. The 30-year-old Vejmelka led the Mammoth to the playoffs last season, appearing in 64 games (38-20-3), posting a 2.75 GAA and .896 SV%. The Mammoth enter their season opener on Thursday as sizeable -219 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that lost 5-2 on Tuesday to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Kindel suffered a lower-body early in the preseason and has been sidelined since. He did not play in Pittsburgh's season-opening 7-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, but he was back at practice as a full participant on Thursday. The 19-year-old forward enters his sophomore season after scoring 35 points (17G / 18A) in 77 games with Pittsburgh in 2025-26.
Chiarot is battling an undisclosed injury, but is not expected to miss any time. The 35-year-old veteran defenseman was a calming presence on a largely inexperienced Red Wings blueline last season, averaging 20:50 time on ice, recording 15 points (5G / 10A), 160 blocks, and 170 hits in 82 games.
Samuelsson was originally announced as week-to-week with a lower-body injury, but has made a quick recovery and will draw into the lineup for Buffalo's season opener vs. Columbus on Thursday. The 26-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025-26, putting up career highs in nearly all statistical categories with his 14-goal, 41-point line across 78 games played to go alongside his +41 plus/minus.
Teravainen was a healthy scratch in Chicago's season opener, a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, but he will draw into the lineup for his season debut on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. The 32-year-old is entering his 14th NHL season and has not appeared in fewer than 68 games in any of his last five NHL seasons. He is coming off a 14-goal, 35-point campaign across 75 games played in 2025-26.
Larkin was used sparingly during training camp while recovering from an upper-body injury, and he will miss at least the first two games of the season for the Red Wings. The 30-year-old had an eventful offseason after publicly demanding a trade after posting 34 goals, 67 points, and 48 PIMs in 74 games.
Since joining the Washington Capitals at the start of the 2024-25 season, Thompson has been one of the NHL's most reliable goalies and will look to continue that upward trajectory in 2026-27. The 29-year-old goalie played a career-high 58 games last season (31-21-6), posting a solid 2.44 GAA and .912 SV%. With Charlie Lindgren back as his backup, expect Thompson to carry a heavy workload again this season.
Lizotte did not participate in training camp due to a lower-body injury, but was activated from Injured Reserve on time to play in Pittsburgh's season opener on Wednesday. He played 13:13 time on ice in a 7-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, but he will return to the sidelines with a lower-body injury. The team has not yet provided a concrete update, but he will not practice Thursday and will be re-evaluated.
With Jake Allen and Nico Daws as their goaltending tandem at the start of the 2026-27 season, it's unclear who the Devils will rely on more, but they will turn to Allen in their season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 36-year-old Allen has started 35 or fewer games in six of his past seven seasons. He had a 2.74 GAA and .903 SV% in 37 appearances in 2025-26 (17-17-2). The Devils enter Thursday's contest as -168 home favourites against a Flyers team coming off a dreadful 7-0 season opener last night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Sabres faced some goaltending concerns heading into the regular season, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) and Alex Lyon (upper body) both battling injuries, but Luukkonen will be ready to suit up for the team's season opener. The 27-year-old Luukkonen had a solid 2025-26 season while sharing the crease, primarily with Lyon, posting a 2.52 GAA and .909 SV% in 35 appearances (22-9-3). The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as -112 road favorites agianst the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Fresh off winning his second Vezina Trophy, Vasilevskiy will be between the pipes to open the 2026-27 season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 32-year-old goalie posted a solid 2.31 GAA and .911 SV% last season in 58 games (39-15-4), and should have a heavy workload again in 2026-27 with the largely unproven Dennis Hildeby as his backup. Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as -142 road favourites against a New York Rangers team that lost 3-0 in their season opener against the Boston Bruins.
