NHL Hockey Player News

With Linus Ullmark still on a leave of absence due to personal reasons, the Senators will again hand Merilainen the start when they travel to Utah on Wednesday. Merilainen struggled in his last start, allowing three goals on eight shots before being pulled as the Senators lost 5-3 to the Red Wings on Monday. The 23-year-old netminder has appeared in 14 games this season, logging a 6-7-0 record and an .869 SV%. The Sens enter action on Wednesday at +105 on the money line.

Gaudette has been sidelined for a week, but will return to the lineup on Wednesday. He had been productive before his injury, with four points (1G / 3A) in five games. The 29-year-old forward has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 33 games this season.

Dellandrea has been a game-time decision several times over the past two months, seemingly always battling through an injury, but he will finally be on the sidelines for the first time this season with a lower-body injury Wednesday. The 25-year-old is averaging 14:24 time-on-ice and has 11 points (2G / 9A) in 42 games this season.

Askarov is coming off a forgetful performance, allowing three goals on 10 shots (.700 SV%) before being pulled in an eventual 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 23-year-old goalie is amid a tough stretch altogether, allowing three or more goals in 11 straight (6-5-0), posting a 3.54 GAA and .869 SV%. The Sharks enter the action on Wednesday as sizeable +212 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that is missing several key offensive contributors.

Vejmelka has had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, posting a 2.70 GAA and .894 SV% in 32 games (18-11-2), but seems to be turning a corner, amid his hottest stretch of the season. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has a solid 2.44 GAA and .911 SV% in his last 12 games (8-4-0). The Mammoth enter the action on Wednesday as -121 home favorites against an Ottawa Senators team that has been treading water lately with a 3-3-1 record in their last seven games.

Stenlund was a game-time decision but will ultimately be unavailable to play on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 29-year-old bottom-six forward has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 43 games this season.

After a horrendous 2-9-2 start to the season, the Flames have played reasonably well, going 16-11-2, and miraculously find themselves only five points shy of a playoff spot midway through the season. Wolf's performance has also seen an uptick during that time, posting a 2.45 GAA and .908 SV% in 22 games (12-8-1). That said, the 24-year-old sophomore goalie has allowed four goals in two straight (0-2-0) and hopes to rebound on Wednesday when the Flames visit a Montreal Canadiens team with points in eight of their last nine games (6-1-2). Montreal enters the game as a +131 road underdog.

Washe made his NHL debut last season after playing five seasons collegiately with Western Michigan University. The undrafted 24-year-old forward has spent the entirety of this season with the San Diego Gulls (AHL), where he has 25 points (13G / 12A) in 30 games.

Kuemper was excellent in the Kings' most recent game, saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild and will return to the crease on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks. The 35-year-old goalie has a solid 2.32 GAA and .912 SV% in 26 games this season (12-7-6). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as significant -247 home favorites against a Sharks team coming off a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, giving them four wins in their last five games (4-1-0).

Hunter Brzustewicz will draw back into Calgary's lineup on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens, sending Pachal back to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Pachal is averaging 13:25 time-on-ice and has three assists in 22 games this season.

Johansson is battling an upper-body and did not practice on Wednesday, but will play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 35-year-old Johansson has 32 points (12G / 20A) in 42 games this season.

Askarov is coming off a forgetful performance, allowing three goals on 10 shots (.700 SV%) before being pulled in an eventual 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 23-year-old goalie is amid a tough stretch altogether, allowing three or more goals in 11 straight (6-5-0), posting a 3.54 GAA and .869 SV%. The Sharks enter the action on Wednesday as sizeable +212 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that is missing several key offensive contributors.

After a seven-game winning streak, Minnesota has suddenly lost five of its last eight (3-2-3) and will turn to Wallstedt on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 23-year-old rookie goalie has allowed three or more goals in three straight games (1-1-2). Still, he boasts an excellent 2.30 GAA and .926 SV% in 17 games this season (11-2-4).

Zhilkin was a third round pick of the Jets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game. He has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 30 games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) this season.

Johansson is battling an upper-body injury and it is unclear if he will be ready to play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 35-year-old Johansson has 32 points (12G / 20A) in 42 games this season.

Moverare has not played in over a month, but will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 9:43 time-on-ice and has zero points through eight games this season.

With the Kings battling through some injuries to their forward group, they have recalled Ward from the Ontario Reign (AHL). The 27-year-old Ward has only played one NHL game in his career. He has 21 points (12G / 9A) in 32 games with Ontario this season.

With the Kings battling through some injuries to their forward group, they have recalled Lee from the Ontario Reign (AHL). The 25-year-old Lee has a 19-game stint with the Kings last season, but has primarily been an AHL player. He has 27 points (15G / 12A) in 32 games with Ontario this season.

Nathan Walker will draw back into the Blues lineup on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks, resulting in Joseph being a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Joseph is averaging 12:49 time-on-ice and has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 35 games this season.

Mathieu Joseph will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks, allowing Walker to re-enter the lineup after an upper-body injury took him out for a few weeks. The 31-year-old Walker is averaging 12:38 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) in 25 games this season.