Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen stopped 18 of 19 shots to secure a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in his 500th career NHL game on Saturday. Allen allowed only a single screened goal, elevating his season record to 2-1-0 and his career record to 227-206-45. The veteran netminder has provided steady crease play for New Jersey across three strong appearances during the opening four games of the season.
Matt Murray will protect the road goal versus the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, making his NHL season debut and giving starting goaltender Juuse Saros a night off. Justus Annunen remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury, but Murray is expected to return to AHL Milwaukee once Annunen is ready to return. The Senators enter the matchup having scored 14 goals over four games this season, providing an immediate test for the veteran netminder.
Brandon Bussi is expected to start on the road against Chicago on Saturday. Bussi enters the matchup with a 1-1-1 record, 3.24 GAA, and .851 save percentage across three regular-season appearances with Carolina in 2026-27. He has struggled recently, allowing nine goals on 47 shots over his last two games. Meanwhile, Chicago enters the contest with a 1-4-0 record while averaging just 2.00 goals per game this campaign, presenting a potential bounce-back opportunity.
Ondrej Palat is delivering surprising and necessary depth for the New York Islanders, anchoring what head coach DeBoer calls their most consistent line alongside Matias Maccelli and Casey Cizikas. Palat made changes to his offseason routine to combat age, resulting in noticeable energy and consistent ice time. Though still seeking more offensive output, he has successfully helped tilt the ice and create scoring chances for the Islanders.
Anthony Duclair is providing the New York Islanders with necessary forward depth alongside Ondrej Palat. After head coach DeBoer asked for a higher level following a lackluster performance against the Rangers, Duclair responded by scoring his first goal of the season against the Chicago Blackhawks. Feeling fully healthy and free of past motivational struggles, Duclair aims to build on his early success and re-establish his offensive production.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt will guard the road goal against the Florida Panthers on Saturday. After winning his first two outings of the 2026-27 campaign, Wallstedt has gone 0-1-1 in his last two appearances, allowing only eight goals on 110 shots during that span. He looks to get back on track against a Florida squad that has registered just eight goals in four games this season.
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight is slated to take the ice as the starting goaltender in Saturday's home matchup against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. Through his first three outings with Chicago this campaign, Knight has recorded a 1-2-0 record alongside a 3.35 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage. He faces a tough assignment against a surging Carolina team averaging 3.60 goals per game.
Los Angeles Kings winger Mats Zuccarello has been placed on injured reserve after being declared week-to-week with a shoulder injury. Zuccarello, who dealt with shoulder trouble during training camp, has recorded one assist across three games on a one-year contract. He did not travel for the matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights, prompting the recall of Jared Wright from the AHL as Los Angeles manages multiple forward injuries.
San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov will start in goal for Saturday's home matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. Askarov enters the contest looking to rebound from a 21-save outing in a 5-0 loss to Dallas on Monday. To begin the 2026-27 NHL campaign, the young netminder previously stopped 54 of 61 shots across two victories. He now faces a high-powered Edmonton squad that has compiled 22 total goals through their first four games of the season.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves will get the start in Saturday's road matchup against the St. Louis Blues. Greaves looks to bounce back from an October 3 outing where he allowed four goals in a 4-1 loss to Utah. The 25-year-old netminder holds a 1-1-0 record, a 3.50 GAA, and an .877 save percentage. He faces a Blues offense currently averaging 2.25 goals per game as he aims to recapture his strong 2025-26 form of 26-19-9.
Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny is day-to-day with a lower-body issue and will miss Saturday's road game against the Boston Bruins. The 29-year-old was off to a solid start with three assists, eight shots, 11 hits, and four blocked shots across five games. Carl Gundstrom is a candidate to replace him in the middle six, while Konecny's status will be monitored for Sunday's clash with Carolina.
The Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick amid a left-side defensive logjam. Following Struble's departure, attention turns to other potential Canadiens trade candidates like Kirby Dach, who has one assist in four games and is a pending unrestricted free agent for the 2026-27 season, and goaltender Samuel Montembeault, who faces a 10-to-14 day absence with an injury.
Andre Burakovsky is expected to make his Ottawa Senators debut Saturday against Nashville, stepping into the lineup just as William Eklund is placed on long-term injured reserve. Acquired from Chicago in the offseason, Burakovsky looks to rebound from a tough finish last season where he managed four points in his final 32 games. He is projected to skate alongside Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson.
Ottawa Senators forward William Eklund was placed on long-term injured reserve due to an ankle injury sustained from a hit by Simon Benoit during a 2-1 win over Philadelphia. He is out indefinitely and must miss at least 10 games and 24 calendar days. Eklund recorded one goal, two points, and nine shots across four games this season. Andre Burakovsky is expected to replace him in the lineup.
Calgary Flames netminder Dustin Wolf will defend the home paint in Saturday's matchup against the Anaheim Ducks. The 25-year-old goaltender seeks to turn things around after opening the season with an 0-2-0 record, a 6.00 goals-against average, and a .797 save percentage across 59 shots. He faces an Anaheim offense averaging 3.50 goals per game to start the new campaign.
Colorado Avalanche forward Jaden Schwartz has recorded six points, including three goals and three assists, through the first four games of the season. Coming off a two-goal performance in a 7-3 win over Calgary, Schwartz is currently on a blistering scoring pace that far exceeds any prior season. He looks to keep his momentum going in Saturday's home matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar comes off a strong performance with two goals and an assist against Calgary as the team prepares to face the Toronto Maple Leafs. Makar has 10 points in 12 career games against Toronto. Teammates Jaden Schwartz has six points in four games, and Nathan MacKinnon has eight points through four games, bolstering Colorado's high-scoring offensive attack for Saturday's matchup at Ball Arena.
Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar received a two-game suspension from NHL Player Safety for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders captain Bo Horvat. The hit occurred late in Thursday's 4-1 Islanders victory. Nazar was issued a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct on the play after Horvat went down the tunnel for concussion protocol evaluations following the dangerous open-ice hit.
New York Islanders captain Bo Horvat is good to go for Saturday's game against Tampa Bay after clearing concussion protocol. He was evaluated following a dangerous hit to the head by Chicago's Frank Nazar at 18:27 of the third period on Thursday. Horvat felt the right side of his head was sore but otherwise fine. He leads the team with four goals and five points through four games.
Jordan Binnington will get the start in net for the St. Louis Blues on Saturday as they host the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 33-year-old netminder is looking to rebound after surrendering six goals on 36 shots against Colorado in his lone start of the season. Currently sitting behind Joel Hofer on the depth chart, Binnington will aim for a strong performance against a Blue Jackets squad averaging exactly three goals per game through their early slate.
