Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Arvid Soderblom will protect the road goal for the Chicago Blackhawks against the New York Islanders on Thursday, per Andrew Gross of Newsday. It marks the 27-year-old netminder's second start of the season, getting the nod despite Spencer Knight coming off a victory over the Blues on Tuesday. Soderblom struggled in his season debut last Thursday, surrendering six goals on 32 shots in a loss to the Mammoth.
Igor Shesterkin is off to an electric start, allowing two or fewer goals in all four games he's played, the most among all NHL goaltenders this season. Since the 2019-20 season, his 172 games allowing two or fewer goals rank fifth among all NHL goalies, while his 94 games allowing one or fewer goals rank third. His stellar netminding has anchored the Rangers, who carry a four-game win streak into their matchup against the Washington Capitals.
New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield was inserted into the lineup for Thursday's match against the Blackhawks at UBS Arena, moving Tony DeAngelo to his off side on Mayfield’s left. This marks a critical opportunity for Mayfield to earn back a lineup spot after being a healthy scratch for the first three games of the season due to training coach decisions. Coach Pete DeBoer praised Mayfield for handling his situation like a pro, and he may be called upon to play on the penalty kill.
New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov will miss the entire regular season after tearing his ACL in his right knee during Tuesday's loss to the Rangers. Romanov was just three games into his return from shoulder surgery and now faces another full season of rehab. Teammates and coach Pete DeBoer described the loss as devastating, noting how hard he worked over the summer to get back into top shape. The Islanders have begun a defensive overhaul to fill the massive void left by his absence.
Pyotr Kochetkov will start in goal for the Carolina Hurricanes at home against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, according to Ryan Henkel of The Hockey News. Kochetkov allowed two goals on 18 shots during his season debut against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. With Brandon Bussi struggling against the Canadiens in his last outing, Kochetkov gets a chance to stabilize the crease. Though nominally in a backup role to start the year, strong play could push this into a timeshare.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews reflected on his relationship with former long-time teammate Mitch Marner ahead of Toronto's road game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Matthews expressed happiness for Marner's impressive postseason performance last spring, where Marner led the NHL with 29 playoff points. Matthews noted that he and Marner remain great friends and stay in constant contact, expressing excitement to face his former linemate on the ice.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner received high praise from ex-teammates Auston Matthews and John Tavares ahead of his first game against Toronto as a Vegas Golden Knight. Marner led the NHL in playoff scoring last season with 29 points in 22 postseason contests during Vegas' run to the Stanley Cup Final. Matthews and Tavares noted they remain close friends with Marner and highlighted his unique ability to impact the game with and without the puck.
Minnesota Wild forward Nick Foligno will miss Thursday's game against Tampa Bay and Saturday's matchup against Florida due to an upper-body injury. Considered day-to-day, the team hopes Foligno can return Monday against Vegas. He sustained the injury after playing just 3:29 in the first period against the Buffalo Sabres. In three games this season, the 38-year-old veteran has recorded one goal and three shots on goal. Nico Sturm enters the lineup in his place.
Stuart Skinner has been highlighted in fantasy hockey guides as a red-hot player to add to fantasy lineups immediately. The latest NHL headlines monitor ongoing roster developments, injuries, and standout performers, recommending managers target surging options like Skinner for their fantasy hockey teams.
Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher has been placed on injured reserve, ruling him out for at least 10 games following an injury sustained against the Winnipeg Jets. Compher left Sunday's 3-2 loss in the first period after being driven into the boards by Jets defenseman Tyrel Bauer. Head coach Todd McLellan noted Compher is not skating and remains day-to-day. Prior to the injury, the veteran forward recorded 194 points over seven seasons in Colorado before joining Detroit.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis has shed his no-contact jersey as he continues his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. The forward is progressing through his rehabilitation process and moving closer to full-contact participation and a return to game action for the Hurricanes.
Victor Olofsson is considered week-to-week with an undisclosed injury, according to head coach Ryan Craig on Thursday. The 31-year-old winger was having a strong start to the year, racking up four goals and one assist, including two power-play points, in four games. With Olofsson sidelined for at least a week, Trevor Connelly could see the biggest uptick in minutes, including potentially linking up with the No. 1 power-play unit.
Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley is slated to start Thursday's home game against the Colorado Avalanche. Cooley and teammate Dustin Wolf have alternated starts to begin the regular season, a rotation that will continue for this matchup. During his regular-season debut in Vancouver on Saturday, Cooley allowed three goals on 25 shots during a 4-1 loss and looks to bounce back in his next home crease appearance.
Alex Nedeljkovic will make his season debut in goal for the San Jose Sharks on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. Nedeljkovic was sidelined by illness prior to Opening Night and has served as backup to Yaroslav Askarov. Last season, he posted an 18-14-4 record with a 2.87 GAA and .896 save percentage. A strong performance could earn him more starts given Askarov's early struggles.
Mikhail Sergachev (upper body) is expected to play for the Utah Mammoth on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Sergachev left Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury but practiced Thursday and will be in the lineup. He has started the season strong with one goal, five assists, six blocked shots, and six penalty minutes in four games, averaging 20:58 of ice time.
Former Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jonas Johansson experienced a brief 24-hour NHL return this week after being recalled by the Ottawa Senators when starting goaltender Linus Ullmark suffered an undisclosed injury. Johansson spent Tuesday's game on the bench before being reassigned to AHL Belleville on Wednesday as Ullmark prepares to return to action. Johansson is currently 1-1 with a 2.92 GAA and a .914 save percentage in two appearances for Belleville this season.
Linus Ullmark is slated to start in goal for the Ottawa Senators against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. He previously missed Tuesday's game due to an undisclosed injury sustained in Monday's win over Boston. Ullmark has been stellar this season with a 2-0-0 record, 1.20 goals-against average, and .949 save percentage, stopping 37 of 39 shots. His brief absence also prompted a quick 24-hour recall of goaltender Jonas Johansson to AHL Belleville.
Sebastian Cossa will start in goal for the Utah Mammoth on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Cossa is looking to build on a strong team debut where he stopped 18 of 19 shots in a 4-1 win. The 23-year-old netminder is seen as a high-upside backup to Karel Vejmelka. He faces a challenging matchup against a Bruins team that has scored three or more goals in two of their first three games.
Joseph Woll will start in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday's road game against the Ottawa Senators. Woll has appeared in two games this season, losing both in overtime while allowing six goals on 84 shots for a .929 save percentage. He has shown quality ratios and could earn more opportunities if he continues to produce.
Jesper Wallstedt will start in goal for the Minnesota Wild on Thursday's road game against Tampa Bay, his fourth consecutive start to open the season. He has performed well early on, holding a 2-0-1 record with a 1.63 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage across his initial three starts.
