Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Vitek Vanecek is expected to start in goal for Utah on Saturday against Calgary. The 29-year-old netminder hasn't secured a win since Nov. 9, holding a 0-2-1 record with a 3.57 GAA and .859 save percentage since then. Overall this season, he has a 2-5-1 record, 3.11 GAA, and an .869 save percentage in eight appearances. He faces a Calgary team ranked 32nd in goals per game (2.34).
Dustin Wolf will protect the home goal for the Calgary Flames on Saturday against the Mammoth. He has posted a 2-1-0 record, allowing seven goals on 74 shots over his last four appearances, marking an improvement in his performance. Wolf faces a Mammoth team playing the second half of a back-to-back, who are coming off consecutive wins where they outscored opponents 11-1.
Logan Cooley is a late scratch for Utah's Saturday game in Calgary due to a lower-body injury. He will be re-evaluated when the Mammoth return home after Saturday's action, ahead of their Monday game against the Kings. Cooley has recorded 14 goals and 23 points in 29 outings during the 2025-26 season. His absence could result in Jack McBain moving up to the top six against the Flames.
Juuse Saros will start in goal for the Predators against the Hurricanes on Saturday. He's on a three-game winning streak, allowing only five goals on 86 shots. This marks his toughest test recently, though the Hurricanes have struggled offensively, scoring just 14 goals in their last six games.
Star defenseman Quinn Hughes voiced his frustration with the Vancouver Canucks' ongoing slump, stating he's 'not Superman' and cannot carry the team alone. The Canucks have won only two of their last 12 games, falling to last place in the NHL. This performance is fueling speculation about significant roster changes.
Jake Allen will defend the road net for the New Jersey Devils against Boston on Saturday, as reported by Amanda Stein. He gets the second half of a back-to-back after Jacob Markstrom played Friday. The 35-year-old goalie has posted an 8-5-0 record this season with one shutout, a 2.48 GAA, and a .911 save percentage through 14 appearances. Boston sits 13th in the league with 3.10 goals per game this campaign.
Brandon Bussi is expected to start at home for the Carolina Hurricanes against Nashville on Saturday, per Walt Ruff. Bussi holds a 7-1-0 record, 2.11 GAA, and .908 save percentage in eight appearances this season. He's had a light workload across his past two starts, stopping 28 of just 29 shots while earning wins against Calgary and Winnipeg. Nashville ranks 28th in goals per game with 2.59.
Brady Tkachuk, alongside his brother Matthew, is projected to lead a star-studded Team USA roster for the 2026 Olympic hockey tournament. The Ottawa Senators forward is expected to be a key component of the gold medal contending team.
Artemi Panarin scored with 18 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 2-2, but the New York Rangers ultimately lost 3-2 in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche. Panarin's 10th goal of the season forced the extra frame. He had previously assisted on Conor Sheary's game-tying goal in the third period.
Connor Bedard has earned his spot on the projected Canada's 2026 Olympic hockey roster. He is expected to play alongside stars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon on a loaded team, demonstrating his rapid ascent.
Connor McDavid is projected to be part of Canada's 2026 Olympic hockey roster. He is expected to join other stars like Nathan MacKinnon on a loaded team, with Connor Bedard also earning a spot.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt is slated to start on the road against Vancouver this Saturday, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic. Wallstedt has been exceptional this season, holding an 8-0-2 record with a 1.74 GAA and a .944 save percentage across 10 appearances. He has also recorded an impressive four shutouts in his last six starts. The Canucks, his upcoming opponent, are currently ranked 24th in the league for goals per game, averaging 2.82.
Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak (undisclosed) will miss his fifth consecutive game Saturday against New Jersey. Despite his continued absence, he appears to be progressing, having skated before Friday's practice. Through 25 appearances this season, Pastrnak has generated 11 goals, 29 points, 86 shots on net, and 37 hits. Alex Steeves has been filling in on the top line during Pastrnak's absence.
Joey Daccord is slated to start at home against Detroit on Saturday, aiming to snap a recent slump. He's gone 0-3-1 with a 3.44 GAA and an .872 save percentage across his past four outings. This downturn has dropped his season record to 7-6-4 with a 2.92 GAA and an .894 save percentage in 17 appearances for the Seattle Kraken.
Sergei Bobrovsky will start in goal for the Florida Panthers at home against Columbus on Saturday, as confirmed by Doug Plagens. Bobrovsky enters the game looking to reverse a recent trend, having gone 0-3-1 in his last four outings while allowing 13 goals on 94 shots. For the season, he holds a 10-8-1 record with two shutouts, a 2.83 GAA, and an .886 save percentage across 19 appearances.
Elvis Merzlikins is set to start in goal for the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road against Florida Saturday, per Jeff Svoboda. He is coming off a strong 28-save performance in Thursday's 6-5 shootout victory over Detroit. This season, Merzlikins has compiled a 6-5-0 record, a 3.61 GAA, and an .891 save percentage through 11 appearances.
Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin was placed on long-term injured reserve Saturday, retroactive to Dec. 2, after suffering an ACL injury. The injury is expected to sideline him for 6-9 months, effectively ending his regular season. Seguin recorded seven goals and 17 points in 27 games this season. While he should be ready for training camp in September, there's a possibility he could return for a deep playoff run if the Stars advance.
Stuart Skinner will protect the home net for the Edmonton Oilers against Winnipeg on Saturday. Skinner has been in excellent form recently, allowing just one goal on 50 shots over his last two starts. This season, he holds a 9-8-3 record with a 2.90 GAA and an .888 save percentage across 20 appearances. The Jets, his opponent, are tied for 15th in NHL scoring, averaging 3.04 goals per game.
Mackenzie Blackwood is set to guard the road goal against the Rangers on Saturday, as reported by Dan Rosen of NHL.com. In his last outing, Blackwood stopped 36 shots in Thursday's 6-3 loss to the Islanders, with the sixth goal being an empty-netter. This season, he holds a 6-1-1 record, allowing 17 goals on 212 shots, and has posted two shutouts in eight appearances. The Rangers rank 27th in the league with 2.69 goals per game.
Scott Wedgewood (back) will miss his second consecutive game Saturday for the Colorado Avalanche after his back seized up during Tuesday's game against Vancouver. He has not played since. Despite the injury, Wedgewood is having a strong season with a 13-1-3 record, 2.07 GAA, and .920 SV% in 19 games. There's a possibility he could return to action as early as Sunday when the Avalanche face Philadelphia.
