Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot (upper body) will miss Friday's game against St. Louis, marking his third consecutive absence and fourth in the last seven outings. He has recorded two goals and 10 points in 18 appearances this 2025-26 season. Chabot's next chance to return to the lineup is Sunday in Dallas.
Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley will defend the road net against the Panthers on Friday. Cooley has posted a 2-2-1 record through eight appearances this season, allowing only 13 goals on 187 shots. Florida is tied for 13th in the league with 3.09 goals per game.
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper is expected to start on the road against Anaheim on Friday. He holds an 8-4-4 record with a 2.30 GAA and a .910 save percentage in 16 outings this 2025-26 season. Kuemper has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his past three starts, resulting in a 1-1-1 record over that stretch.
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ville Husso will protect the home net against the Kings on Friday, making his first NHL start of the 2025-26 season. He was recalled from AHL San Diego on Wednesday, where he posted a 6-4-3 record with a 2.49 GAA and a .908 save percentage across 13 outings this campaign.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo is set to start on the road against San Jose on Friday. This will be his second NHL start of the 2025-26 campaign, following a 5-4 win over Anaheim on Wednesday where he stopped 37 of 41 shots. Tolopilo is getting this opportunity due to the absences of Thatcher Demko (lower body) and Kevin Lankinen (personal).
Akira Schmid will patrol the home crease for the Vegas Golden Knights against Montreal on Friday. He has a 9-1-4 record with a 2.47 GAA and a .900 save percentage through 14 appearances this season. Schmid has gone 0-0-2 in his last two outings, allowing seven goals on 56 shots. Montreal ranks third in the league with 3.45 goals per game in the 2025-26 campaign.
Jake Allen is set to start on the road for the New Jersey Devils against Buffalo on Friday. He will attempt to rebound after surrendering six goals on 29 shots in a 6-3 loss to Philadelphia in his last start Saturday. Allen has a 7-4-0 record, 2.46 GAA, and .908 save percentage in 12 outings in 2025-26. Buffalo is tied for 10th in goals per game with 3.13 this year.
Alex Lyon is expected to start at home for the Buffalo Sabres against New Jersey on Friday, marking his first appearance since Nov. 13. He holds a 3-5-3 record, 3.07 GAA, and .907 save percentage in 12 appearances this season. With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis also on the roster, Lyon needs to capitalize on this opportunity to secure more regular assignments.
Brandon Bussi is expected to start at home for the Carolina Hurricanes against Winnipeg on Friday. He holds a 5-1-0 record with a 2.67 GAA and an .897 save percentage in six appearances this season, including stopping 25 of 28 shots in a 4-3 win over the Jets last Friday. With Pyotr Kochetkov dealing with a lower-body injury and likely missing his second straight game, Bussi is anticipated to see an increased workload.
Jesper Wallstedt will protect the home net for the Minnesota Wild against Colorado on Friday. He has won his last five outings, stopping 163 of 168 shots and posting three shutouts. Wallstedt holds a 6-0-2 record this season, allowing only 16 goals on 248 shots. His impressive success will be tested by a Colorado team that ranks first in the league with 4.09 goals per game this campaign.
Scott Wedgewood is expected to start on the road for the Colorado Avalanche against Minnesota on Friday. He enters the game on an impressive eight-game winning streak, during which he has allowed just 14 goals on 207 shots for a .932 save percentage. Overall, Wedgewood boasts a 13-1-2 record with a 2.09 GAA and a .918 save percentage in 17 outings this season. The Wild are tied for 22nd in goals per game with 2.92.
Logan Thompson is expected to start at home against Toronto on Friday. The Capitals' goaltender recently stopped 22 of 23 shots in a 5-1 win over Columbus on Monday. This season, Thompson holds a 9-6-1 record with a 2.16 GAA and a .912 save percentage across 16 appearances for Washington.
Joseph Woll will be between the visiting pipes in Washington on Friday. He has started all five games since returning from injured reserve on Nov. 15, having left the team during training camp due to personal reasons before returning two weeks ago. Woll holds a 2-2-1 record with a 2.74 GAA and a .914 save percentage in five appearances this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Jordan Binnington is set to start at home against Ottawa on Friday. He has not lost in regulation recently, posting a 2-0-3 record with a 2.70 GAA and a .912 save percentage across his last five outings. Overall this season, Binnington holds a 5-5-5 record, 3.11 GAA, and an .881 save percentage in 16 appearances for the St. Louis Blues.
William Nylander (illness) will not play against Washington on Friday, missing at least one game after waking up with an illness. Dakota Joshua will replace him in the lineup. Nylander has amassed 11 goals, 31 points, and 47 shots on net in 20 appearances this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
David Rittich will patrol the home crease versus Philadelphia on Friday. He is currently riding a three-game winning streak, allowing only four goals on 72 shots in victories over Utah, Dallas, and Seattle. The 33-year-old netminder holds a 6-2-0 record with a 2.59 GAA and a .905 save percentage in eight appearances this season for the New York Islanders.
The Montreal Canadiens have signed defenseman Mike Matheson to a five-year, $30-million contract extension on Friday. This significant deal secures the blueliner's future with the team.
Edmonton Oilers forward Jack Roslovic is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks due to an undisclosed injury, as reported by Tony Brar of Oilers TV on Friday. This absence is a significant blow for the Oilers, as Roslovic has been performing well above expectations this season, contributing 10 goals and 18 points through 23 outings. His return timeline will be crucial for the team's ongoing performance.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen is slated to start on the road against St. Louis on Friday, according to Jackson Starr of the Senators' official site. Merilainen holds a 3-2-0 record this season, with a 3.24 GAA and an .875 save percentage across five appearances. In his last outing on Monday, he stopped 20 of 22 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Kings. The Blues, his upcoming opponent, currently rank 28th in the league with 2.63 goals per game.
Samuel Ersson will start in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday against the Islanders. He recently stopped 15 of 17 shots in Monday's 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay, with the third goal being an empty-netter. This season, Ersson holds a 3-2-2 record, having allowed 23 goals on 153 shots. The Islanders rank 21st in the league with 2.96 goals per game.
