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NHL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Sunday, September 20

Philipp Grubauer Named Starting Goaltender for Sunday's Preseason Action

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Philipp Grubauer will guard the road goal for the Seattle Kraken against Calgary on Sunday, playing the first two periods before Nikke Kokko takes over in the third. The 34-year-old netminder is coming off a 2025-26 campaign where he posted a 13-12-4 record alongside a 2.65 GAA and a .909 save percentage across 32 appearances. Grubauer is expected to compete with Joey Daccord for starting duties during the 2026-27 season.

Isaac Howard Battles for Full-Time Oilers Roster Spot in Camp

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Isaac Howard is pushing for a full-time spot on the Edmonton Oilers roster after spending last season in Bakersfield. The forward focused on his conditioning, sprinting, and game details over the summer to round out his skill set alongside his elite shot. Coach Mike Babcock and teammate Zach Hyman highlighted his work ethic and maturity as Howard aims to capitalize on remaining preseason action to prove he belongs in the NHL.

Eric Comrie Set to Guard Road Goal in Preseason Matchup

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Eric Comrie is slated to start in Sunday's preseason game on the road against Anaheim, according to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. After securing a 12-11-1 record, 3.13 GAA, and .890 save percentage across 25 regular-season games for Winnipeg in 2025-26, Comrie signed a two-year contract with the Sharks over the summer. He is currently battling for a depth role during training camp as he prepares for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign with his new club.

Pyotr Kochetkov Returns to Action in Preseason Opener Against Panthers

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Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov is slated to make his long-awaited return in Sunday's preseason opener against the Florida Panthers, marking his first official appearance since December 20, 2025. The 27-year-old netminder, who went 6-2-0 with a 2.33 GAA last season, looks to shake off the rust behind a younger Hurricanes lineup at Amerant Bank Arena as he prepares to form a regular season tandem with Brandon Bussi for the reigning champions.

Sebastian Cossa to Guard Goal in Sunday's Preseason Matchup

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Sebastian Cossa will defend the road net in Sunday's preseason matchup against Colorado. The goaltender is currently competing for Utah's backup role behind Karel Vejmelka during training camp. Cossa is coming off a strong 2025-26 campaign with AHL Grand Rapids, where he posted a 26-8-4 record, a 2.33 GAA, and a .915 save percentage across 39 regular-season games as he pushes for an NHL roster spot.

David Rittich Set to Start Preseason Debut Against New York Islanders

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New Jersey Devils goaltender David Rittich will start Sunday's preseason game against his former team, the New York Islanders. The 34-year-old veteran netminder posted a 14-10-3 record, a 2.76 GAA and an .894 save percentage across 30 regular-season games for the Isles during the 2025-26 campaign. Expect to see Rittich battle for a larger role in the New Jersey crease this preseason against teammate Jake Allen.

Devin Cooley to Start in Sunday's Preseason Opener Against Seattle

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Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley will patrol the home crease in Sunday's preseason contest against the Seattle Kraken, with Arsenii Sergeev serving as his backup. Cooley posted a 10-10-6 record with a 2.69 GAA and a .909 save percentage across 31 regular-season appearances for Calgary in 2025-26. He is expected to serve as Dustin Wolf's primary backup going into the upcoming 2026-27 NHL campaign.

Andrei Vasilevskiy Set to Start Preseason Matchup Against Nashville

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Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to start in goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in Sunday's home preseason game against the Nashville Predators. Coming off a stellar 2025-26 regular season, Vasilevskiy posted a 39-15-4 record, 2.31 GAA, .911 save percentage, and two shutouts over 58 appearances. He led all NHL goaltenders in victories and earned his second career Vezina Trophy. Vasilevskiy is anticipated to be the top netminder selected in fantasy redraft leagues ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Andrew Copp Expects Playoffs as Red Wings Enter Contract Year

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Detroit Red Wings forward Andrew Copp stated the team "can't accept anything less" than making the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2026-27 season. Entering a contract year, Copp has centered Detroit's top line during training camp in place of the injured Dylan Larkin. Coach Todd McLellan praised Copp's cerebral mindset. Last season, Copp appeared in 79 games, recording 9 goals and 34 assists. He has tallied 41 goals and 100 assists across 296 games since joining the team.

Saturday, September 19

Drew Fortescue Faces Tough Blue-Line Competition at Rangers Camp

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Drew Fortescue is taking an even-keeled approach to training camp despite a crowded left-handed Rangers blue line. Following offseason additions like Marcus Pettersson and Alberts Smits, the 21-year-old top prospect is likely headed to AHL Hartford to start the season. Fortescue, who got a nine-game NHL taste last year and recorded two assists, remains confident in his ability to eventually make the roster and prove he belongs at the highest level.

Sean Durzi Set for Top-Four Role and Power-Play Audition with Rangers

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Acquired from the Utah Mammoth on July 1 in the Vincent Trocheck trade, defenseman Sean Durzi is set for a top-four role with the New York Rangers this season. Head coach Mike Sullivan expects the 27-year-old right-shot blue liner to eat heavy minutes alongside pairing partner Marcus Pettersson. Coming off a 27-point campaign, Durzi will play five-on-five, assist on the penalty kill, and audition to quarterback the second power-play unit while serving as crucial insurance behind Adam Fox.

Joey Daccord Named Kraken Starter for Preseason Opener vs. Canucks

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Joey Daccord will get the start in goal for the Seattle Kraken during Saturday's preseason opener against the Vancouver Canucks. The 30-year-old netminder enters the 2026-27 campaign as Seattle's presumptive No. 1 option, though he is expected to share time in net with Philipp Grubauer. Daccord is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he posted a 20-20-6 record, a 3.03 GAA, and an .896 save percentage across 47 appearances.

Pyotr Kochetkov Set for Return in Hurricanes Preseason Opener

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Pyotr Kochetkov is set to make his return to NHL action in Sunday's preseason opener against the Florida Panthers, marking his first game appearance in 274 days. The 27-year-old goaltender underwent hip surgery in December 2025, which limited him to just 10 games last season. Now entering the final year of his contract, Kochetkov holds 11 career shutouts and steps into a veteran role alongside Brandon Bussi as he aims to establish consistency in the net.

Artur Akhtyamov To Start Split-Squad Game Versus Canadiens

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Artur Akhtyamov will start in goal on the road against the Montreal Canadiens in a split-squad preseason game. The 24-year-old goaltender will backstop a more defensive lineup. After making his first three NHL appearances during the 2025-26 season, Akhtyamov is expected to spend the majority of the 2026-27 campaign playing with the AHL Toronto Marlies as he continues his professional development within the Maple Leafs organization.

Jakub Dobes to Tend Goal in Saturday Preseason Game

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Jakub Dobes will tend the twine at home for the Montreal Canadiens in Saturday's split-squad preseason game versus the Maple Leafs. The 25-year-old went 29-10-4 with a 2.78 GAA and .901 save percentage over 43 games in 2025-26, leading Montreal to the Eastern Conference Finals. Dobes is an early favorite for the No. 1 job, though it remains unclear if the team will carry three goalies into the campaign.

Remi Poirier Expected to Start Saturday Against St. Louis

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Remi Poirier is set to start on the road against St. Louis in Saturday's preseason game for the Dallas Stars. The 24-year-old posted a 2.61 GAA and a .912 save percentage across 52 regular-season appearances with AHL Texas in 2025-26. While he is receiving a valuable chance to demonstrate his abilities during the preseason, Poirier is ultimately expected to begin the upcoming campaign playing in the minors.

Tristan Jarry Slated to Start Preseason Opener

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Tristan Jarry is projected to start Saturday's home preseason game against the Jets as he battles Devon Levi for the Edmonton Oilers' No. 1 goaltending job in camp. The 31-year-old went 18-9-3 in 33 regular-season games last year, though he struggled with a 3.32 ERA and an .882 save percentage. Jarry will get the first opportunity to showcase himself and stake his claim to the starting role during the preseason.

Hendrix Lapierre Praises Pittsburgh Penguins' Rebuilding Approach Following Trade

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Forward Hendrix Lapierre is adjusting to life with the Pittsburgh Penguins after being acquired via trade from the Washington Capitals prior to free agency. The 24-year-old center noted that arriving alongside former Washington teammate Trevor van Riemsdyk helped ease his transition to a rival organization. Lapierre expressed strong confidence in Pittsburgh's competitive rebuilding approach, highlighting the team's impressive young talent alongside its established veteran leaders.

Trevor van Riemsdyk Joins Penguins, Cites Championship Culture and Leadership

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After signing a two-year, $8 million free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer, veteran defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk is drawing parallels between his new club and the Washington Capitals. The 35-year-old Stanley Cup champion praised the winning culture cultivated by core veterans like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Joining alongside former Capitals teammate Hendrix Lapierre, van Riemsdyk expressed confidence in Pittsburgh's competitive approach to rebuilding.

Laurent Brossoit Expected to Start in Goal Sunday

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Laurent Brossoit is expected to start and play the full game in Sunday's preseason matchup against San Jose. Brossoit posted a 15-11-1 record with a 3.06 GAA and .901 save percentage across 28 AHL appearances in 2025-26. After signing a one-year, $1.1 million contract with Anaheim in the offseason, he is currently competing for the backup goaltender role behind Lukas Dostal during training camp.