Merzlikins has seen an increased workload since Rick Bowness took over as the Blue Jackets' head coach, seemingly regaining the trust of the coaching staff, but he was absent from practice on Wednesday because of an illness. The 31-year-old Latvian goalie has a 2.04 GAA and .914 SV% in three games since the coaching chance (2-1-0). It's unclear if Merzlikins will be ready with Columbus returns to action on Thursday against the Dallas Stars.
Grubauer has been excellent in recent weeks, his most consistent stint as a member of the Kraken, but he is coming off a performance where he allowed five goals on 30 shots (.833 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Utah Mammoth. Heading into his most recent loss, the 34-year-old Grubauer was sporting an impressive 2.14 GAA and .934 SV% in his previous 10 games (5-3-2). Seattle enters the action on Wednesday with even -105 odds at home against a New York Islanders team that is 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.
Lundestrom has not played in over four week because of a lower-body injury, but should return to the lineup on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. He has five points (1G / 4A) in 35 games this season.
Dan Vladar (lower body) is nearing a return from injury, but Ersson will stay between the pipes for at least one more game. The 26-year-old Ersson has had a miserable season, but is coming off his best performance thus far, saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. He has a 3.34 GAA and .847 SV% in his last nine games (2-6-1). The Flyers enter Wednesday’s contest as +154 road underdogs against a Utah Mammoth team that has outscored its opposition 14-5 during a three-game winning streak.
Steeves has enjoyed his first season as a full-time NHLer and has earned himself a two-year contract extension. The 26-year-old forward is averaging 12:24 time-on-ice and has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 33 games this season.
Maxim Shabanov will draw into New York's lineup on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken, resulting in Gatcomb being a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Gatcomb is averaging 10:12 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 22 games this season.
Marc Gatcomb will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Shabanov to re-enter the lineup against the Seattle Kraken. The 25-year-old Shabanov, in his first NHL season, has 15 points (4G / 11A) in 35 games this season.
Marchment has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on January 4th, but returned to practice on Wednesday, indicating an imminent return to the lineup. The 30-year-old was having an excellent start to his Blue Jackets tenure after being traded there in December from the Seattle Kraken, scoring seven points (5G / 2A) in his first seven games.
Sorokin has a league-leading five shutouts, including two in his last five games (4-1-0), and will likely return to the crease on Wednesday. Islanders fans were concerned about Sorokin to start the 2025-26 season after posting an ugly 3.74 GAA and .868 SV% in his first seven games (2-4-1), but he has been among the NHL's best goalies since, going 14-7-1 with a dazzling 2.11 GAA and .929 SV%. The Islanders enter Wednesday's contest with even -105 odds on the road against a Seattle Kraken team on a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).
Wedgewood was solid in his most recent outing, returning from an 11-day absence, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals. That said, solid outings have become the norm for the 33-year-old Wedgewood, who has a 2.33 GAA and .914 SV% in his last nine games (7-2-0). Colorado enters the action on Wednesday as enormous -309 home favorites against an Anaheim Ducks team on a four-game winning streak.
Robinson exited Monday's game in the first period because of an upper-body injury. Following the game, Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour stated that Robinson needs further evaluation, but the outlook was concerning, as confirmed by the announcement that he will be out indefinitely. The 30-year-old forward has 15 points (10G / 5A) in 43 games this season.
Wolf, once again, finds himself in a stretch where he has been outplayed by counterpart Devin Cooley, but he is coming off a strong outing, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders, and hopes to build off of that momentum on Wednesday. The win against the Islanders broke a skid of five straight games (0-5-0) where he had allowed at least four goals, posting a .883 SV%. The Flames enter Wednesday's contest as +104 home underdogs against a Pittsburgh Penguins team with points in four straight games (2-0-2).
Mikkola was limited to only 12:36 time-on-ice on Florida's most recent game, exiting with an undisclosed injury, and was absent from practice on Wednesday. That said, he is expected to return to the lineup on Friday. The 29-year-old defenseman is averaging 20:08 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 48 games this season
Knies did not participate in Toronto's morning skate but played in the evening against the Minnesota Wild. This has been a regular occurrence for Knies lately, who is battling an undisclosed ailment and skipped Wednesday's morning skate with the expectation of playing in the evening as well. The 23-year-old Knies is having an excellent season, with 41 points (12G / 29A) and 100 hits in 46 games. He joins Tom Wilson as the only player in the NHL with over 40 points and 100 hits.
The Flyers have been outscored 13-8 in three games since Vladar's injury (1-2-0), and will be eager to welcome him back to the crease, possibly as early as Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 28-year-old Vladar has arguably been Philadelphia's most valuable player this season, posting a 2.46 GAA and .905 SV% in 28 games (16-7-4).
Ahcan has played six games with the Avalanche this season, matching a career-high, and has one assist. The 28-year-old defenseman has spent most of his career in the AHL, including scoring an impressive 24 points (5G / 19A) through 29 games with the Colorado Eagles this season.
Makar has played his first five NHL games this season, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 24-year-old has 13 points (7G / 6A) in 32 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).
Woll had a forgetful night in his most recent outing, a recurring trend lately, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The 27-year-old Woll has allowed four or more goals in five of his last nine games, but still boasts a solid 6-1-2 record despite a concerning 3.14 GAA and .894 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter Wednesday's contest as slight -111 home favorites against a Red Wings that has won six of their last seven games (6-1-0).
Mikkola was limited to only 12:36 time-on-ice on Florida's most recent game, exiting with an undisclosed injury, and was absent from practice on Wednesday. The 29-year-old defenseman is averaging 20:08 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 48 games this season.
Pospisil suffered an injury late in training camp, which has recently been revealed as a concussion, and has been sidelined since. The 25-year-old Slovak forward is entering his third NHL season after recording career highs in games played (81), points (25), and hits (301). He returns from a two-game stint with the Wrangles, going scoreless, and should make his Flames debut on Wednesday.
