NHL Hockey Player News

The Blackhawks have relied on Knight in seven of 10 games to start the 2025-26 season (5-3-2), and will roll with him again on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 24-year-old Knight has been excellent in his first full season with the Blackhawks, posting a stellar 2.11 GAA and .930 SV% in seven games (4-2-1). Still, the Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +187 road underdogs against a 7-3-0 Jets team.

After a poor 1-4-2 start to the season, Tampa Bay has turned things around, winning three straight, and will likely turn to Vasilevskiy on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has an uninspiring 2.86 GAA and .893 SV% in seven games (2-3-2), but has been significantly better lately, posting a 2.00 GAA and .916 SV% in his last four outings (2-1-1). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as -147 home favorites against a Dallas Stars team also riding a three-game winning streak.

After a disappointing 0-3-0 start to the 2025-26 season, the Sabres have turned the script, going 4-1-2 in their last five, due in part to strong goaltending from Alex Lyon, who will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 32-year-old Lyon has given his Sabres team a chance almost every night, posting a solid 2.77 GAA and .919 SV% in eight games (3-4-1). The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as -115 road favorites against a Bruins team that is 2-7-0 in their last nine.

The Canucks are off to a 5-6-0 start to the season, a record that has suffered as a result of inconsistent play from netminder Kevin Lankinen, who will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 30-year-old Lankinen is sporting an ugly 3.74 GAA and .873 SV% through four games this season (1-3-0). He has allowed four or more goals in three of his four outings. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +132 road underdogs against a Blues team that has been among the worst in the league defensively, being outscored 44-29 through 10 games (3-6-1).

Greenway had to have a second surgery over the summer, but he'll be back in the Sabres' lineup on Thursday, centring the third line with Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn. Greenway had just eight points (3G / 5A) in 34 games last season.

Mayo has earned himself several call-ups from the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season but has yet to draw into the Blue Jackets lineup. The 29-year-old defenseman has four points (0G / 4A) in five games with Cleveland this season.

After a disappointing start to the season, the Kings have turned a corner, collecting points in six straight games (4-0-2). They will turn to Kuemper between the pipes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 35-year-old Kuemper saved 37 of 40 shots in his most recent outing, a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. He has a 2.81 GAA and .895 SV% in seven games this season (3-2-2). The Kings enter Thursday's contest as -146 home favorites against a Red Wings team that has scored five or more goals in two straight games (2-0-0).

Ostlund was drafted 16th-oveall by the Sabres in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft but has yet to establish himself as a full-time presence in the NHL. The 21-year-old forward spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, where he scored 36 points (19G / 17A) in 45 games with the Rochester Americans.

Sissons suffered an undisclosed injury in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, exiting the contest after only 7:15 time-on-ice. He did not play on Tuesday and remains day-to-day. The 31-year-old is averaging 11:06 time-on-ice and has one assist through his first nine games with the Golden Knights.

Watson is no stranger to the NHL, with 121 points (63G / 58A) in 528 career games, but his physical presence has primarily been felt in the AHL the past two seasons. The 33-year-old Watson scored 42 points (19G / 23A) and recorded 112 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) last season.

The Jets are off to an impressive 7-3-0 start to the 2025-26 season and will roll with Hellebuyck between the pipes on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Hellebuyck uncharacteristically allowed five goals in his opening contest of the season, but quickly returned to his Vezina Trophy caliber, posting a stellar 1.9 GAA and .937 SV% in his seven games since (5-2-0). The Jets enter Thursday's contest as significant -231 home favorites against a Blackhawks team off to a surprising 5-3-2 start this season.

Kreider has missed the Ducks' last four games, recovering from an illness, but was back at practice on Thursday. Before his absence, the 34-year-old power forward was off to a strong start in his first season away from the New York Rangers, scoring five points (4G / 1A) in five games, including three goals scored on the powerplay.

Butler is a 23-year-old undrafted right-winger who made his only NHL appearance in 2023-24 with the Blue Jackets. He struggled to produce offensively in 2024-25, only scoring two goals and three points in 37 games played with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL).

The Devils' eight-game winning streak snapped in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche when Jacob Markstrom made his return to the crease from a lower-body injury. Markstrom's poor performance on Tuesday adds further fuel to Jake Allen's case for more time between the pipes. The 35-year-old Allen has been exceptional to start the 2025-26 season, posting a 1.93 GAA and .923 SV% in six appearances (5-0-0). The Devils enter the action on Thursday as sizable -217 road favorites against a Sharks team with a 2-6-2 record.

Milne made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with Minnesota, but has primarily been an AHL player. The 23-year-old scored 26 points (15G / 11A) in 60 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) last season.