NHL Player News

Askarov will protect the home net against the Kings on Saturday, according to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Askarov made 23 saves in a 4-3 overtime win over Florida on Thursday. He has gone 3-1-0 with a 2.94 GAA and an .878 save percentage in four previous regular-season outings against the Kings. Los Angeles is coming off an 8-4 loss to Colorado on Wednesday.

DeSmith will defend the road net against Nashville on Saturday, per Mike Heika of the Stars' official site.

DeSmith will get the second half of Dallas' back-to-back after Jake Oettinger played in Friday's 4-0 loss to St. Louis. The 35-year-old DeSmith posted a 15-8-6 record with a 2.43 GAA and a .907 save percentage in 30 regular-season appearances for the Stars in 2025-26. Nashville is coming off a 3-1 loss to Minnesota on Thursday.

Merilainen was the first goalie off the ice at Saturday's morning skate, indicating that he'll start the team's home matchup against the Flames, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic.

Merilainen is in line to make his first start for the Canucks after he was claimed off waivers from Ottawa in late September. The 24-year-old backstop made his Vancouver debut in Thursday's 9-7 loss, where he stopped 10 out of the 11 shots he saw in relief. He's looking to bounce back after a tough 2025-26 campaign, where he posted an 8-10-1 record, a 3.51 GAA and an .860 save percentage across 20 regular-season outings. He'll face off against a Calgary offense that was kept to just one score in their Opening Night matchup.

Wallstedt will patrol the home crease in Saturday's matchup against the Bruins, per Joe O'Donnell.

Wallstedt will return to action for Minnesota's second game of the season after he turned aside 19 shots in the team's Opening Night win. His starting nod for Saturday comes to no surprise, as the 23-year-old backstop is expected to handle a large workload in the absence of Filip Gustavsson (hip). Across 35 regular-season outings in 2025-26, he posted strong numbers with an 18-9-6 record, a 2.61 GAA, a .915 save percentage and four shutouts. However, he'll face a tough test Saturday against a Bruins team that has won each of their first two games to open the regular season.

Luukkonen will patrol the home crease against Chicago on Saturday, per Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550.

Luukkonen surrendered five goals on 22 shots, with the sixth tally being an empty-netter, in Thursday's 6-3 loss to Columbus. He has posted a 6-0-0 record with a 1.67 GAA and a .928 save percentage in six career regular-season outings against Chicago. The Blackhawks (0-2-0) have scored two goals in two games this campaign.

Blackwood is expected to protect the home net against St. Louis on Saturday, according to Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now.

Blackwood is poised to make his second start of the season after being the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate. In his previous appearance, he made 27 saves in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Kings. The Blues earned a 4-0 victory over Dallas on Friday.

Ullmark is expected to guard the road goal against Toronto on Saturday, according to Julian McKenzie of The Athletic.

Ullmark is poised to get Ottawa's season opener after being the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate. He has gone 8-5-1 with a 2.93 GAA and an .898 save percentage in 16 career regular-season outings against the Maple Leafs. Toronto (1-1-0) has scored four goals in two games this campaign.

Dobes will defend the road net against the Penguins on Saturday.

Dobes made 26 saves in a 3-2 win over Toronto on Tuesday. Saturday's matchup will be Pittsburgh's home opener after the team earned a convincing 7-0 road win over Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Daws will guard the road goal against the Islanders on Saturday, according to Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.

Daws went 2-1-0 and allowed eight goals on 87 shots in three NHL appearances for New Jersey during the 2025-26 regular season. The Islanders will play in their home opener following a 2-1 road loss to Toronto on Wednesday.

Murray was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Saturday.

Murray posted a 22-22-2 record with a 2.83 GAA and a .904 save percentage in 47 AHL regular-season games for Nashville's top minor-league affiliate in 2025-26. Justus Annunen didn't participate in Friday's practice and might not be available for Saturday's home matchup against Dallas.