NHL Player News

Skinner will protect the home goal versus the Bruins on Friday

Skinner is set to handle the No. 1 job in goal for the Jets this season. The 27-year-old netminder went 23-17-9 with a 2.92 GAA and an .888 save percentage over 50 regular-season outings last year. Skinner has plenty of experience, but he may struggle behind a team that lacks depth and wasn't all that strong in 2025-26.

Gibson will protect the home goal versus the Rangers on Friday.

Gibson will get the nod in the Red Wings' season opener. He allowed five goals on 45 shots over two preseason appearances. Gibson saw action in 57 games in 2025-26, his most in any campaign since 2018-19, though his lengthy injury history could make it difficult for him to get back to that number of appearances this year.

Garand will defend the road crease against Detroit on Friday, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.

The Rangers are playing the second half of a back-to-back set Friday, so Garand will make his season debut since Joonas Korpisalo (lower body) is on injured reserve. Across three regular-season appearances with the Rangers last year, Garand went 2-0-1 with a 1.62 GAA and .948 save percentage.

Hellebuyck (suspension) is not listed on the Jets' official roster, per the NHL media site Friday.

Hellebuyck remains suspended by the team while he holds out for a trade. So far, the 33-year-old backstop has not missed any regular-season action, but that will change when the Jets face the Bruins at home Friday. With Hellebuyck away from the team, Stuart Skinner figures to fill the No. 1 role while Clay Stevenson serves as the backup.

Hart will defend the home crease against the Ducks on Friday, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Hart drew the Opening Night start at home against the Blackhawks on Tuesday and allowed two goals on 26 shots during the 5-2 victory. The 28-year-old made six starts against the Ducks during last year's playoffs, going 4-2-0 with a 1.99 GAA and .935 save percentage during those outings.

Dostal is expected to start on the road against Vegas on Friday, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic.

Dostal had a 30-20-4 record, 3.10 GAA and .888 save percentage in 56 regular-season appearances with Anaheim in 2025-26. He's set to be the Ducks' No. 1 option this campaign, while Ville Husso is slated to be the backup option. Dostal and the Ducks will be looking for a little revenge after Vegas ended Anaheim's playoff run in the 2026 second-round series. Dostal had a 3.21 GAA and an .884 save percentage across six outings in that series.

Binnington is slated to defend the road crease against Colorado on Saturday, Lou Korac of NHL.com reports.

Binnington's production declined during the 2025-26 campaign, as he went 13-20-7 with a 3.33 GAA and .873 save percentage across 41 regular-season appearances. He appears to be in line to serve as the backup netminder to begin the regular season, but he'll draw an early-season start in the second half of a back-to-back set since Joel Hofer is starting the Blues' Opening Night matchup on the road against Dallas on Friday.

Swayman will draw the start on the road against Winnipeg on Friday, Adam Pellerin of NESN reports.

Swayman posted a 24-save shutout to begin the regular season at home against the Rangers on Tuesday, so it isn't very surprising to see him tend the twine for a second consecutive matchup Friday. However, Friday's matchup is the first half of a back-to-back set, so Michael DiPietro will likely start Saturday's game in Minnesota. Swayman made 55 regular-season appearances last year, going 31-18-4 with a 2.71 GAA and .907 save percentage.

Hofer will start Friday's road game against Dallas, Lou Korac of NHL.com reports.

The Blues open the regular season with a back-to-back set that includes Friday's matchup followed by a game in Colorado on Saturday. Hofer will draw the Opening Night start against the Stars, while Jordan Binnington is slated to defend the road crease against the Avalanche a day later. Hofer had a career-best season during the 2025-26 campaign, going 24-13-5 with a 2.61 GAA and .909 save percentage across 46 regular-season appearances.

Oettinger was the first goalie off during Friday's morning skate, Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine reports, indicating that he'll draw the home start during the Stars' regular-season opener against the Blues.

After dealing with a lower-body injury late in the preseason, Oettinger was recently deemed available for the start of the regular season, and he'll officially be in the net for the Stars' Opening Night matchup. The 27-year-old should reprise his role as the Stars' primary goaltender during the 2026-27 campaign after he went 35-12-6 with a 2.59 GAA and .899 save percentage across 54 regular-season appearances last year.