NHL Player News

Vejmelka was the first goalie off during Friday's morning skate, Cole Bagley of KSL Sports reports, indicating that he'll draw the home start against the Sharks.

Vejmelka has had a solid start to the season, going 2-1-0 with a 1.67 GAA and a .929 save percentage while starting in three of Utah's first four games of the season. He'll attempt to pick up a third consecutive victory in Friday's matchup against the Sharks, who have yet to enter the win column this year.

Gustavsson will be between the visiting pipes in Washington on Friday, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic.

Gustavsson has given up nine goals on 54 shots in his last two games after he shut out St. Louis on Opening Night. He has an .888 save percentage in three games this season. The Capitals are averaging only 2.25 goals this season, 29th in the NHL.

Ersson allowed four goals on just 14 shots in Thursday's 5-2 loss to Winnipeg, with the Jets' final goal getting scored into an empty net.

Both defenses were stingy, as the Flyers wound up outshooting the visitors 17-15 on the night, but Ersson was victimized by some bad zone clearances and bad bounces -- Morgan Barron's game-winner late in the second period caromed into the net after hitting Noah Cates in the back. Ersson has split the workload with Dan Vladar in the Philly crease so far, going 0-1-1 in two starts while giving up eight goals on 53 shots -- a far cry from Vladar's four goals allowed on 60 shots.

Thompson will serve as the starting goaltender for Friday's home game against the Wild, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.

Thompson has had a solid start to the year, and he'll be in the net Friday for the fourth time in the Capitals' first five games. Over his first three appearances in 2025-26, he's gone 2-1-0 with a 2.00 GAA and a .921 save percentage.

Hellebuyck stopped 15 shots in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Flyers.

The Jets never trailed in the game, giving Hellebuyck plenty of leeway as he got beaten by Owen Tippett in the second period and Matvei Michkov in the third. Incredibly, it was Hellebuyck's first career win in Philadelphia in his fifth start at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Through three outings to begin the current campaign, the star netminder is 2-1-0 with a 3.02 GAA and an .895 save percentage -- those are ratios that will almost certainly improve once the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner gets rolling.

Allen made 21 saves in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Panthers.

Evan Rodrigues banged home a rebound early in the first period, but Allen stood tall the rest of the way to record his first win of the season. The 35-year-old netminder will see a hefty workload over the next couple of weeks with Jacob Markstrom (lower body) already on the shelf, and Allen should be up to the task after posting a 2.66 GAA and a .906 save percentage over 31 regular-season appearances in 2024-25.

Tarasov turned aside 30 shots in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Devils.

The Panthers grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the first period, but after he allowed the tying tally to Jack Hughes on the power play in the second, Tarasov got beaten twice in the third, although there wasn't much he could have done on either goal. The 26-year-old netminder is still looking for his first win with Florida, and through two starts, he's given up six goals on 53 shots as he tries to provide some stability behind Sergei Bobrovsky.

Dobes stopped 17 shots in Thursday's 3-2 overtime win over the Predators.

The 24-year-old netminder nearly took the loss, but Cole Caufield tied things up with 20 seconds left in regulation and then made Dobes a winner with just three seconds left in OT. Dobes has been impressive in his first two starts of the season, winning both while allowing three goals on 50 shots, but for now, he remains behind Sam Montembeault in the crease for the Habs.

Grubauer stopped 21 of 24 shots in Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Senators.

Grubauer made his first start of the season in this matchup to give Joey Daccord a much-needed night off after the Kraken's last two matchups went to overtime. Grubauer posted an .875 save percentage in 2024-25 and should operate as the Kraken's No. 2 goaltender this season as long as Daccord stays healthy, so his chances of making a regular impact in fantasy won't be very high.

Saros made 27 saves in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Canadiens.

The veteran netminder nearly stole a road win for the Predators, but Cole Caufield scored with 20 seconds left in the third period and again with three seconds left in the extra frame to stick Saros with an OTL. Saros still hasn't taken a regulation loss this season, going 2-0-2 in four starts with a sparkling 1.94 GAA and .935 save percentage as he tries to put a tough 2024-25 campaign behind him.