NHL Player News

Pettersson scored a power-play goal and blocked two shots in Tuesday's 6-5 overtime win over the Oilers.

Pettersson's third-period tally stretched the Canucks' lead to 5-2 before Kevin Lankinen got leaky. Pettersson ended 2025-26 on a 15-game goal drought, and he also had just three goals over his first 18 outings last season, so it's a positive that he's tallied early this year. He's been held to 15 goals in each of the last two campaigns after three straight years above the 30-goal mark. Expecting consistency from the 27-year-old could be asking a lot, but he is poised to have a safe role centering the top line all year.

Sasson scored a goal on two shots, added an assist, blocked two shots and logged two PIM in Tuesday's 6-5 overtime win over the Oilers.

Sasson scored in the third period and set up Paul Cotter's game-winner in overtime. After a 19-point effort over 66 games last season, Sasson looks poised for a full-time spot in the Canucks' lineup in 2026-27. He centered the third line Tuesday, but he doesn't have a clear path to a top-six role. The 26-year-old also doesn't add much non-scoring production typically, so he won't make for a strong fantasy option most of the time.

Cotter scored two goals on three shots, added two hits and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 6-5 overtime win over the Oilers.

Cotter netted a shorthanded goal in the first period to open the scoring, and he added the game-winner in overtime. The 26-year-old featured as the fourth-line center in his Canucks debut. He was limited to 15 points over 79 regular-season games with the Devils last year, but he could have a chance to produce better offense on a Vancouver team with fewer established bottom-six forwards. Cotter also piles up hits and can chip in with PIM, making him a decent target in banger leagues if the offense is steady enough.

Lankinen stopped 32 of 37 shots in Tuesday's 6-5 overtime win over the Oilers.

The Oilers were able to put together a third-period push after Lankinen did well in the first two frames. Evan Bouchard was Lankinen's main nemesis, as the Edmonton defenseman had a hat trick and two assists in the high-scoring opener. Lankinen is penciled in as the Canucks' No. 1 goalie, but outings like this one could be pretty common, making him a risky fantasy option in virtually all matchups. The Canucks have a rematch with the Oilers in Vancouver on Thursday.

Mangiapane (undisclosed) won't return to Tuesday's game versus the Golden Knights.

Mangiapane was hurt on his first shift of the second period. The 30-year-old winger dealt with a couple of injuries late last season, and he's now banged up early in 2026-27. He can be considered day-to-day heading into Thursday's game versus the Mammoth. If Mangiapane can't play, look for Teuvo Teravainen to draw into the lineup.

Shesterkin stopped 20 of 22 shots in Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Bruins. The third goal was an empty-netter.

Shesterkin kept Boston off the board for more than 56 minutes before Fraser Minten finally beat him with 3:46 remaining in regulation. JJ Peterka added another goal just 52 seconds later, and Boston's third tally went into an empty net after Shesterkin was pulled for an extra attacker. Despite taking the loss, Shesterkin had a solid showing overall, though he'll need more support from the offense if he's going to earn a few wins here and there. The star goaltender, who posted a 2.50 GAA and a .912 save percentage in 51 regular-season appearances in 2025-26, should remain between the pipes when the Rangers take on the Lightning on Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

Swayman stopped all 24 shots he faced in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Rangers.

Swayman and Igor Shesterkin traded zeroes for more than 56 minutes before the Bruins broke through and scored three goals late in the third period. Swayman faced his heaviest workload in the final frame, turning aside all 10 shots as New York pushed for the opening goal. The 27-year-old ultimately secured the shutout to enjoy a strong start to the season. He's coming off a 2025-26 campaign in which he went 31-18-4 with a 2.71 GAA, a .907 save percentage and two shutouts across 55 regular-season appearances. Swayman should remain the starter when the Bruins take on the Jets on the road Friday.

Kastelic scored an empty-net goal in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Rangers.

Kastelic put the finishing touch on Boston's late offensive surge, scoring into an empty net at the 17:29 mark of the third period off assists from Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov. The tally came just 23 seconds after JJ Peterka extended the Bruins' lead to 2-0, with all three Boston goals arriving in a span of only 75 seconds. Don't expect Kastelic to become a steady fantasy contributor overnight, though, as he's a fourth-liner who scored a career-high 12 goals last season.

Peterka scored a goal on three shots in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Rangers.

Peterka made an immediate impact in his first regular-season appearance with Boston, providing an insurance tally just 52 seconds after Fraser Minten broke a scoreless tie late in the third period. Peterka converted off a feed from Elias Lindholm at 17:06, doubling Boston's advantage before Mark Kastelic added an empty-netter 23 seconds later. Peterka is expected to be a consistent top-six forward for the Bruins after a 2025-26 season in which he notched 25 goals for Utah -- the third consecutive campaign in which he reached that mark.

Minten scored a goal on two shots and added an assist in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Rangers.

Minten made his presence felt in the first game of the new season after signing a seven-year extension following a 2025-26 campaign in which he recorded 17 goals and 18 assists in 82 regular-season contests. He delivered the breakthrough after the teams went scoreless for more than 56 minutes, capitalizing on a New York turnover and beating Igor Shesterkin with 3:46 remaining. Minten wasn't done, though, as he also assisted on Mark Kastelic's empty-netter just 75 seconds later, giving him the only multi-point performance of the contest.