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NHL Hockey Player News
Allen will start vs. Florida on Thursday.

Allen did not finish Monday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to cramping and was replaced by Jacob Markstrom in the eventual 3-2 win. However, Markstrom suffered a lower-body injury in the process and will be out of the lineup week-to-week. As such, Allen will share the crease with recently recalled Nico Daws for the foreseeable future. The 35-year-old Allen was solid before exiting Monday's game, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) through 40 minutes. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as -151 home favorites against a Florida Panthers team that played last night and lost 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings.

Jake Allen
Lorentz will be a healthy scratch vs. New York on Thursday.

Lorentz was battling an upper-body injury and did not play on Monday, and will remain out of the lineup as a healthy scratch on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 29-year-old Lorentz has two points (0G / 2A) in two games this season.

Steven Lorentz
Allen was the first goalie off the ice at New Jersey's morning skate.

Allen did not finish Monday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to cramping and was replaced by Jacob Markstrom in the eventual 3-2 win. However, Markstrom suffered a lower-body injury in the process and will be out of the lineup week-to-week. As such, Allen will share the crease with recently recalled Nico Daws for the foreseeable future. The 35-year-old Allen was solid before exiting Monday's game, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) through 40 minutes. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as -151 home favorites against a Florida Panthers team that played last night and lost 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings.

Jake Allen
Xhekaj is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Nashville on Thursday.

For the first time this season, Xhekaj will head to the sidelines to serve as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 10:53 time-on-ice, recording one point (0G / 1A), five blocks, and nine hits through four games this season. Jayden Struble will draw into Montreal's lineup as Xhekaj's replacement.

Arber Xhekaj
Dobes will start vs. Nashville on Thursday.

After a loss on opening night, the Canadiens have won three straight and will turn to Dobes between the pipes on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 24-year-old Dobes was solid in his only outing this season, saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Czech netminder earned himself the backup role in Montreal last season after posting a 2.74 and .909 SV% in 16 appearances (7-4-3). The Canadiens enter the action on Thursday as -148 home favorites against a Predators team that has points in three of their first four games (2-1-1).

Jakub Dobes
Ersson will start vs. Winnipeg on Thursday.

The Flyers are off to a 1-1-1 start to the 2025-26 season and will turn to Ersson for his second start between the pipes. The 25-year-old Ersson was serviceable in his only outing this season, saving 35 of 39 shots (.897 SV%), but allowed the game-deciding goal late in overtime in a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Goaltending counterpart Dan Vladar has been solid to start his Flyers' tenure, so Ersson will need to string together some consistent play if he hopes to increase his workload this season. The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +120 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets team that is averaging 4.0 goals per game through three games this season (2-1-0).

Samuel Ersson
Merzlikins will start vs. Colorado on Thursday.

The Blue Jackets have alternated goalies through the first three games of the regular season and will continue that trend in game four on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, awarding Merzlikins his second start of 2025-26. The 31-year-old Merzlikins played well in his only contest this season, despite allowing four goals, saving a whopping 48 of 52 shots (.923 SV%) in a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Wild. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +139 home underdogs against an Avalanche team that has outscored its opponents 13-8 through four games this season (3-0-1).

Elvis Merzlikins
Stolarz will start vs. New York on Thursday.

Stolarz had his first night off in Toronto's most recent outing, paving the way for a Cayden Primeau to tend the twine in a 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators, but Stolarz will return to the crease on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 31-year-old Stolarz has a 1-2-0 record to start the 2025-26 season, posting a 3.05 GAA and .886 SV%. Though still early in the season, Stolarz's early-season numbers are a far cry from the 2.14 GAA and .926 SV% he posted in 34 games last season (21-8-3). The Maple Leafs enter Thursday's contest as -129 home favorites against a Rangers team that has been shut out in three of five games this season (2-3-0).

Anthony Stolarz
Stolarz is in the starter's crease at Toronto's morning skate.

Stolarz had his first night off in Toronto's most recent outing, paving the way for a Cayden Primeau to tend the twine in a 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators, but Stolarz will return to the crease on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 31-year-old Stolarz has a 1-2-0 record to start the 2025-26 season, posting a 3.05 GAA and .886 SV%. Though still early in the season, Stolarz's early-season numbers are a far cry from the 2.14 GAA and .926 SV% he posted in 34 games last season (21-8-3). The Maple Leafs enter Thursday's contest as -129 home favorites against a Rangers team that has been shut out in three of five games this season (2-3-0).

Anthony Stolarz
Kaliyev has been recalled from Belleville (AHL).

Kaliyev signed with Ottawa in the offseason and started the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL, tallying two points (0G / 2A) in two games with the Belleville Sentors. The 24-year-old is no stranger to the NHL, with 202 games of experience, mostly with the Los Angeles Kings, scoring 75 career points (38G / 37A).

Arthur Kaliyev
Merzlikins is in the starter's crease at Columbus's morning skate.

The Blue Jackets have alternated goalies through the first three games of the regular season and will continue that trend in game four on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, awarding Merzlikins his second start of 2025-26. The 31-year-old Merzlikins played well in his only contest this season, despite allowing four goals, saving a whopping 48 of 52 shots (.923 SV%) in a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Wild. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +139 home underdogs against an Avalanche team that has outscored its opponents 13-8 through four games this season (3-0-1).

Elvis Merzlikins
Soderblom will start in St. Louis on Wednesday.

The Blackhawks are off to a 1-2-1 start to the 2025-26 season and will turn to Soderblom for the second time on Wednesday when they visit the St. Louis Blues. The 26-year-old Soderblom hopes to rebound after an upsetting first performance of the season, allowing four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins. The Blackhawks enter the action on Wednesday as significant +214 home underdogs against a Blues team that is 2-1-0 to start the season.

Arvid Soderblom
Vejmelka will start against the Flames on Wednesday.

After getting the night off in Utah's most recent outing, Vejmelka will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. Vejmelka has been solid early in the 2025-26 season but has only been rewarded with a 1-1-0 record, despite an impressive 1.99 GAA and .920 SV%. The Czech goaltending tandem of Vejmelka and Vitek Vanecek should continue to be led by Vejmelka, unless his play dictates otherwise. The Mammoth enters Wednesday's contest as sizable -220 home favorites against a Flames team that has been outscored 9-16 in their first four games (1-3-0).

Karel Vejmelka
Lyon will start against the Senators on Wednesday.

The Sabres will give Lyon the nod between the pipes for the fourth time in as many games when they host the Senators on Wednesday. Lyon has been unfortunate not to pick up a win through his first three starts despite posting a rather impressive .919 SV%. He was busy in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Avalanche, turning away 34 of the 37 shots he faced. Even with the winless record, Lyon and the Sabres enter action on Wednesday as slight favourites at -105 on the money line.

Alex Lyon