Afanasyev signed a one-year extension worth $800K in the offseason after being acquired in a trade from the Nashville Predators. The 24-year-old Afanasyev spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the KHL, where he scored 21 points (7G / 14A) in 53 games with CSKA Moscow. He will report to the San Jose Barracuda after clearing waivers.

With the announcement that Dmitry Kulikov (upper-body) will be sidelined for five months, the Panthers have opted to claim Donovan Sebrango off of waivers from the Ottawa Senators. The 23-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 20 points (8G / 12A) in 50 games with the Belleville Senators.

Andrae made his season debut in Philadelphia's most recent game, but he has now been reassigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL). The 23-year-old Andrae is in his sophomore season after playing 42 games with the Flyers in 2024-25, scoring seven points (1G / 6A) in the process.

Portillo played one game with the Kings last season, his NHL debut, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) to record a victory. The 25-year-old goalie was the 67th-overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. It's unclear if he was recalled for precautionary reasons or if there is an injury concern with one of Darcy Kuemper or Anton Forsberg.

The Islanders have struggled to score goals early in the 2025-26 season, outscored 7-13 in three games (0-3-0), and will attempt a shake-up, sending Tsyplakov to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old forward scored 35 points (10G / 25A) playing 77 games with the Islanders in his first NHL season in 2024-25.

Duchene was on the receiving end of a hit from Minnesota's Jacob Middleton that made contact with his head in Tuesday's 5-2 win. The 34-year-old Duchene was shaken up on the play but skated off the ice under his power, although he was not able to return to the game. Duchene has two points (1G / 1A) in three games this season and will create a sizable void in the Stars' top-six if he misses any time. That said, Stars' head coach Glen Gulutzan seemed optimistic that the injury is not overly concerning and Duchene has not been ruled out for their next game.

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.

Koepke exited Monday's contest against the New York Islanders after only 2:50 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old Koepke recorded his first point of the season, an assist, before suffering the injury.

Fleury departed Saturday's game after taking a shot off the "side of the kneecap" according to head coach Scott Arniel. The 29-year-old Fleury did not play in Winnipeg's following game but appears to be nearing a return after practicing on Wednesday.

After getting the night off in Utah's most recent outing, Vejmelka will likely 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).

Jake Allen was the starting goalie in Monday's 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, but exited due to cramping and was replaced by Markstrom. Markstrom saved 8 of 9 shots (.889 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets, but appeared to be in discomfort towards the end of the contest. The team confirmed Markstrom will be sidelined for several weeks. Expect Jake Allen and the recently recalled Nico Daws to occupy the Devils' crease in Markstrom's absence.

The Panthers' first loss of the season came in their most recent outing with Daniil Tarasov between the pipes, but the team will return to Bobrovsky on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 37-year-old Bobrovsky has been excellent early in the 2025-26 season, showcasing an impressive 1.67 GAA and .925 SV% through three games (3-0-0). The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as -145 road favorites against a Red Wings team riding a two-game winning streak.

Kulikov was limited to only 7:47 time-on-ice before exiting last Thursday's contest against the Philadelphia Flyers. His long-term absence is the latest in a list of lineup-regulars the Panthers will be without for the foreseeable future.

Three games into the Blues' season, head coach Jim Montgomery has alternated goalies, a trend that will continue on Wednesday with Hofer tending the twine. When Montgomery was the head coach of the Boston Bruins, he followed a similar tactic, regularly alternating starts between Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark, but it's unclear whether that will be his long-term approach in the 2025-26 season with the Blues. Hofer was solid in his only start this season, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames.

Linus Ullmark has started Ottawa's first three games this season (1-2-0), but he will get the night off on Wednesday when Merilainen tends the twine for the first time this season. The 23-year-old Merilainen was excellent in limited action last season, posting a 1.99 GAA and .925 SV% in 12 appearances (8-3-1). Entering the 2025-26 season as the Senators' undisputed backup, the Finnish netminder should have no problem passing his career-high 11 starts from a season ago. The Senators enter Wednesday's action as -117 road favorites against a frustrated 0-3-0 Buffalo Sabres team that has been outscored 10-2.

Three games into the Blues' season, head coach Jim Montgomery has alternated goalies, a trend that will continue on Wednesday with Hofer tending the twine. When Montgomery was the head coach of the Boston Bruins, he followed a similar tactic, regularly alternating starts between Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark, but it's unclear whether that will be his long-term approach in the 2025-26 season with the Blues. Hofer was solid in his only start this season, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames.

Sorokin gave up four goals on 25 shots in the Islanders loss to the Jets on Monday. He was giving Thursday night off and David Rittich turned in an excellent performance, but they will go back to Sorokin this afternoon in Ottawa. Sorokin has allowed four goals in all three of his starts this season, going 0-3-0 with a 4.18 GAA and .854 SV%.

The winless Islanders (0-3-0) will hope for a better result on Thursday, turning to Rittich for his Islanders debut season in a meeting with the Edmonton Oilers. The 33-year-old Rittich was serviceable in two seasons as the Los Angeles Kings' backup goalie, posting a 2.55 GAA and .902 SV% in 58 combined games (29-20-5). Rittich has played reasonably well in his career against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, posting a 2.68 GAA and .906 SV% in 14 appearances (5-5-1).

With Miles Wood (upper body) out of the lineup for at least a week, Chinakhov will draw in and make his season debut on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 24-year-old Chinakhov scored 15 points (7G / 8A) in 30 games last season. The talented forward had a season-opening stint with 14 points (7G / 7A) in his first 21 games last season, but has lacked consistent production.

In Monday's game against the New Jersey Devils, an errant stick of defenseman Dougie Hamilton cut Wood's face. Wood left for repairs after only 1:17 time-on-ice and did not return. The 30-year-old Wood has one goal through three games this season.