The Panthers snapped a four-game losing skid in their most recent outing, improving to 4-4-0 on the season, and will roll with Bobrovsky between the pipes on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite a pedestrian start to the 2025-26 season by the Panthers, they have received excellent goaltending from Bobrovsky. The 37-year-old Bobrovsky is showcasing a solid 2.19 GAA and .914 SV% through six games (4-2-0). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -189 home favorites against a Penguins team off to a surprising 5-2-0 start.

The Rangers have been among the NHL's worst teams offensively early in the 2025-26 season, scoring only 16 goals through eight contests (2.0 GF / GP), but have salvaged a serviceable 3-4-1 record thanks in part to elite goaltending from Shesterkin. The 29-year-old Shesterkin is boasting an incredible 1.17 GAA and .957 SV% through six games this season (2-3-1). Despite being winless at home (0-4-0), the Rangers enter Thursday's contest as -282 home favorites against a San Jose Sharks team looking for their first victory of the season (0-4-2).

The Senators have struggled early in the 2025-26 season, allowing a league-worst 33 goals through seven games (4.71 GA / GP). Poor defensive play has been the main contributor to the Senators' lackluster start, but Ullmark has failed to impress as well, posting an ugly 3.80 GAA and .854 SV% through six games (2-3-1). The Senators hope to rebound on Thursday, entering the contest as -156 home favorites against a Philadelphia Flyers team off to a 3-2-1 start to the season.

Sogaard was recalled by Ottawa last week, sending Leevi Merilainen to Belleville (AHL) for some increased playing time. After two games in the AHL, Merilainen is returning to Ottawa, sending Sogaard back to Belleville.

Merilainen started the season in Ottawa, had a poor performance in his only outing, and was sent to Belleville (AHL), where he posted a 3.50 GAA and .897 SV% in two games (1-1-0). He returns to Ottawa, with Mads Sogaard being reassigned to the AHL in a corresponding move.

Buffalo was unable to provide any updates on Zucker post-game after he left Wednesday's matchup vs. Detroit with an upper-body injury in the third period. Buffalo will hope their veteran forward does not miss much time after he came out of the gate hot to start 2025-26, with four goals and five points in his first seven games played.

James has enjoyed an electric start in Syracuse (AHL) with five points in four games played and earned himself his first career promotion to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. The 23-year-old forward is a former sixth-round pick (173rd overall) and will be hopeful to make his NHL debut after spending the last four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA).

Glass was a surprise scratch on Wednesday, with the Devils not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Brian Halonen will dress in his place.

Nosen missed the entire preseason and has not played yet in the 2025-26 season, but will debut on Wednesay against the Minnesota Wild. The 32-year-old Noesen scored a career-high 41 points (22G / 19A) in 78 games with the Devils last season

After three seasons in Switzerland, Juho Lammikko signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Devils in the offseason. However, a lower-body injured has delayed his return to the NHL. The 28-year-old last appeared in the NHL with Vancouver in the 2021-22 season, where he recorded seven goals and 15 points in 75 games played.

Casey has yet to play this season, sidelined due to a lower-body injury, and will make his 2025-26 debut in the AHL with the Utica Comets. The 21-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut last season and scored eight points (4G / 4A) in 14 games with the Devils.

Hanifin has only played one game this season and will likely be sidelined for at least the duration of their upcoming road trip, totaling three games. The 24-year-old Hanifin played 24:00 time-on-ice in the Golden Knights' season-opener and it's unclear when he will ready to return to the lineup, but is still listed as day-to-day.

Adin Hill suffered a lower-body injury and could not finish the Golden Knights' most recent game, replaced by Akira Schmid in the first period. The Golden Knights recalled Carl Lindbom from the Henderson Golden Knights (AHL) and he is expected to make his NHL debut between the pipes on an upcoming back-to-back this weekend. That said, expect Schmid to see most of the action in Hill's absence. The 29-year-old Hill has a 2.73 GAA and .888 SV% in five appearances this season (1-0-2).

Boeser did not play in Vancouver's previous two games, tending to a personal matter, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 28-year-old Boeser has three points (3G / 0A) and 10 shots through five games this season.

Howden has not played since October 11th, sidelined with a lower-body injury, but returned to practice on Wednesday and is hopeful of returning to Vegas' lineup on Saturday against Florida. The 27-year-old Howden had one point (1G / 0A) and six hits in three games before his injury.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Momtemeault between the pipes on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. Montembeault has failed to be spectacular early in the 2025-26 season, often outdueled by counterpart Jakub Dobes, but has remained serviceable, winning two of four games (2-2-0) despite a pedestrian 3.26 GAA and .857 SV%. The 28-year-old Montembeault faces arguably his toughest competition of the season, facing off against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.

Kesselring left the Sabres' preseason game on October 1st after aggravating an injury that he'd been dealing with throughout camp and has been sidelined since. The 25-year-old Kesselring was acquired with Josh Doan in a trade that sent JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in the offseason. Kesslering has the potential to be a top-four defenseman as shown by his seven goals, 29 points, 89 PIMs and 150 SOG in 82 GP with Utah in 2024-25.

The Canadiens have alternated goalies early in the 2025-26 season, a trend that will continue on Wednesday with Dobes tending the twine against the Calgary Flames. The 24-year-old Czech goalie has been outstanding through three games (3-0-0), posting a stellar 1.63 GAA and .939 SV%. Dobes had a similar start to the 2024-25 season, winning his first five contests while posting a .940 SV%. The 5-2-0 Canadiens enter Wednesday's contest as -115 road favorites against a Flames team desperate to stop a six-game losing skid (0-6-0).

Barron has been productive early in the 2025-26 season for the Jets, scoring five points (3G / 2A) in six games. The 26-year-old forward scored a career-high 21 points (8G / 13A) in 70 games in the 2022-23 season. It's unclear if Barron will be ready to play when the Jets return to action on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken.

Alex Lyon has started every game for the Sabres in the 2025-26 season, but the team will turn to Ellis for his first career start on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 25-year-old Ellis was drafted 93rd overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the entire 2024-25 season in the AHL, where he posted a solid 2.63 GAA and .922 SV% in 42 games (22-14-3). The Sabres enter Wednesday's contest with even-105 odds against one of the NHL's hottest teams, the Detroit Red Wings, who are riding a five-game winning streak.