Lyon backstopped the Sabres on Wednesday for their first victory of the season in a high-scoring 8-4 win over the Ottawa Senators, where he saved 32 of 36 shots (.889 SV%). Despite an unfavorable 1-3-0 record, the 32-year-old Lyon has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing start to the 2025-26 season for the Sabres, showcasing a 3.05 GAA and .911 SV%. The Sabres enter Saturday's contest as +125 home underdogs against the Panthers.

Tampa Bay is off to a disappointing 1-2-1 start to the 2025-26 season and will turn to Vasilevskiy on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings as he searches for his first win this season. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has an ugly 4.08 GAA and .870 SV% in three games (0-2-1), but he played well in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 28 shots (.893 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals. Tampa Bay enters Friday's contest as -151 road favorites against a Red Wings team outscoring their opposition 13-6 during a three-game winning streak.

Santini has had short stints in the NHL in nine of the last 10 seasons, but he has never been able to establish himself as a permanent fixture, limited to only 124 career games. The 30-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, where he scored 17 points (6G / 11A).

The Blackhawks are off to a serviceable 2-2-1 start to the 2025-26 season, due in part to strong goaltending spearheaded by Spencer Knight. The 24-year-old Knight has a losing 1-2-0 record through three games but has kept his team within reach in each contest, posting a solid 2.35 GAA and .920 SV%. Chicago is riding a two-game winning streak and enters the action on Friday as +123 home underdogs against a Vancouver Canucks team coming off an impressive come-from-behind 5-3 win last night over the Dallas Stars.

Raymond participated in the morning skate but will miss his second straight game. With him still sidelined, Mason Appleton is expected to remain on the Red Wings’ top line, while James van Riemsdyk continues to skate on the top power-play unit.

Minnesota has had an inconsistent 2-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season and hopes to own a winning record after Gustavsson tends the twine on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 26-year-old Gustavsson had a dazzling 26-save shutout in his season-opening performance, but has gone on to allow nine goals on 54 shots (.833 SV%) in his next two contests (0-2-0). The Wild enter Friday's contest as +110 road underdogs against a Capitals team that is 3-1-0 to start the season despite scoring only nine total goals, the lowest in the entire Eastern Conference.

With some injury uncertainty on their blueline, the Rangers recalled Mackey from Hartford (AHL) last week, but he did not draw into the lineup and has been reassigned back to the AHL. The 29-year-old defenseman has primarily spent his career in the AHL, but has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 42 career NHL games.

Trevor van Riemsdyk will return to the press box to serve as a healthy scratch on Friday against the Minnesota Wild, allowing Chisholm to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Chisholm played 14:29 time-on-ice in his only outing this season and recorded one assist.

van Riemsdyk played all 82 games for the Capitals last season, recording 21 points (1G / 20A), but will be a healthy scratch for the second time through five games this season. Declan Chisholm will draw into Washington's lineup as van Riemsdyk's replacement.

Strong goaltending helped spearhead the Capitals into first place in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25, a trend that has continued early in the 2025-26 season. Through four games this season (3-1-0), the Capitals have allowed a league-low seven total goals. Thompson has led the way with a 2.01 GAA and .921 SV% in three outings (2-1-0), and will return to the crease on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. Washington enters Friday's contest as -121 home favorites against a Minnesota team that is clicking at an outrageous 47.6% on the powerplay through four games (2-2-0).

Dubois, who missed Tuesday’s game due to a lower-body injury, skated in a non-contact jersey on Friday. His limited participation, combined with the Capitals’ recall of Ethen Frank earlier in the day, suggests that Dubois is unlikely to play tonight vs. the Wild. Still, his presence on the ice is an encouraging sign that a return could be coming soon.

With Pierre-Luc Dubois (lower body) still banged up, the Capitals have recalled Ethen Frank for the Hershey Bears (AHL) for precautionary reasons. The 27-year-old Frank made his NHL debut in 2024-25, playing 24 games with the Capitals and recording 7 points (4G/3A).

Helenius will slot in for captain Anze Kopitar, who is out with an undisclosed injury. It's a season debut for Helenius, who appeared in 50 games with the Kings last season, tallying 4 goals and 3 assists.

Anze Kopitar is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and was not at practice on Wednesday. In the self-proclaimed final season of his career, the 38-year-old Kopitar is off to a hot start with four points (0G / 4A) in his first four games.

Andersen will get the nod against his former team when the Hurricanes travel to Anaheim to take on the Ducks on Thursday. Freddie picked up the win in his last start, stopping 20 of the 23 shots he faced in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Flyers. He's a great bet to stay in the win column on Thursday as the Hurricanes enter action at -190 on the money line.

The Canucks are off to a 1-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season but have received stellar play from Demko, who will return to the crease on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old Demko has an impressive 1.54 GAA and .944 SV% through two games this season (1-1-0). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +146 road underdogs against an undefeated Stars team that is outscoring its opposition 15-10 through three games this season (3-0-0).

Lycksell will be the odd-man out when the Senators host the Kraken on Thursday. Arthur Kaliyev will dress in his place.

Kaliyev will make his Senators debut on Thursday when they host the Kraken. The 23-year-old winger appeared in 14 games for the Rangers last season, tallying three goals and one assist.

Brodzinski will be the odd-man out when the Rangers travel to Toronto on Thursday to take on the Maple Leafs. Juuso Parssinen will dress in his place.

Parssinen picked up an assist in his only other appearance of the season while seeing less than 10 minutes of ice time. Jonny Brodzinski will sit in his place.