Toews was a surprise scratch before Monday's contest against the New York Islanders, with his absence not being announced before warmups. Oliver Kylington drew into the lineup as his replacement. If Toews cannot suit again, it will be a major blow for the Avalanche, one of only four clubs without a win this season (0-3-0).

The Sharks, winless in their first two games (0-1-1), will turn to Blackwood between the pipes for the second time early in the season. Blackwood struggled in his first outing allowing five goals on 40 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old Blackwood had a 3.45 GAA, .899 SV%, and two shutouts in 44 appearances for the Sharks last season (10-25-4). The Sharks enter action on Tuesday as sizeable +294 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has outscored their opposition 9-3 so far this season (3-0-0).

The Sharks, winless in their first two games (0-1-1), will turn to Blackwood between the pipes for the second time early in the season. Blackwood struggled in his first outing allowing five goals on 40 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old Blackwood had a 3.45 GAA, .899 SV%, and two shutouts in 44 appearances for the Sharks last season (10-25-4). The Sharks enter action on Tuesday as sizeable +294 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has outscored their opposition 9-3 so far this season (3-0-0).

Ludvig will make his Avalanche debut as Devon Toews and Calvin de Haan were surprise scratches on Monday night. Ludvig scored three goals and added two assists in 33 games with the Penguins last season.

Toews was a surprise scratch on Monday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. Oliver Kylington will draw into the lineup in his place.

With Jonathan Drouin sidelined with injury, Wagner returns from the AHL to serve as Colorado's 12th forward on Saturday. Wagner, who will be on the fourth line, had just two points (1G / 1A) in 13 NHL games a season ago.

Drouin played 21:25 in Colorado's season-opening 8-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday but did not practice on Thursday or Friday and will miss several games. Ross Colton is expected to fill in on the top powerplay unit in Drouin's absence.

With starting netminder Juuse Saros temporarily sidelined due to a lower-body injury, Wedgewood will make his Predators debut in a matchup against his former club, the Dallas Stars. Wedgewood was a steadying force as the backup goalie for the Stars for three seasons, posting a reliable 2.83 GAA and .907 SV% in 61 appearances (28-16-11). The vastly improved Predators enter action as +109 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars club they are expected to battle with for supremacy in the Central Division this season.

Head Coach Andrew Brunette stated the team has not decided on a starter due to injuries but with starting netminder Juuse Saros temporarily sidelined due to a lower-body injury, Wedgewood looks likely to make his Predators debut in a matchup against his former club, the Dallas Stars. Wedgewood was a steadying force as the backup goalie for the Stars for three seasons, posting a reliable 2.83 GAA and .907 SV% in 61 appearances (28-16-11). The vastly improved Predators enter action as +109 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars club they are expected to battle with for supremacy in the Central Division this season.

Yaroslav Askarov missed the entirety of training camp so he will begin the season with the San Jose Baracuda (AHL), leaving Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek to duel it out for the Sharks crease. Blackwood was serviceable last season, especially considering the Sharks ranked 31st offensively with 181 goals, posting a 3.45 GAA and .899 SV% in 44 games (10-25-4). After finishing dead last in the NHL last season, the Sharks should improve this season but still enter their opening night matchup as +140 home underdogs against the St. Louis Blues.

Lindgren suffered an upper-body injury early in training camp and is currently two weeks into his initial four-week timeline. The 26-year-old Lindgren will be an important part of the Rangers defensive core when he is healthy. He had 17 points (3G / 14A), 103 blocks, and 114 hits in 76 games last season.

Lindgren suffered an upper-body injury early in training camp and is currently two weeks into his initial four-week timeline. The 26-year-old Lindgren will be an important part of the Rangers defensive core when he is healthy. He had 17 points (3G / 14A), 103 blocks, and 114 hits in 76 games last season.

The Rangers will be without Vesey in their bottom-six for an extended period due to a lower-body injury after he was placed on long-term injured reserve on Monday. The 31-year-old is entering his third season in New York after joining on a PTO in 2022-23 and put up an impressive 13 goals, 26 points, 20 PIMs and 116 SOG in 80 games played in 2023-24.

Lehkonen has a check-in at the end of the month on the same shoulder he had surgery on in May and is not expected to return to the Avalanche until after the check-up is complete. The 29-year-old should find himself back in his top-six role when able to return and will hope to produce as efficiently as he did in 2023-24, with 16 goals and 34 points in 45 injury-plagued games played.

Lindgren suffered an upper-body injury early in training camp and is currently two weeks into his initial four-week timeline. The 26-year-old Lindgren will be an important part of the Rangers defensive core when he is healthy. He had 17 points (3G / 14A), 103 blocks, and 114 hits in 76 games last season.

Ludvig was placed on waivers by Pittsburgh on Friday and has been claimed by the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. The 24-year-old defenseman spent his entire rookie season in 2023-24 with Pittsburgh and had three goals, five points and 47 PIMs in 33 games played.

Lehkonen is expected to miss the start of the regular season due to offseason shoulder surgery. According to head coach Jared Bednar, they are trying to give him as long as they can without contact, but once he's cleared it won't be long before he returns to the lineup. With Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin both expected to miss the start of the season, newcomers Calum Ritchie and Nikolai Kovalenko could get a look in the Avalanche top-6 early on.

New York will be without one of their key bottom-six forwards to start the season after it was announced Jimmy Vesey injured his lower body in practice and would be out week-to-week. The 31-year-old is entering his third season in New York after joining on a PTO in 2022-23 and put up an impressive 13 goals, 26 points, 20 PIMs and 116 SOG in 80 games played in 2023-24.

New York will be without one of their top defensemen for the start of the regular season after it was announced on Wednesday that Ryan Lindgren is expected to be out for a few weeks with an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old was a cog on New York's back end last season after putting up three goals, 17 points and a +22 plus/minus in 76 games played.