Johansson will get the call for his third start of the season tonight after sitting out Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Senators. Signed in the off-season with the intention of serving as Andrei Vasilevskiy’s backup, Johansson was thrust into a starting role after Vasilevskiy suffered a back injury in the final weeks of pre-season. With a 4.09 GAA and an .889 SV% to show for his efforts, Johansson has underwhelmed through his first two starts of the season, and he draws another difficult matchup tonight in Buffalo against Tage Thompson’s Sabres.

Johansson stopped 28 of 31 shots in the Lightning's win over the Predators on opening night. It was a nice start to the season for the much-maligned netminder, who will be leaned on heavily while Andrei Vasilevskiy is out. Tonight, he'll face a Red Wings team that lost 4-3 in New Jersey in their season opener.

Cam Talbot started the Kings' season opener but they will turn to Copley in their second game on Saturday. Copley enjoyed success in 2022-23, going 24-6-3 with a 2.64 GAA and .903 SV%. As impressive as his win total was last season, he draws a dreadful matchup on Saturday and should be benched for better options.

Cam Talbot started the Kings' season opener but they will turn to Copley in their second game on Saturday. Copley enjoyed success in 2022-23, going 24-6-3 with a 2.64 GAA and .903 SV%. As impressive as his win total was last season, he draws a dreadful matchup on Saturday and should be benched for better options.

Johansson stopped 28 of 31 shots in the Lightning's win over the Predators on opening night. It was a nice start to the season for the much-maligned netminder, who will be leaned on heavily while Andrei Vasilevskiy is out. Tonight he'll face a Red Wings team that lost 4-3 in New Jersey in their season opener.

Vasilevskiy has officially been placed on LTIR after having back surgery and is expected to miss approximately two months to start the season. Jonas Johansson has been appointed the starting goalie position for the Lightning in the interim and had a very impressive preseason, posting a 3-0-0 record along with a 2.10 GAA and .932 SV%.

Guentzel was expected to miss most of the opening month of the season after undergoing off-season ankle surgery but has now been deemed fit to play on opening night. Lining up primarily alongside Sidney Crosby, Guentzel has been the picture of consistency over the last five seasons, tallying 333 points (159G / 174A) in 331 games. Expect Guentzel to continue his point-per-game pace lining up on the top line and top powerplay unit for the Penguins.

Johansson was 2-0-0 with a 2.10 GAA and a .932 SV% in three games played with Colorado in 2022-23 and will get the opening night nod Tuesday as Tampa takes on Nashville at home. The Predators finished 2022-23 ranked 28th in the NHL in goals for (223) and 23rd in shots per game (29.5) so Johansson should be in for a lighter matchup to get the season going.

Holmberg had a shot to make the Maple Leafs' opening roster after putting up five goals, eight assists, 27 SOG, and 18 PIMs in 37 games played in his rookie season in 2022-23 but has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) to the 2023-24 campaign. The 24-year-old right-winger was Toronto's 2018 sixth-round pick (156th overall) and should find his way back to the Maple Leafs at some point this season.

Guentzel, who underwent off-season ankle surgery, continues to be a full participant in practice and could play in the season opener for the Penguins. Last season, he scored 73 points (36G / 37A) in 78 games and would be a major boost for a Penguins team that is coming off missing the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. If Guentzel is able to suit up, expect him to take his familiar role alongside Sidney Crosby on the top line and top powerplay unit.

Pelletier is expected to be out long-term after undergoing shoulder surgery. Last season he made his NHL debut, recording seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games for the Flames. In his absence, Dryden Hunt is expected to make the opening-night roster and center the 4th line for Calgary.

Guentzel was initially expected to miss the first month of the season, but then GM Kyle Dubas said he may only miss five games. Now, it looks like Guentzel may not be in danger of missing any games after being a full participant in Tuesday's practice. Guentzel had 36 goals and 37 assists (73 points) in 78 games a season ago.

Guentzel underwent offseason ankle surgery in early August and was expected 12 weeks. Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas later stated he would only miss about five games, so returning to the ice in training camp suggests he's on track for an early season debut.

Schmidt was Tampa Bay's 2021 third-round pick (96th overall) and was expected to report to Syracuse (AHL) for his first professional season but is now not expected to be ready for the start of the 2023-24 season and is out indefinitely as he deals with an undisclosed injury. The 20-year-old defensemen had four goals, 24 assists, 74 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 64 games played with Kitchener in 2022-23.

Vasilevskiy enjoyed his longest off-season since 2018-19 due to the Lightning's first-round playoff exit in 2022-23 but has undergone successful back surgery and is now expected to miss 8-10 weeks as he recovers. The 29-year-old Vezina Winner failed to lead the NHL in wins for the first time in six seasons in 2022-23, as he went 34-22-4 with a .915 SV% and a 2.65 GAA in what was considered a down year by his standards. Jonas Johansson is currently lined up to take over the starting role while Vasilevskiy recovers.

Pelletier injured his left shoulder during a Flames pre-season game, and he will undergo surgery next week. Pelletier split his 2023 season between the AHL and NHL, picking up seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games with the Flames. He was poised to fill a middle-6 role with the Flames this season, but that will no longer be the case.

Raddysh had a goal, two assists, 25 SOG, four PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 17 games in 2022-23 with Tampa Bay and has signed a two-year, 1.95 million contract extension ($995,000 AAV). The 27-year-old defenseman had only played in four NHL games prior to last season after a strong AHL career which saw him collect 171 points in 339 career AHL games.

Hagel enjoyed a breakout season in 2022-23 with 30 goals, 34 assists, 178 SOG, a +23 plus/minus, with 54 PIMs through 81 games played with Tampa Bay and has signed an eight-year, $52 million contract extension ($6,500,000 AAV). The 24-year-old winger was acquired from Chicago the season before for two players and two conditional first-round picks and has 64 goals and 132 points across 211 career NHL games.

Guentzel had 36 goals, 37 assists, 244 SOG, 46 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 78 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23 and will now miss the next three months and start of the season as he recovers from a successful Ankle surgery. The 28-year-old elite scoring left-winger is expected to be re-evaluated in 12 weeks which means he will miss at least the Penguins' first seven games. It is a massive loss for the Penguins early as Guentzel has scored 99 goals in the previous three seasons.

Abruzzese had two assists, two SOG, and a +1 plus/minus through a short two-game showing with Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way extension worth $1.55 million ($775,000 AAV). The 24-year-old centre was Toronto's 2019 4th round draft pick (124th overall) and has a goal, two assists, and two PIMs through 11 career NHL games.