NHL Player News

Oettinger will start Game 3 on the road against Minnesota on Wednesday, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Oettinger will be in the crease for a third consecutive game to begin the Stars' first-round series. He struggled in Game 1, allowing five goals on 28 shots en route to a 6-1 loss, but he was more effective in Game 2 on Monday, turning aside 28 of 30 shots in a 4-2 victory. He'll attempt to build upon his momentum as the series shifts to Minnesota on Wednesday.

Skinner was the first goalie to leave the ice ahead of Wednesday's Game 3 road clash with the Flyers, Dan Potash of Sportsnet Pittsburgh reports, indicating he'll be in goal.

Skinner has suffered three defeats in his last four contests, posting a 3.05 GAA and .878 save percentage along the way. If the 27-year-old Skinner can't pull out a victory in Game 3, it's possible head coach Dan Muse considers changing things up in the crease and giving the nod to Arturs Silovs in Game 4.

Vladar is expected to start at home against the Penguins on Wednesday in Game 3 of their first-round series, per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Vladar earned a 27-save shutout over the Penguins in Game 2 after turning aside 16 of 18 shots in the series opener. His efforts have enabled Philadelphia to take a 2-0 series lead. He finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 29-14-7 record, 2.42 GAA and .906 save percentage in 52 appearances. While Vladar has done well in the 2026 playoffs, Pittsburgh still figures to be a challenging adversary going forward. The Penguins finished third in goals per game during the regular season with an average of 3.54.

Lyon turned aside all seven shots he faced after replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen early in the third period Tuesday during the Sabres' 4-2 loss to the Bruins in Game 2 of their first-round series.

Luukkonen has looked shaky through the first two games of the series, coughing up seven goals on only 40 shots, so Lyon's strong play late Tuesday -- even if it did come after the game was all but out of reach -- will give coach Lindy Ruff something to think about heading into Game 3 on Thursday. The 33-year-old Lyon hasn't started a game since April 4 and hasn't won one since March 19, however. He finished the regular season with a 2.77 GAA and .906 save percentage over 36 outings.

Luukkonen gave up four goals on 20 shots before being replaced by Alex Lyon early in the third period Tuesday during the Sabres' 4-2 loss to the Bruins in Game 2 of their first-round series.

After a scoreless first period, things fell apart for Buffalo in the second, and Luukkonen didn't help matters when he let a bouncing puck get past him for Boston's second goal on a backhand flip from center ice by Morgan Geekie. Lyon was perfect in relief in the final frame, creating a potential goaltending controversy for the Sabres heading into Game 3 on Thursday since Luukkonen has given up seven goals on only 40 shots through the first two games in the series.

Swayman made 33 saves Tuesday during the Bruins' 4-2 win over the Sabres in Game 2 of their first-round series.

The 27-year-old netminder took a shutout into the third period before Buffalo finally managed a late gasp of offense in the last seven minutes. Swayman has looked good to begin the series, allowing five goals on 72 shots, and over 14 outings since March 14 he's given up more than three goals only once, posting a 2.43 GAA and .919 save percentage over that stretch. Swayman will look to put the Bruins ahead 2-1 when the series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Thursday.

Bjarnason was recalled from AHL Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.

Bjarnason was one of five players included in the Flyers' Black Aces promotions, players who are not expected to actually play during the playoffs. In the minors this year, the 20-year-old backstop went 14-11-4 with an .877 save percentage in 32 games with the Phantoms. At this point, Bjarnason is likely still a few years away from being a legitimate NHL option.

Forsberg allowed two goals on 36 shots in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Avalanche in Game 2.

Forsberg has allowed just six goals on 87 shots over his last three outings, but he's gone winless in those games. The 33-year-old is still playing well enough to keep the Kings competitive, so it seems likely he'll get a chance to show what he can do on home ice in Game 3 on Thursday. Forsberg will need more than one goal of support per game, which is all the help he's received so far this postseason.

Wedgewood stopped 24 of 25 shots in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime win over the Kings in Game 2.

Wedgewood picked up his sixth win in a row, dating back to April 4, and he was again able to hold an opponent to no more than one goal. The 33-year-old is locked in, even as the Avalanche's offense hasn't fully materialized in this first-round series -- both of their wins have been by 2-1 scores so far. Wedgewood's strong play makes him the clear No. 1 over Mackenzie Blackwood for now, though both goalies had chances to shine during the regular season. Wedgewood went 31-6-6 with a 2.02 GAA and a .921 save percentage over 45 regular-season appearances. He's likely to start Game 3 on Thursday in Los Angeles.

Hart stopped 26 of 29 shots in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Mammoth in Game 2.

Hart didn't let the game get out of hand, but a goal in each period from the Mammoth gave him his first loss since he returned from a lower-body injury. Through the first two games of the season, Hart has allowed five goals on 62 shots, and he's faced a bit more traffic than Karel Vejmelka as the Mammoth have been able to put some pressure on the Golden Knights' defense. One loss probably won't cause head coach John Tortorella to turn away from Hart in goal, so expect the 27-year-old to get the nod in Game 3 on Friday in Utah.