NHL Player News

Lankinen allowed one goal on three shots in relief of Leevi Merilainen to take the loss in a 4-1 defeat against the Devils on Saturday.

Merilainen got the start but left the ice with less than six minutes remaining in the first period for some skate repairs. During that brief time, Lankinen gave up what proved to be the game-winning goal by Jesper Boqvist. Getting stuck with the unlikely loss sums up how Lankinen's season has gone so far. In five appearances (four starts), he's 1-4-0 with an atrocious .783 save percentage. The 31-year-old will likely get the nod for Sunday's road game against the Rangers, but his hold on the top spot on the Vancouver depth chart appears increasingly tenuous.

Merilainen stopped 31 of 34 shots for the Canucks during a 4-1 loss to the Devils on Saturday.

The 24-year-old netminder managed to avoid having the loss go on his record -- Merilainen left the ice late in the first period to get his skate repaired, and Kevin Lankinen wound up allowing the game-winning goal during his brief relief stint. All three pucks that got past Merilainen came on Devil power plays, and he made a number of big saves just to keep the game as close as it was. Through four appearances (two starts) this season, he boasts a .929 save percentage, compared to Lankinen's woeful .783 mark in five outings (four starts). Lankinen should get the start for Sunday's road contest against the Rangers, but Merilainen is making a strong case to take over the larger share of the workload in the crease for Vancouver.

Vasilevskiy is set to start on the road against the Islanders on Saturday, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com.

Vasilevskiy has won his past two starts, stopping 34 of 36 shots. He's gone 2-1-0 with a 2.05 GAA and a .900 save percentage in three appearances with Tampa Bay this year. The Islanders are 2-2-0 while averaging 3.25 goals per game in 2026-27.

Bobrovsky is set to start on the road against Colorado on Saturday, according to Bailey Curtis of DNVR Sports.

Bobrovsky is still searching for his first victory with Toronto after posting a record of 0-2-1 with a 2.95 GAA and a .906 save percentage across three outings. The Avalanche are a tough assignment with a league-leading 5.75 goals per game.

Ullmark will tend the twine at home versus the Predators on Saturday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

Ullmark has won all three of his games this season, allowing just three goals on 68 shots. The Predators haven't put it all together consistently yet, scoring 12 goals over four games. Still, Nashville won its second game this season with a 5-2 victory over the Canadiens on Thursday.

Murray will protect the road goal versus the Senators on Saturday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

Murray will make his NHL season debut, giving Juuse Saros a night off after four straight starts. Justus Annunen (undisclosed) still isn't ready to return, but when he is, Murray will likely head back to AHL Milwaukee. The Senators have scored 14 goals over four games this season.

Bussi is expected to start on the road against Chicago on Saturday, per Jack Bushman of Chicago Hockey Now.

Bussi has a 1-1-1 record, 3.24 GAA and .851 save percentage in three regular-season appearances with Carolina in 2026-27. He has allowed nine goals on 47 shots across his last two games. Chicago is 1-4-0 while averaging just 2.00 goals per game this campaign.

Vejmelka will guard the road goal versus the Sabres on Saturday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.

Vejmelka has allowed nine goals on 83 shots (.892 save percentage) in his four appearances this season. He had to make a relief appearance Thursday versus the Bruins, stopping 11 of 14 shots. The Sabres have scored 10 goals over four contests this season.

Wallstedt will guard the road goal against the Panthers on Saturday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

After winning his first two outings of the 2026-27 campaign, Wallstedt has gone 0-1-1 in his last two appearances. During that span, he has allowed only eight goals on 110 shots. Florida (2-0-2) has registered just eight goals in four games this season.

Montembeault (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, according to the NHL media site.

Montembeault sat out Thursday's 5-2 loss to Nashville. He hasn't played yet this season and is expected to miss about 10-14 days. Jacob Fowler was recalled from AHL Laval on Wednesday to replace Montembeault on Montreal's depth chart.