2 weeks agoCalgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf made it two wins in two starts to begin the year on Tuesday, stopping 31 of 32 shots in a 3-1 victory over Chicago. Wolf, who started the campaign with a 6-3 triumph versus Philadelphia, was only beaten by Nick Foligno late in the first period on Tuesday. Despite seeing action in just two games, Wolf has already produced 68 saves. He carries a perfect 2-0-0 record with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. Dan Vladar is also 2-0-0 through the first few games of the season but has given up six goals with a .880 save percentage. The Flames are currently alternating starts between the goalies, but it might not take long until Wolf runs away with the starter's job.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoFlorida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart bagged a game-high three points as the reigning Stanley Cup champions battled out a 4-3 road win against Columbus on Tuesday. He did the damage with a goal and two assists, scoring all the points during even-strength play. Reinhart had a special year in 2023-24 and looks ready to better it this season. He's enjoyed a very fruitful beginning to the campaign, recording four goals and four assists in five games. Sitting on eight points, Reinhart is tied for the league lead for scoring with Vegas duo Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. The Panthers forward will be let loose next against a Vancouver team that has been very leaking early in the season, allowing 4.00 goals per game.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoWashington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin reached 700 career assists on Tuesday in a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. He registered two assists early in the second period, helping Tom Wilson to score a power-play goal and setting up Aliaksei Protas in an even-strength situation. Ovechkin became the sixth player in NHL history to register at least 700 career goals and assists. The Capitals captain was largely anonymous in Saturday's season opener against New Jersey, finishing a 5-3 loss with zero shots on goal. He was much more active in the offensive zone on Tuesday night, leading all skaters with six shots. Ovechkin was shifted to the right wing to get him going, and it looks like it worked. The Russian star has three assists in two games for the season and will continue the hunt for his first goal on Thursday versus Dallas.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoPhiladelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov potted his first two career goals in a 4-3 overtime defeat against Edmonton on Tuesday night. Michkov struck twice on the power play in the first period, giving Philadelphia a 2-0 lead. He finished with five total shots and had two blocks with one hit and a minus-one rating in 18:08 of ice time. The talented Russian winger boasts three points in three games to start his NHL career, having done all of the scoring with the mad advantage. It should be only a matter of time before Michkov also starts firing in even-strength situations, as he averages over 18 minutes per game as a member of the top line.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoMinnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson wrote himself into history books against St. Louis on Tuesday by scoring the first goalie goal in franchise history. He wrapped up a 4-1 win with an empty-net goal inside the final seconds of play. The tally went down as a power-play marker. Gustavsson is the 15th goaltender in NHL history to light the lamp. The Swedish netminder wasn't bad at his normal duties either on Tuesday, stopping 27 of 28 shots. It's still early in the season, but Gustavsson looks set for a very successful campaign. He has gone 2-0-1 through three starts with a 1.66 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoVegas Golden Knights left wing Victor Olofsson sustained a lower-body injury in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to Washington. He posted a power-play goal in the first period before suffering an apparent left leg injury. Olofsson has had a really good start on his new team, scoring three goals in four games. Two of his markers have come with the man advantage, while Olofsson has fired off 11 efforts on goal. The Swedish forward skated with the second line on Tuesday, and Vegas will need to tweak its top power-play unit if Olofsson can't play on Thursday versus Tampa Bay.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jack Williams
2 weeks agoColumbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Florida. He exited the game near the end of the second period following a collision with teammate Sean Monahan. Gudbranson appeared to be holding his right arm. "I can tell you, it doesn't look good," Blue Jackets head coach Dave Evason said abound Gudbranson's injury. It looks like the punishing blue-liner will be forced to miss some time because of the injury. Gudbranson sits on three blocks and three hits through two games this season. David Jiricek is the likeliest candidate to fill in for him on Columbus' third defensive pairing. Jiricek has more offensive upside, but it will be difficult for him to make an impact with limited minutes on the bottom pairing.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 weeks agoVancouver Canucks left wing Arshdeep Bains will make his season debut on the first line on Tuesday versus Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old went scoreless in his first eight NHL appearances last term, but he now gets a big opportunity playing next to prolific forwards J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser. Bains averaged nearly a point per game in the AHL last season, showcasing his ability to make a difference on the offensive end. Daniel Sprong comes out of the lineup to accommodate Bains.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Brendan Batchelor
2 weeks agoVancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers (lower body) will play against Tampa Bay on Tuesday. He saw just 36 seconds of action in the previous game against Philadelphia due to a lower-body injury, but Myers has shaken off the ailment ahead of Tuesday's matchup. The towering blue-liner will skate in his usual spot on the second defensive pairing next to Carson Soucy. It should be a very busy night for Myers against a talented forwards group.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Brendan Batchelor
2 weeks agoTampa Bay Lightning right wing Cameron Atkinson will come out of the lineup for Tuesday's clash with the Canucks. Atkinson was limited to only 8:42 of ice time in Friday's season opener against Carolina, finishing with one shot on goal and a minus-one rating. Conor Sheary and Michael Eyssimont will enter the lineup on Tuesday on the third, with defenseman Emil Lilleberg also getting the night off. Atkinson, a former 30-goal scorer, will hope to reach 500 career points in 2024-25, but it will be difficult for him if he can't hold down a regular spot in the lineup. He's currently on 480 points, having registered 249 goals and 231 assists in 771 career games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Eduardo A. Encina
2 weeks agoWinnipeg Jets center Jaret Anderson-Dolan is recovering from a broken foot. Jets head coach Scott Arniel revealed the news on Tuesday. The 25-year-old was placed on Injured Reserve last week with an undisclosed injury, and now we know the exact nature of the ailment. This also means that Anderson-Dolan won't make his season debut anytime soon. "We're not even close on that one yet," Arniel said regarding Anderson-Dolan. Even when he's ready to return, the Calgary-born forward likely won't play a large role with the Jets. Following stints with the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators, Anderson-Dolan sits on 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) through 127 career games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Dave Minuk
2 weeks agoSeattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn (upper body) is considered a game-time decision for Tuesday's clash with Nashville. He wasn't available for Sunday's matchup against Dallas but could return on Tuesday after participating in the morning skate. Before getting hurt, Dunn notched two points (one goal, one assist) with six shots on goal and six blocks in the first two games of the season. His absence allowed Josh Mahura to make his season debut on Sunday, but he will likely head to the press box on Tuesday if Dunn is ready to return.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Kate Shefte
2 weeks agoTampa Bay Lightning forward Michael Eyssimont (lower body) has been activated from the injured non-roster list and appears poised to make his season debut in Tuesday's matchup against Vancouver. The 28-year-old was forced to miss Friday's season opener against Carolina due to a lower-body injury. Eyssimont, who notched 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 81 appearances last season, skated on the third line next to Conor Sheary and Conor Geekie on Tuesday morning. Tampa had seven defensemen in the lineup on Friday, and Emil Lilleberg looks to be the odd man out on the blue line on Tuesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Gabby Shirley
2 weeks agoColumbus Blue Jackets center Zach Aston-Reese (upper body) is expected to play on Tuesday versus Florida. He logged only 34 seconds of action last time out versus Colorado due to an upper-body injury. However, Aston-Reese skated with the team Tuesday morning and appears ready to play against the Panthers. Aston-Reese logged 7:33 of ice time on the fourth line in Columbus' season opener against Minnesota. He's a valued grinder but offers next to nothing in fantasy hockey.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Aaron Portzline
2 weeks agoUtah Hockey Club defenseman Sean Durzi (upper body) will be out indefinitely. General manager Bill Armstrong expects him to be out for the "foreseeable future." Durzi appeared to have injured his left shoulder on Monday versus New Jersey. The 25-year-old eats up major minutes on the blue line and has been effective at both ends of the ice, logging two assists and 13 blocks with a plus-two rating through four games. Robert Bortuzzo is set to replace Durzi in the lineup, while Michael Kesselring and Juuso Valimaki will be expected to do more going forward. Utah returns to action Wednesday night against Anaheim.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Scott Garrard
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