NHL Player News

Luukkonen stopped 13 of 14 shots across 33:34 in relief during Monday's 5-3 win over Florida.

Luukkonen entered with the score tied 2-2 in relief of Colten Ellis and allowed just one power-play goal to Sam Reinhart before Buffalo reeled off three unanswered goals to close it out. The relief outing netted him the win, and he projects as the clear No. 1 in Buffalo's crease this season.

Ellis stopped seven of nine shots across 26:26 of action in Monday's 5-3 win over Florida before giving way to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Ellis allowed an even-strength goal to Anton Lundell and a power-play tally to Sam Reinhart before being pulled with the score tied 2-2. With Ellis getting the start but then being pulled, it's unclear who might get the second game of the Sabres' back-to-back against Montreal on Tuesday.

Markstrom tightened up in Monday's 5-3 loss to Buffalo, but he didn't sustain an injury, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.

Before leaving the game after the first period, Markstrom made nine saves on 11 shots in Monday's matchup. Akira Schmid surrendered three goals on 21 shots to take the loss in relief. The Panthers will see how Markstrom feels ahead of Tuesday's road game against Columbus.

Schmid fell to the Sabres 5-3 after coming on in the second period and stopping 18 of 21 shots.

Schmid was pressed into service after Jacob Markstrom stayed in the locker room after the first period. The 26-year-old Schmid has now made two appearances for the Panthers, suffering defeats in both outings. With the team back in action versus Columbus on Tuesday, Schmid may have to do double duty on short notice.

Markstrom didn't come out for the second period of Monday's road matchup with Buffalo, stopping nine of 11 shots on net.

Markstrom was replaced by Akira Schmid, who would take the loss despite making 18 saves while conceding three goals. If the 36-year-old Markstrom doesn't have a serious injury, it's possible that he gets the nod for Tuesday's clash with the Blue Jackets since he only played one period.

Blackwood will guard the road goal against Dallas on Tuesday, per Meghan Angley of Altitude Sports Radio.

Blackwood has lost his last two outings, allowing eight goals on 41 shots. In his NHL career, he has gone 0-4-1 and has allowed 22 goals on 194 shots in six regular-season outings against Dallas. The Stars (2-2-1) have scored 11 goals in five games this campaign.

Pickard will start Tuesday's road matchup against Winnipeg, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Pickard will get the second half of Minnesota's back-to-back after Jesper Wallstedt plays in Monday's home game against Vegas. The 34-year-old Pickard posted a 5-6-2 record with a 3.68 GAA and an .871 save percentage in 16 appearances for Edmonton in the 2025-26 regular season. He will make his Wild debut after signing a one-year, $1 million contract with Minnesota in July.

Wallstedt will tend the twine at home versus Vegas on Monday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Wallstedt will be making his sixth straight appearance to open the season, having gone 3-1-1 with a 1.78 GAA and .936 save percentage. With the Wild entering a back-to-back, the 23-year-old netminder will finally get a night off against the Jets on Tuesday, with Calvin Pickard set to make his Wild debut.

Ellis will start Monday's home game against the Panthers, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.

Ellis has drawn starts in two of the Sabres' last three games, going 1-1-0 with a 2.90 GAA and .880 save percentage during that time. He'll draw the start in the first half of a back-to-back set Monday, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely defend the road crease against Montreal on Tuesday.

Ullmark will guard the road goal against New Jersey on Monday, per Andrew Wilimek of the Senators' official site.

Ullmark has been superb at the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign, stopping 81 of 86 shots and posting a 4-0-0 record. Over his NHL career, he has gone 13-5-0 with a 2.25 GAA and a .928 save percentage in 19 regular-season games against the Devils. New Jersey (2-2-0) has scored only 10 goals in four games this campaign.