Boyd has 298 games of NHL experience, scoring 118 points (47G / 71A), but has only played two games this season. That said, 31-year-old has been lighting it up in the AHL, scoring 18 points (3G / 15A) in 17 games with Iowa.
Eller is battling an illness and will be shut down until after the Christmas break. The 35-year-old Eller has 13 points (6G / 7A) in 33 games this season, including six points (2G / 4A) in 16 games with the Capitals.
Lafferty has not played since November 29th due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Lafferty has just one goal and zero assists in 21 games this season.
Bobrovsky was excellent in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%), and will return to the crease on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. That said, the 36-year-old Bobrovsky has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, showcasing a 2.88 GAA and .892 SV% in 22 games (15-6-1). The Panthers enter Friday's contest as significant -293 home favorites against a Blues club defeated 3-1 last night by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ovechkin has skated with the team the last week and was finally upgraded to a full-contact jersey, but will remain out of the lineup for at least one more week. The 39-year-old Ovechkin was well on his way to surpassing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record (894) before his injury this season. He is 27 goals away, a feat that continues to be jeopardized with each game he misses.
Boqvist began the 2024-25 season with high hopes, lining up on the top powerplay unit for Florida, an experiment that quickly dissipated. The 24-year-old defenseman has been in and out of the lineup for the Panthers, limited to 13 games this season, scoring four points (2G / 2A).
Bennett snapped a season-worst three-game pointless skid with an assist on Monday but was sidelined on Wednesday due to an illness and will be a game-time decision on Friday. The 28-year-old Bennett is pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 27 points (13G / 14A) in 31 games while maintaining his rugged style, recording 39 penalty minutes and 71 hits.
Hildeby was recalled last week when Anthony Stolarz suffered a lower-body injury. Stolarz remains sidelined but Hildeby has been assigned to the Marlies (AHL), swapping placed with Matt Murray. The 23-year-old Hildeby played for the Maple Leafs on Sunday, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Dennis Hildeby was reassigned to the Marlies, swapping places with Murray. The 30-year-old Murray has not played an NHL game since the 2022-23 season, when he recorded a 3.01 GAA and .903 SV% in 26 games with the Maple Leafs (14-8-2). He has been impressive in limited AHL action this season, posting a 1.85 GAA and .931 SV% in eight games (4-1-2).
The Sabres are mired in an ugly 11-game losing skid (0-8-3) and will turn to Luukkonen between the pipes, desperate for a win on Friday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. A byproduct of poor team play, Luukkonen has struggled lately. The 25-year-old netminder was sporting a .914 SV% in his first 15 games (8-5-1) but has fallen significantly, posting a .860 SV% in his last seven (0-5-2). The Sabres enter Friday's contest as +137 home underdogs against a Maple Leafs club that defeated them 5-3 on Sunday.
Talbot has been sidelined most of December due to a lower-body injury but will return to the crease for his second start in eight games. The 37-year-old Talbot has been solid between the pipes in his first season with the Red Wings, posting a 2.69 GAA and .916 SV% in 16 games (6-6-2). The Red Wings enter Friday's contest as -155 home favorites against the Montreal Canadiens. The two teams will meet again on Saturday in Montreal.
Gravel played three of the last four games for the Predators but has been assigned to Milwaukee (AHL). The 32-year-old defenseman has five points (1G / 4A) in 20 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.
Del Gaizo was placed on waivers Thursday afternoon and still suited up for the Predators in the evening, recording 14:38 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old Del Gaizo has three points (0G / 3A), 28 blocks, and 35 hits in 21 games this season.
Ovechkin has skated with the team the last week and was finally upgraded to a full-contact jersey, indicating his return to the lineup is likely on the horizon. The 39-year-old Ovechkin was well on his way to surpassing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record (894) before his injury this season. He is 27 goals away, a feat that continues to be jeopardized with each game he misses.
Andrae played in Thursday's 7-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, tallying 16:45 time-on-ice. It was his first time in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in three straight. The 22-year-old Andrae has five points (1G / 4A) in 20 games this season.
Hryckowian is an undrafted 23-year-old out of Northeastern Unveristy. He made his professional debut last season with the Texas Stars (AHL) and has been excellent with the club in 2024-25, scoring 23 points (9G / 14A) in 25games.
Bicshel has been impressive in his NHL debut, recording two points (2G / 0A) and 13 hits in four games. The 20-year-old is averaging 15:24 time-on-ice and played last game on a pair with Ilya Lyubushkin.
The former Swedish Hockey League winger is yet to make his NHL debut after signing with the Avs in the off-season. Innala's North American career is off to a productive start, as he's racked up five goals and ten assists in 21 AHL games this season.
The Canucks will turn to Lankinen between the pipes on Thursday after Thatcher Demko got the starting nod in each of their last three games. Lankinen was phenomenal in his last appearance, stopping all 27 shots he faced in a 4-0 shutout victory over the Panthers on December 12th. The 29-year-old netminder has performed well seemingly whenever he's been called upon this season, but his playing time is likely going to continue to be limited with a healthy Demko back in the picture.
Hill allowed six goals on 34 shots (.824 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, and had the night off in their following game but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 28-year-old Hill has a 2.78 GAA and .899 SV% in 20 games this season (13-5-2). The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as -171 home favorites against a Canucks club that has lost four of their last six (2-2-2).
