With Alex Lyon returning from an upper-body injury, the Red Wings will roll with him and James Reimer, prompting the team to place Hutchinson on waivers on Thursday before ultimately clearing and being reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. In one game with the Red Wings, Hutchinson saved 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils last week.
Thompson was a late scratch for Wednesday's game, with the team only announcing his absence just over 30 minutes before the puck drop, but he will return to the lineup on Friday after being activated from the non-roster list. Thompson has nine goals and ten assists in 26 games this season. Thompson is expected to draw back into the Sabres lineup Saturday vs. Columbus.
Burakovsky is making significant progress, participating in practice for Seattle and appears to have an imminent return on the horizon after being activated off the Injured Reserve Friday. Burakovsky returned to the lineup from a six-week absence early in December but was immediately injured in his return and has missed three weeks since.
Jost drew into the Sabres lineup on Wednesday after Tage Thompson was a last-minute scratch due to personal reasons, but was subsequently placed on waivers the following day. Jost played 6:53 time-on-ice, recording a +1 plus/minus, and one shot on goal on Wednesday and will be reassigned to the Rochester Americans of the AHL.
Mitchell was a healthy scratch on Wednesday, being replaced by Kevin Shattenkirk, and has now been placed on waivers. The 24-year-old defenseman has two points (0G / 2A), 11 shots, and 13 blocks in 13 games this season.
Gudas has not played December 21st, a two-game absence due to an ankle injury, but could return to the lineup on Friday against the Seattle Kraken. Gudas has five goals and four assists in 31 games this season.
Gibson was terrific in the Ducks' last contest, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 5-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, and will search for his third straight win on Friday. Gibson has saved 48 of the last 51 shots he's faced over the last two games (2-0-0), posting a tremendous .941 SV% in the process. The Ducks defeated the Arizona Coyotes 4-3 on November 1st, with Lukas Dostal between the pipes, but are +115 underdogs against them on Friday night.
Hart entered Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks early in the third period, saving all eight shots he faced after Samuel Ersson exited the game due to dehydration. Hart has been a stranger to the Flyers crease over the last month as he has battled a myriad of illnesses and injuries that limited him to action in only five December games (3-0-1), posting a .929 SV%. The Flyers are +117 road underdogs against a rested Seattle Kraken club that has won three straight games.
Colton blocked a shot in the third period of Wednesday's game and exited after playing only 11:16 time-on-ice with an undisclosed injury. Before leaving the game, Colton recorded four hits and extended his point streak to two games with an assist. His status for Friday's game against the St. Louis Blues remains up in the air.
Georgiev allowed five unanswered goals on 22 shots (.815 SV%) in Wednesday's disappointing 5-4 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes but will likely return to the crease on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. The Avalanche are -163 road favourites against the Blues despite being pummelled 8-2 by them in their previous matchup on November 11th. Before his late-game collapse against the Coyotes on Wednesday, Georgiev won two straight games, saving 65 of 70 shots (.929 SV%).
Kochetkov served as the backup for the first time in six contests on Thursday, a 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, but will return to the starter's crease on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kochetkov has been somewhat inconsistent this season but is coming off a very strong performance in his last outing, saving 35 of 37 shots (.946 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators. The Hurricanes, winners of two straight, will have their first meeting of the season with the Maple Leafs, who have lost three of their last four (1-3-0).
Miroshnichenko will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Matthew Phillips to re-enter the lineup. Miroshnichenko played the last four games for the Capitals, the first four of his NHL career, scoring zero points, firing six shots on goals, and taking six hits.
Ivan Miroshnichenko will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Phillips to draw back into the lineup after a two-game absence. Phillips has five points (1G / 4A) in 22 games and is expected to play on the third line with Hendrix Lapierre and Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Despite a heroic effort from Joel Hofer in the Blues' last contest, in which he saved 39 of 40 shots (.975 SV%) in a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars, they will turn back to Binnington on Friday. Binnington has allowed five goals in each of his last two outings, posting an abysmal .767 SV%, but managed to salvage a 1-1-0 record. The Blues, who have won three straight, are +147 home underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche team that they demolished 8-2 on November 11th.
Gustavsson will start for the second straight game and search for his third consecutive win when he tends the twine on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets. After allowing two or fewer goals in seven games (6-1-0), posting a stellar .954 SV%, Gustavsson has uncharacteristically allowed three or more goals in three straight (2-1-0), posting a .880 SV%. The Wild, winners of four straight, are playing a home-and-home set against the Jets on Saturday and Sunday and will turn to Marc-Andre Fleury on the latter end.
Mrazek was sensational on Wednesday in a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, saving 37 of 38 shots (.974 SV%) and will likely be rewarded with another start on Friday. Mrazek has won two of his last three games (2-1-0), posting an impressive .931 SV%. The Blackhawks, +320 road underdogs, will face off against the Dallas Stars for the first time this season, a team Mrazek has historically been solid against, posting a 2.41 GAA and .923 SV% in 12 career games (3-5-1).
Andersson did not practice on Friday due to an illness but might not miss any game action as the Flames do not play until Sunday. Andersson only has two points (1G / 1A) in his last seven games but is averaging 25:08 time-on-ice and 2.6 shots per game.
Werenski suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday's contest against the New Jersey Devils and exited the game after playing only 11:15 time-on-ice. Werenski has struggled to stay healthy the last several seasons and has been placed on IR. He is expected to be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. He has been a solid contributor for the Blue Jackets on the blueline this season, scoring 19 points, all assists, in his last 23 games. Ivan Provorov assumed the top powerplay role after Werenski exited the game on Wednesday.
