Lazar did not play on Wednesday but was be a game-time decision on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. Lazar has been a regular in the Devils lineup this season, scoring 10 points (4G / 6A) in 30 games while playing predominantly Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian. Chris Tierney will draw into the lineup in his absence.
Saros will get the nod for the sixth consecutive game as the Predators travel to Detroit to take on the Red Wings on Friday. Nashville's franchise netminder has been a little hot and cold over that stretch, recording a SV% of at least .912 in three of those games while posting a sub .800 SV% in each of the other two starts. He'll have his hands full again on Friday as he takes on a Red Wings team that currently sits fifth in the NHL in goals per game at 3.51.
Daws will make his season debut and his first appearance since the 2021-22 season when the Devils travel to Ottawa on Friday. Daws spent the entirety of last season with Utica (AHL), registering a .904 SV% across 33 appearances. He's made three starts in Utica this season since returning from off-season hip surgery, posting a .929 SV% across those three games. He'll have his hands full in Ottawa on Friday as he takes on a Senators' team that appears to be finding their stride after a dreadful start to the season.
Korpisalo was terrific in his first game back from the Christmas break and will return to the crease on Friday. The 29-year-old Korpisalo saved 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, his first win under the new Jacques Martin era in Ottawa. The Senators, winners of two straight, are slight +101 home underdogs in their first matchup of the season against the New Jersey Devils, who have points in three of their last four (2-1-1).
Chris Driedger was terrific in a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames in his first action since Philipp Grubauer went down with an injury, but the Kraken will likely turn back to Daccord on Friday against the Philidelphia Flyers. Daccord has been nothing short of sensational since stepping in as the defacto starting goalie for the Kraken earlier this month, allowing two or fewer goals in six of seven starts (4-1-2), posting a stellar .944 SV%. The Kraken are -127 home favourites against a Flyers team that played last night and could be without Travis Konecny.
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.
