With Vladislav Namestnikov day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Gustafsson will draw back into the lineup for his 18th game. Gustafsson has two points (2G / 0A) while averaging 8:35 time-on-ice this season, playing predominantly with Rasmus Kupari and Morgan Barron.
Schmidt will be a healthy scratch on Saturday, allowing Declan Chisholm to make his season debut. The 32-year-old Schmidt is averaging only 16:51 time-on-ice through 20 games this season, significantly less than the 19:16 he has averaged over his career. He has one point (0G / 1A), a -4 plus/minus, 23 blocks, and nine hits.
Nate Schmidt will be a healthy scratch on Saturday, allowing Chisholm to draw back in the lineup for his season debut with the Jets, marking his first NHL action since the 2021-22 season. Chisholm has five points (0G / 5A) and six penalty minutes in six games with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
Hellebuyck allowed a weak goal from Darnell Nurse late in the third period, ending his shutout bid in an eventual 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Despite losing two consecutive starts, Hellebuyck has been tremendous lately, allowing only 11 total goals in his last six games (4-2-0), posting a stellar .941 SV%. Hellebuyck will look to improve on those totals in a favourable matchup Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, who have lost seven of their last nine (2-7-0) and rank third-worst in the league offensively (2.57 GF / GP).
Poturalski will return to the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL where he has seven points (2G / 5A) in 11 games this season. Poturalski played two games with the Kraken and was held without the point, averaging 6:53 time-on-ice. The Kraken recalled Max McCormick in a corresponding move.
McCormick has been recalled from Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, with Andrew Poturalski being sent down in a corresponding move. The 31-year-old McCormick has 17 points (8G / 9A) in 16 games with the Firebirds this season.
Newhook left the Canadiens' game Thursday vs. Florida in the third period after 15:14 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and was absent from practice Friday. The 22-year-old is expected to be evaluated after practice Friday and should have more updates. His first season in Montreal has gone well after an offseason deal from Colorado, with seven goals, six assists, 31 SOG, eight PIMs and a -5 plus/minus in 23 games prior to the injury.
Namestnikov exited Thursday's game against the Edmonton Oilers, playing only 11:53, after an awkward collision with Darnell Nurse and will miss Saturday's game vs. Chicago as he is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Namestnikov had been playing with Alex Iafallo and Cole Perfetti on the Jets' second line, but his status is out Saturday and doubtful Monday. He has 11 points (2G / 9A) in 22 games this season.
In correspondence to Dougie Hamilton being placed on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury, the Devils have recalled Nemec from the Utica Comets of the AHL. The second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft has not played an NHL game yet but has eight points (2G / 6A) in 13 games with the Comets this season.
Hamilton left Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury and did not return and has been placed on the injured reserve Thursday. Brendan Smith will replace Hamilton on the Devils' back end as he worked his way back after a slight stint on forward. It is a tough loss for New Jersey who will now be without their top defensemen who had five goals, 11 assists, 61 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 20 games this season.
Hill had a shutout going when he exited the game during the second intermission in an eventual 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. A concrete update has not been provided, making his status uncertain for the Golden Knights' next game on Saturday.
Carrier left Thursday's matchup vs. Minnesota after just three shifts and 1:39 TOI after being the recipient of a questionable hit from Kirill Kaprizov and is considered out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. He has been enjoying a solid start to 2023-24, with a goal, seven assists, 16 SOG, 12 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in 22 games prior to his injury.
Berggren has been reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL after playing two games with the Red Wings, recording two points (0G / 1A), and averaging 11:36 time-on-ice. Berggren was originally recalled to replace Dylan Larkin (undisclosed), who has been away from the team. Nothing is official yet, but Berggren's reassignment to the AHL is an indication that Larkin might return to the lineup on Saturday.
An undisclosed injury to Cole Sillinger has resulted in Johnson drawing back into the Blue Jackets lineup. Johnson struggled to find his footing with the Blue Jackets this season after an impressive 2022-23 rookie campaign that saw him score 40 points (16G / 24A) in 79 games. Johnson was reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters earlier this season, dominating with 15 points (5G / 10A) in 10 games. He will hope to make an impact immediately as he is expected to skate on the top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Boone Jenner.
Olivier will draw back into the Blue Jackets lineup along with Kent Johnson as Cole Sillinger is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, and Eric Robinson will be a healthy scratch. In 12 games this season, Olivier has three points (0G / 3A), 12 penalty minutes, and 30 hits, averaging 9:48 time-on-ice.
Robinson will be a healthy scratch on Monday as Mathieu Olivier and Kent Johnson will both draw back into the Blue Jackets lineup. Robinson has played five straight for the Blue Jackets and has one points (1G / 0A), averaging 12:40 time-on-ice in six total games this season.
Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will likely start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.
Solovyov has been recalled from the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL, likely to add some depth to their defensive core after Nikita Zadorov was traded yesterday to the Vancouver Canucks. The 23-year-old Solovyov was drafted 205th overall by the Flames in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has five points (2G / 3A), a +5 plus/minus rating, and 12 penalty minutes in 16 games with the Wranglers this season.
Smith has played 17 consecutive games for the Sharks but exited last night's contest after playing only 2:59 with a mid-body injury and will be a game-time decision on Friday. Smith has been held off the scoresheet in six straight games and has three points (1G / 2A) in 21 games this season.
Kahkonen and the Sharks have been much better of late but will be tested on Friday against the New Jersey Devils, who have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 16-9. Kahkonen has won two of his last three starts, including a heroic 44-save performance in a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blue on November 16th. That said, Kahkonen could play the game of his life and still come up short, as the Sharks are massive +401 road underdogs against the Devils. The Sharks and Devils are both playing back ends of a back-to-back, the Sharks having lost 3-0 to the Boston Bruins last night while the Devils were victorious 4-3 over the Philadelphia Flyers.
