Martinez missed the Golden Knights' previous game due to a lower-body injury and will remain out Saturday vs. Arizona as he is day-to-day. The 36-year-old veteran defender has surprisingly found the back of the net more often than normal as he has three goals, one assist, 18 SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 14 games prior to his injury.
Theodore had enjoyed an excellent start to 2023-24 with four goals, 14 assists, 52 SOG, and a +2 plus/minus in 20 games played but will be out Saturday vs. Arizona as he deals with an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old will be replaced by Brayden Pachal on the Golden Knights' blue line.
Pachal has been a healthy scratch since November 8th but will draw back into the lineup Saturday vs. Arizona after Shea Theodore (upper body) was announced out. The 24-year-old defender scored his first goal of his career this season and has 11 SOG, 10 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in a career-high 12 games played so far.
Tufte appeared in two games in his latest call-up to the Avalanche and had a goal and an assist but has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) Saturday. The 25-year-old returns to the minors, where he was dominant prior to his promotion with nine goals, eight assists, six PIMs and a +4 plus/minus in 12 games played.
Copley will take over the Kings' crease for the second time in three games Saturday vs. Montreal after stopped 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a victory last start. The 31-year-old Alaskan native has struggled out of the gate this season, with his 2-0-2 record, 3.75 GAA and .845 SV%. He will face the Montreal Canadiens for a matinee showdown, who has won two straight games but are 25th in the NHL in goals per game (2.85).
DeSmith will draw the start for the first time in five games due to Vancouver being on a back-to-back as he is expected to take on San Jose Saturday. The 32-year-old backup netminder was traded to Vancouver earlier in the season and has done well when called upon with his 4-1-1 record, 2.89 GAA and .917 SV%. He will face the league worst San Jose Sharks, who have lost three straight games and are last in the NHL in goals (1.5) and shots per game (24.7).
With Rasmus Ristolainen (lower body) making his season debut Egor Zamula will be the odd man out of the Flyers' lineup Saturday vs. the Islanders. The 23-year-old defensemen has played well in his fourth career NHL season, with a goal, three assists, 16 SOG, 12 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 17 games.
Ristolainen missed the Flyers' first 20 games of the 2023-24 season but has been activated off the injured reserve and will make his season debut vs. the Islanders Saturday. The 29-year-old will replace Egor Zamula and is entering his 11th NHL season after posting three goals and 20 points in 74 games played in 2022-23.
Frost has been a healthy scratch for the Flyers' last three games but will draw back into the lineup Saturday vs. the New York Islanders. The 24-year-old centre has struggled to duplicate his success from last season (46 Pts in 81 GP) as he has two goals, two assists, 13 SOG, four PIMs and a +4 plus/minus in 10 games this season.
Ersson has backed up the Flyers' crease for the last two games but with Philadelphia on the second half of a back-to-back he will likely start Saturday. The 24-year-old has struggled to duplicate his success from last season with his 3-3-1 record, .863 SV% and 3.22 GAA. He takes on the surprisingly hot New York Islanders, who have won three-straight games but are 29th in the NHL in goals per game (2.68).
Greenway missed the Sabres' game Friday due to personal reasons and will not play in either of Buffalo's next two games. The 26-year-old left-winger was acquired by Buffalo at the trade deadline in 2022-23 and has two goals, four assists, 24 SOG, 19 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus in 19 games this season.
Girgensons left the Sabres' game Friday vs. Pittsburgh after just 6:35 due to a lower-body injury and was placed on the injured reserve Saturday with expectations he is out week-to-week. The 29-year-old left-winger had two goals, 27 SOG, seven PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 20 games played prior to his injury.
Thompson has backed up Adin Hill for the Golden Knights' previous two games but will take the crease back Saturday as they head host Arizona. The 26-year-old has enjoyed an excellent start to his 2023-24 season while splitting starts, with his 5-2-1 record, 2.48 GAA and .920 SV%. He will face the Arizona Coyotes, who is looking to snap a three-game losing streak and are struggling to get pucks on net as they are 30th in the NHL in shots per game (27.7).
Reilly carries a $1 million cap hit for the 2023-24 season and has been claimed by the New York Islanders Saturday after being placed on waivers from the Florida Panthers. The 30-year-old defensemen has not been able to get it going this year due to consistent healthy scratches as he has yet to put up a point to go along with seven SOG and two PIMs in two games this season.
Labanc missed the Sharks' last two games due to an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup Saturday vs. Vancouver in place of Filip Zadina (upper body). The 27-year-old right-winger has struggled out of the gate this season, with no goals, two assists, 18 SOG, six PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 13 games prior to his injury.
Its been three games since Allen took the crease vs. Boston but he will look to snap a personal four-game losing streak Saturday as he takes on Los Angeles on the road. The 33-year-old has hovered around his career averages all season with his 3-4-1 record, 3.54 GAA and .907 SV%. He will take on the red hot Los Angeles Kings on the road who have won four straight and are second in the NHL in goals (4.0) and seventh in shots per game (32.2).
Zadina left the Sharks' previous game vs. Montreal after just five shifts and 4:14 TOI due to an upper-body injury and will be out Saturday vs. Vancouver. The 23-year-old right-winger opted to head to San Jose in the offseason and has three goals, two assists, 30 SOG, six PIMs and a -19 plus/minus through 20 games so far in 2023-24. Kevin Labanc (upper body) will draw back into the Sharks' lineup and take Zadina's place.
