Rutta logged just 4:17 TOI in the Sharks' previous game Wednesday after leaving due to an undisclosed injury and is considered week-to-week along with being placed on the injured reserve Friday. The 33-year-old stay-at-home defender was acquired in a three-team trade in the offseason and has yet to score with one assist, 15 SOG, eight PIMs and a -11 plus/minus in 19 games prior to his injury.
Kuzmenko has seen extended time on the Canucks top powerplay unit this season while playing primarily alongside Elias Pettersson at even strength. In 19 games this season, Kuzmenko has 14 points (3G / 11A) while averaging 15:24 time-on-ice. However, in his most recent contest, Kuzmenko registered a -3 plus/minus, failing to score a point while playing only 14:33. His top-line role will likely be filled by Sam Lafferty, who is expected to slide up the lineup.
Tierney has been a scratch for the Devils' previous three games but will draw back into the lineup Friday as he takes the place of Max Willman on New Jersey's fourth line. The 29-year-old has yet to pick up a point or a shot on goal in eight games so far in 2023-24.
Willman has appeared in two of the Devils' last three games but will head to the press box Friday as a healthy scratch for Chris Tierney vs. Columbus. The 28-year-old has a goal, and five SOG while averaging 11:23 TOI through four games so far this season.
Goligoski has missed the Wilds' previous 15 games due to a lower-body injury but has been activated from the long-term injured reserve Friday and is expected to play vs. Colorado. The 38-year-old veteran defensemen struggled in his early two game showing prior to his injury, as he failed to pick up a point while getting four PIMs, one SOG and a -3 plus/minus.
Lettieri had two goals, 14 SOG, four PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus in 11 games in 2023-24 but has been placed on waivers Thursday and assigned to Iowa (AHL) Friday. The 28-year-old forward will = return to Iowa, where he has a goal and three points through four games this season prior to his call-up.
Schmid will return to the Devils' crease on Wednesday for the first time since allowing five goals on 30 shots (.833 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on November 14th. The Devils are an offensive juggernaut this season, ranking ninth in the league offensively (3.47 GF / GP), but have struggled immensely keeping the puck out of their net, regardless of who is in between the pipes, ranking fourth-worst in the league defensively (3.82 GA / GP). Schmid has shown the pedigree of an exceptional goaltender in the past but has struggled to find his footing this season, posting an ugly 3.46 GAA and .885 SV% through six games (1-3-1).
Zary missed the flames previous game with a lower-body injury but will be back in the lineup Friday vs. Dallas. The 22-year-old centre has been one of the league's standout rookies this season, with three goals, five assists, 14 SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through his first nine games of his young career.
Suter has already missed the Canucks last five games due to an undisclosed injury and was placed on the long-term injured reserve Friday. The 27-year-old signed with Vancouver in the offseason and has four goals, 23 SOG, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 15 games prior to his injury.
Soucy has missed the Canucks' last five games due to a lower-body injury and was placed on the long-term injured reserve Friday. The 29-year-old defensemen was signed to a three-year, $9.75 million contract in the offseason and had two goals, three assists, 12 SOG and a +6 plus/minus in 13 games prior to the injury.
Aman has been off to a rock solid start in Abbotsford (AHL) with eight goals, seven assists, eight PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 15 games and has been recalled to Vancouver for the first time this season. The 23-year-old centre appeared in 68 games with the Canucks in 2022-23 as a rookie, and had four goals, 16 points and 18 PIMs.
Benning has been out since October 29th due to an undisclosed injury and has been activated off the injured reserve Friday with expectations to play. The 29-year-old stay-at-home defender has an assist, six PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in eight games this season prior to his injury.
Markstrom appears to be the starting goalie for the Flames for the front end of their back-to-back on Friday. Markstrom has allowed four goals in consecutive games, both losses. He was also unspectacular against Friday's opponent, the Dallas Stars, on November 1st when he allowed four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%) in a 4-3 loss. The Flames are +159 road underdogs against a Stars team that has scored three or more goals in six of their last seven outings (5-1-1).
Grubauer remains out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury, and as such, Daccord appears to be the starter for the Kraken again on Friday. Daccord has been strong since Grubauer suffered his injury, saving 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%) in two appearances (1-0-1). The Kraken are slight +101 home underdogs against their division rivals, the Vancouver Canucks, who have cooled off after their hot start to the season, losing three of their last four (1-3-0).
Skinner will look to rebound on Friday against the Washington Capitals after allowing four goals on 12 shots (.667 SV%) before being replaced by Calvin Pickard en route to a 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. Skinner has allowed three or more goals in three consecutive games (1-2-0), posting an ugly .829 SV% after a two-game stretch (2-0-0) where he saved 49 of 51 shots (.961 SV%). The Capitals have won five straight but rank fourth-worst in the league offensively (2.56 GF / GP), and as such, the Oilers are -143 road favourites.
McWard had a goal, three assists, four PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 15 games with Abbotsford (AHL) but has been recalled for the first time this season to Vancouver. The 22-year-old undrafted defensemen made his NHL debut in 2022-23 straight from Ohio State (NCAA) and had a goal and six SOG in a small five game showing to close out the year.
