Jokiharju was a late scratch from Tuesday's game, with Sabres head coach Don Granato only hinting that "someone" was feeling under the weather when talking to the media earlier in the day. Jokiharju is off to a relatively productive start to his 2023-24 season, registering two goals and five assists across the first 15 games. Ryan Johnson will draw into the lineup in place of Jokiharju.
Carter, a healthy scratch in back-to-back games earlier this month, did not participate at practice on Monday and was a game-time decision on Tuesday. The 39-year-old Carter is averaging 10:16 time-on-ice, a career-low, down more than three minutes from what he was playing last season (13:42). He has zero points and a -2 plus/minus rating in 10 games.
The Penguins are playing their best hockey of the season and will turn to Jarry as they attempt to extend their winning streak to five games. Jarry has not allowed a goal in over 108 minutes and is rocking a fabulous .975 SV% over his last three games (3-0-0). The Penguins have outscored their opposition by a dominant 20-5 total over their last four contests (4-0-0) and will look to continue their dominance as -173 road favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that scores the seventh-fewest goals in the league (2.73 GF / GP).
Thompson will start on Tuesday after serving as the backup for two consecutive games for the Golden Knights. Thompson has not played since November 5th, his longest stretch between games, when he allowed three goals on 22 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Through six games this season (5-1-0), Thompson has an impressive 2.31 GAA and .923 SV%. The league-leading Golden Knights (12-2-1) are -151 road favourites against the Washington Capitals (7-4-2), who rank 31st in the league offensively (2.31 GF / GP) despite collecting points in three of their last four games (3-0-1).
Fleury failed to pick up a point in five games with Syracuse (AHL) during a conditioning assignment but has been recalled to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 27-year-old defensemen returns to the Lightning for the second time this season, where he has an assist, and a +1 plus/minus in two games played while averaging only 11:23 TOI.
Lavoie has yet to pick up a point through five games with Edmonton but had three SOG and a -1 plus/minus and has been loaned to Springfield (AHL) on Tuesday. The 23-year-old winger returns to Springfield, where he was on a heater prior to his promotion with four goals, three assists, 17 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.
With Darcy Kumeper (undisclosed) returning to the Capitals' lineup Tuesday, Hunter Shepard finds himself the odd-man out and has been reassigned to Hershey (AHL). The 28-year-old goaltender performed incredibly well during his short showing with Washington, with his 2-0-0 record, .915 SV% and 2.50 GAA.
Winterton failed to pick up a point in his short three-game showing with Seattle but had one SOG, and a -1 plus/minus while averaging only 8:12 TOI and has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL) Tuesday. The 20-year-old winger returns to Coachella, where he had three goals, fie points and a +4 plus/minus in seven games before his promotion.
Poturalski had two goals, seven points and two PIMs in 10 games played with Coachella Valley (AHL) to start the season and has been recalled to Seattle for the first time Tuesday. The 29-year-old forward has appeared in four NHL games since he made his debut in 2016-17 with Carolina, and has no goals, two assists and a -4 plus/minus.
Wright failed to pick up a point in three games and had one only SOG while averaging 9:47 TOI and has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL) Tuesday. The 19-year-old centre returns to the minors, where he started the season successfully with four goals and six points in seven games prior to his promotion.
Ekblad has yet to play in 2023-24 due to offseason shoulder surgery but is eyeing Friday vs. Anaheim as a possible return to make his season debut. The 27-year-old heavy shooting defensemen has scored double digit goals in eight of his nine career seasons and had 14 goals, 38 points, and 68 PIMs in 71 games played in 2022-23.
Montour has yet to appear this season for the Panthers' but is expected to travel with Florida on their road trip and has a possibility to return Friday vs. Anaheim. The 29-year-old is coming off a breakout season which saw him finish fifth in the NHL in scoring among defensemen with 73 points (16G/57A) in 80 games played in 2022-23.
Stolarz will likely start for the first time since November 4th when he allowed four goals on 24 shots (.833 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. In two games this season (1-1-0), Stolarz has a 2.57 GAA and .904 SV% and will look to build on those totals against the league-wost offence of the San Jose Sharks (1.20 GF / GP). The Sharks have already been shut out three times this season, held to fewer than two goals an alarming 12 times in only 15 games (2-12-1). As such, the Panthers enter action as -282 road favourites against the Sharks.
Soucy is averaging 16:52 time-on-ice in his first season with the Canucks, tallying five points (2G / 3A) and +6 plus/minus in 13 games but will be out week-to-week with a foot injury. In an adjacent move, Vancouver has recalled Akito Hirose from Abbotsford (AHL), who will likely draw into the lineup in Soucy's absence.
Hirose has been held without a point with the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL in 11 games this season. He will likely draw back into the lineup for Vancouver to play his third NHL game of the season as Carson Soucy is day-to-day with a foot injury.
Binnington is coming off a fabulous performance on Saturday, saving 36 of 38 shots (.947 SV%) in an 8-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Binnington has gone through stretches of strong play followed by poor play this season but is currently in the midst of a 2-1-0 run, allowing only seven goals on 108 shots (.935 SV%). The Blues are +109 home underdogs on Tuesday against a Tampa Bay Lightning team eager to get out of a two-game funk where they have been outscored 9-3 (0-2-0).
Vejmelka served as the backup to Connor Ingram in the Coyotes last game on Saturday and, as has been the pattern all season, will re-take the starter's crease on Tuesday. Vejmelka is coming off an excellent showing in a 2-1 losing effort to the St. Louis Blue last week, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%). That said, Vejmelka is in the midst of an ugly stretch of hockey, losing five consecutive games (0-4-1) and posting a .878 SV% in the process. He will be hard-pressed to snap his losing streak as the Coyotes are +207 road underdogs against the Dallas Stars.
Holloway played only 7:23 on Monday before exiting the game with an undisclosed injury and will be out month-to-month according to Oilers. The 22-year-old forward has one point (1G / 0A) in 14 games this season and did not participate in the Oilers' team practice on Tuesday.
Studnicka was placed on unconditional waivers by the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and has now, after clearing, been reassigned to the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. In five games this season, Studnicka has one point (1G / 0A) and a +2 plus/minus rating.
Gushchin, the 76th overall pick of the Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, will make his season debut on Tuesday. He played his first two NHL games last season, tallying two points (1G / 1A) with the Sharks. This season with the Barracuda, Gushchin has 13 points (4G / 9A) in 11 games.
