Sandin was a game-time decision for Friday's game against the Wild after exiting the Washington's Wednesday night matchup against the New Jersey Devils in the third period with an undisclosed injury. The Swedish defenseman has been held without a point in his first six games and has a -4 rating.
Roy left in the third period of Tuesday's matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers and will miss Friday's game vs. Chicago after originally being a game-time decision. Roy has four points (3G / 1A) in seven games this season, averaging 15:04 time-on-ice per game.
Hill continued his early season run of dominance as he stopped 21 of 24 shots (.875 SV%) for his fourth-straight win in his previous start vs. Chicago and will take the Blackhawks on again Friday. The 27-year-old signed a fresh two-year, $9.8 million contract in the offseason after leading Vegas to its first-ever Stanley Cup and has not disappointed this season as he is 4-0-0 with a .934 SV% and a 1.73 GAA. He takes on the struggling Chicago Blackhawks, who have lost five of their last six games and are 30th in the NHL in goals for (2.0).
With the much-awaited return of Andrei Svechnikov (knee), Brendan Lemieux will be the odd man out of the Hurricanes' lineup Friday vs. San Jose. The 27-year-old scrappy left-winger signed a one-year, $800,000 contract in the offseason with Carolina and has one goal, four SOG, 31 PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus in seven games played so far in 2023-24.
Khaira made his Wild debut Thursday and had one SOG across 10 shifts and 8:05 TOI but will be the odd man out of Minnesota's lineup as they take on Washington Friday. With the Wild opting for an 11F/7D lineup Friday, he will be replaced by Daemon Hunt, who is making his NHL debut.
Hunt was the Wild's 2020 third-round pick (65th overall) and will make his NHL debut Friday vs. Washington as he takes the spot of Jujhar Khaira in Minnesota's lineup The 21-year-old defensemen had yet to pick up a point with Iowa (AHL) prior to his NHL promotion but had seven PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through four games.
Samoskevich was recalled Thursday to Florida but will continue his revolving door of roster transactions as he has been loaned back to Charlotte (AHL) Friday. The 20-year-old was Florida's 2021 first-round selection (24th overall) and has yet to pick a point up in any of his three games played with the Panthers in 2023-24.
Boqvist played in his first game of the season on Thursday vs. Anaheim and had no counting stats after 10 shifts and 6:02 TOI and has been reassigned to Providence (AHL) Friday. The 24-year-old forward returns to the minors, where he has no goals, two assists, and four PIMs in five games so far in 2023-24.
Brown failed to pick up a point in four games with Boston but had three SOG, two PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus and has been reassigned to Providence (AHL) on Friday. The 31-year-old was signed to a one-year, $800,000 contract in the offseason and returns to the minors for the first time since he captained the Henderson Silver Knights back in 2020-21.
Zboril had an assist, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in four games with Providence so far in 2023-24 and has earned his first call-up of the season to Boston Friday. The 26-year-old defenseman returns to the Bruins for his fifth NHL season after scoring a goal and four points in 22 games in 2022-23 while averaging just 13:17 TOI.
Lohrei was Boston's 2020 second-round pick (58th overall) and earned his first career call-up Friday from Providence (AHL) after putting up two assists, two PIMs, and a +3 plus/minus through five games in 2023-24. The 22-year-old defenseman will make his NHL debut if he finds himself in the Bruins lineup this weekend after playing in only 10 total AHL games after joining Providence from Ohio State (NCAA) at the end of his collegiate career in 2022-23.
Athanasiou has struggled so far in 2023-24, with no goals, three assists, 14 SOG, and a -2 plus//minus through seven games, and will be a healthy scratch for the first time this year. MacKenzie Entwistle will replace him in the Blackhawks' lineup as the nine-year veteran takes a seat in the press box.
Entwistle was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup Friday vs Vegas as he replaces Andreas Athanasiou. The 24-year-old right-winger has a goal, two SOG, four PIMs, and a +1 plus/minus in two games this season while being healthy scratched for five others.
With Pyotr Kotchekov being sent to Syracuse (AHL) and Frederik Andersen getting the start Thursday, Antti Raanta is expected to take the pipes Friday vs. San Jose. The 34-year-old has been horrendous thus far in 2023-24, with his 1-1-0 record, 4.41 GAA and .818 SV%. He will hope to get his season back on track against the winless San Jose Sharks (0-6-1), who are last in the NHL in both shots per game (24.3) and goals per game (1.14).
Samsonov will take the crease Saturday against Nashville after being pulled a week earlier vs. Tampa Bay after allowing three goals on four shots (.250 SV%) in his previous start. The 26-year-old is fighting for the starting position in the Maple Leafs' crease with Joseph Woll due to his slow start which has him with a 2-1-0 record, .831 SV% and a 4.34 GAA. He'll face the Nashville Predators on the road, who snapped a two-game winning streak with a loss to Vancouver last game and are 18th in the NHL in goals per game (2.86).
Mrazek allowed three goals on 43 shots (.930 SV%) for his third straight loss in his previous start vs. Boston but will be rewarded with the start Friday vs. Vegas. The 31-year-old goaltender has played well despite most of his starts turning into losing efforts as he has a 1-3-0 record, .925 SV% and 3.03 GAA. He draws the near-impossible task of facing the undefeated Vegas Golden Knights, who have started 2023-24 with a 7-0-0 record and are fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.86).
Jenik had a goal, two assists, and a +2 plus/minus in three games with Tucson (AHL) to start the 2023-24 season and has been recalled to Arizona on Friday. The 23-year-old right-winger returns to the Coyotes for his fourth NHL season and has four goals, five points, and 25 SOG in 17 career NHL games played.
It appears Copley will be rewarded with his second consecutive start after making 24 of 27 saves on Tuesday for a 6-3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, his first win of the season. The Kings coaching brass hopes familiarity will help Copley find some consistency in his game as the team will match up against the Coyotes once again, this time in Arizona. Scoring goals hasn't been the Coyotes' forte this season, averaging 2.50 goals per game, as such, the Kings are listed as -132 road favourites.
McCabe was injured (lower body) in his first shift after playing only 10 seconds on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. He has zero points, nine blocks, 12 hits, and a -4 plus/minus rating through seven games this season. William Lagesson was recalled on Friday by the Maple Leafs and is likely to be McCabe's replacement on the back end.
