Fabbri was kept out of the lineup Thursday for precautionary reasons, easing him back into action after returning from missing 11 games due to a lower-body injury. In his return on Tuesday, he played 12:42, skating alongside Joe Veleno and Daniel Sprong, did not register a shot or point, and had a -2 plus/minus rating.
After recording nine points (3G / 6A) in his first seven games as a Red Wing, Gostisbehere went invisible, recording zero points and a -8 plus/minute rating in his last six contests, leading to his eventual healthy scratch on Thursday. He will return to the lineup on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Husso gave up five goals on 32 shots in the Red Wings loss in New York on Tuesday. The 2023-24 season has been a struggle so far for Husso, who has allowed at least three goals in eight of nine starts while posting a 3.57 GAA and .890 SV%. On Saturday, he'll take on a Blue Jackets team that hast lost three in a row and seven of their last eight, but are expected to get Patrik Laine back in the lineup.
Kuemper isn't expected to miss significant time but did not participate in practice on Friday and will be unavailable for their game against the New Jersey Devils. The Capitals have called up Hunter Shepard from Hershey (AHL), who will back up Charlie Lindgren on Friday. Shepard saved 18 of 22 shots in his only NHL game earlier this season, a 6-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
With Jacob Markstrom out of the lineup, Vladar will start for the fourth time this season. There was some speculation that Dustin Wolf, recalled from the AHL on Thursday, would get the start but the Flames will turn to the more experienced Vladar for the time being. In three games this season (2-1-0), Vladar has a 4.00 GAA and .844 SV%. The Flames are +135 road underdogs on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last season against the Maple Leafs, Vladar allowed five goals on 34 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss.
The Flames have recalled high-pedigree prospect Dustin Wolf as Markstrom tends to an upper-body injury that will keep him out of the lineup. Dan Vladar will start for the Flames on Friday against the Maple Leafs, and it is unclear if Markstrom will be ready for their Saturday matchup against the Ottawa Senators or if the team will turn to Wolf. Markstrom has a 2.91 GAA and .896 SV% through nine games this season (2-6-1).
DeAngelo has played all 13 games for the Hurricanes this season, including playing 15:17 and scoring his first goal in his most recent outing, but will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Florida Panthers. DeAngelo's scratch likely indicates that Brett Pesce (lower-body) will be returning to the Hurricanes lineup.
Raanta is expected to be the Hurricanes' starting goalie for the second consecutive game since the news that Frederik Andersen will be out indefinitely due to a blood clotting issue. In his first game as the bonafide number-one goalie, Raanta saved 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) and is on a personal three-game winning streak, saving 61 of 66 shots in that span (.924 SV%). The Hurricanes are -128 road favourites but will be challenged against a Florida Panthers team with points in six of their last seven games (5-1-1).
Levi is the likely starter for the Sabres on Friday after serving as the backup to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the team's 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. Levi last played on November 4th, saving 25 of 29 shots in a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. His rookie season has not gone as smoothly as anticipated, posting a .341 GAA and .885 SV% through five games (2-3-0). The Sabres are -118 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team coming off a 4-1 loss last night at the hands of the New York Rangers.
Lindgren last played on November 4th, saving an impressive 34 of 35 shots in a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets and is expected to start again on Friday against the New Jersey Devils. Partially due to injuries, Lindgren has been limited to only two appearances this season (1-1-0), posting a 2.51 GAA and .929 SV%. The Capitals and Lindgren will have their work cut out for them against a Devils team that ranks fourth-best in the league offensively (3.67 GF / GP) but will once again be without one of the league's best scorers, Jack Hughes.
Wotherspoon recorded one point (0G / 1A), averaging 13:51 time-on-ice in three games with the Bruins. His reassignment to Providence (AHL) signals the team will welcome back Charlie McAvoy from his four-game suspension on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
Tuch has managed soreness and an undisclosed injury for the last few weeks but has not missed any game action. Tuch, whose status is uncertain for Friday, hasn't been affected by his injury, resisting nine points (4G / 5A) in his last seven games.
Kahkonen has become the clear second-choice in San Jose, slated to start for only the second time in the teams' last seven games. Without a win (0-4-0) and a ghastly 4.30 GAA and .876 SV%, Kahkonen's outlook is not promising as the San Jose Sharks, playing the back end of a back-to-back, visit the Western-Conference leading Vegas Golden Knights. The last-place Sharks are currently on a two-game winning streak but, even so, are ginormous +426 road underdogs against the Golden Knights.
Bennett's availability for Sunday's game is still to be determined but his impending return is welcome news for him and the Panthers after he was injured, playing just 7:54 in his season debut. Bennett had 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.
Mantha scored two goals in the Capitals' previous game vs. Florida but was forced to leave after 12:58 TOI due to an upper-body injury and has been placed on the injured reserve Friday. The 29-year-old right-winger has started off slow yet again in 2023-24, with his three goals, one assist, 12 SOG, four PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 10 games played.
Aube-Kubel is expected to make his season debut on Friday with news that Anthony Mantha (upper-body) is being placed on the injured reserve. In 11 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) this season, Aube-Kubel has three points (1G / 2A). He has primarily been an NHL-level player over the past several seasons, with 222 games and 62 points (25G / 37A) to his name. He was paired with Nic Dowd and Beck Malenstyn at morning skate on Friday.
28-year-old Hunter Shepard played his first career NHL game earlier this season, saving 18 of 22 shots in a 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils. It is unclear if his call-up is due to a potential injury for Darcy Kuemper or Charlie Lindgren, but if either of them is unable to dress for the Capitals, expect Shepard to serve as the teams' backup goalie.
