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.
McCabe has been out of the lineup since suffering a groin injury after playing only 10 seconds against the Dallas Stars on October 26th. Before his injury, McCabe was averaging 19:33 time-on-ice per night. He is expected to slot onto the Maple Leafs' second defensive pair alongside Mark Giordano just as John Klingberg exits the lineup with an undisclosed injury.
Klingberg, previously believed to be a healthy scratch on Friday, will now be out of the lineup to tend to an undisclosed injury. Despite frequent deployment with the Maple Leafs top powerplay unit, Klingberg has failed to record a point in his last seven games, registering a -6 plus/minus rating.
Cozens has not played since November 3rd, when he suffered an upper-body injury in a fight with Philadelphia Flyer Garnet Hathaway. Prior to his injury, Cozens was in the midst of a dry spell, being held pointless in three consecutive games. He is expected to return to a top-six role and top-powerplay designation.
Nosek has missed the last 10 games with a lower-body injury and is slated to make his return on Friday. In two games this season, Nosek was held without a point, averaging 12:10 time-on-ice. He is expected to play on a line with Erik Haula and Curtis Lazar.
As has been the case most of the season, Bobrovsky has had difficulty with consistency between the pipes. That said, his Panthers teammates have done a formidable job of generating offence and providing him with goal support of late. Despite three sub-.900 SV% efforts, Bobrovsky has not lost in regulation in his last five games (4-0-1), saving 120 of 132 shots in the process (.909 SV%). On Friday, Bobrovsky and the Panthers are +119 home underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes squad that has won five of their last six (5-1-0).
Vanecek allowed five goals on 31 shots on Tuesday in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche but will look to rebound as the likely starter on Friday. Before that most recent loss, Vanecek had won four consecutive games, saving 108 of 120 shots faced (.900 SV%). Lindy Ruff's high-tempo offensive structure isn't particularly conducive to low-scoring affairs, but Vanecek should continue to garner a healthy amount of victories throughout the season. On Friday, the Devils are -170 home favourites against a Washington Capitals team that ranks second-worst in the league offensively (2.00 GF / GP).
Reilly played his first two games of the season with Uvis Balinskis being a healthy scratch, recording seven shots on goal and a -2 plus/minus rating in the two contests. Reilly will return to the pressbox with Balinskis drawing back into the Panthers' lineup.
Balinskis has played 10 games for the Panthers but has been scratched in their two most recent contests in favour of Mike Reilly. Balinskis, who has zero points while averaging 14:07 time-on-ice, will return to the third defensive pair with Josh Mahura.
Garand was originally called up as a precautionary measure with Jonathan Quick dealing with an injury in addition to the already-injured Igor Shesterkin. Garand's reassignment to Hartford is a good sign the Quick, Shesterkin, or both are ready to return to the lineup.
Foote spent most of the last two weeks with the Devils as a depth defenceman but was never given the opportunity to crack the lineup. Before his call-up, Foote had two points (1G / 1A) in three games with the Utica Comets of the AHL.
Blackwood was the driving force behind the Sharks' first victory of the season on Tuesday, saving 38 of 39 shots against the Philadelphia Flyers. Victory aside, the Sharks are still +288 home underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers team that will be desperate to shake out of their funk. After leading the league in offence a season ago (3.96 GF / GP), the Oilers rank 26th in the league (2.64 GF / GP) and, despite their well-documented struggles (2-8-1), remain a threat every night that Connor McDavid takes the ice.
With the surprise waiving of Jack Campbell earlier this week Stuart Skinner is now the Oilers' starter and will take the crease Thursday vs. San Jose. The 25-year-old was an All-Star last season but has been horrendous so far in 2023-24, with his 1-4-1 record, .856 SV% and 3.99 GAA. He takes on the historically struggling San Jose Sharks, who snapped an 11-game losing streak with a victory last game over PHI and are last in the NHL in both shots per game (24.8) and goals per game (1.17).
It's Copley's first start since October 27th's game in Arizona, when he was pulled in favour of Cam Talbot after allowing three goals on just six shots. Thanks to his own struggles and an excellent run of form from Talbot, Copley has been relegated back to his usual back-up role after he made a career-high 37 appearances for the Kings last year. Copley owns an abysmal .788 SV% and a 4.98 GAA across three starts this season. Copley and the Kings are slight favourites at -120 over the Penguins on Thursday.
Grubauer will get the start on Thursday against his former team, marking his fourth start in the Kraken's last five games. In his last three games (2-1-0), Grubauer has saved 91 of 100 shots (.910 SV%). Grubauer has historically been very good against the Avalanche, most recently leading the Kraken to knock them out in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Kraken are +169 road underdogs on Thursday but could put up a strong fight against an Avalanche team that has been shut out in three of their last five games (2-3-0) and will be starting Ivan Prosvetov in net.
