Kulikov has been dealing with an illness but could be an option for the Panthers on Saturday as he will be a game-time decision. He has three points (0G / 3A) and a +3 plus/minus rating through six games while primarily playing alongside Niko Mikkola on the Panthers' second defensive pairing.
Bennett has yet to play this season but could return on Saturday as he will be a game-time decision against the Seattle Kraken. Last season, he registered 40 points (16G / 24A) in 63 games and should provide an offensive spark for a Panthers team that is off to a 3-3-0 start.
Bobrovsky will return to the crease on Saturday after serving as a backup for the first time this season in a 3-1 win for Anthony Stolarz and the Panthers over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Bobrovsky has been mediocre to start the season, posting a 3.06 GAA and .899 SV% through five games (2-3-0), and could see his stranglehold over the starting position be challenged if Stolarz can put together more strong starts. Bobrovsky and the Panthers will face off on Saturday against a Seattle Kraken team that has the sixth-worst offence (2.25 GF/GP)
Comrie will be the starter ahead of the Sabres Friday night matchup against the New Jersey Devils. With Devon Levi still injured, Comrie has seen most of the action in the crease and has fared well, posting a 2.05 GAA and .923 SV% in two games (1-1-0). That said, Comrie will face his toughest assignment yet on Friday as the Sabres will visit the New Jersey Devils and their third-ranked offence (4.00 GF/GP).
After playing his first three NHL games, Samoskevich has been returned to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. The 24th overall pick of the Panthers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft recorded zero points, five shots, and a -2 plus/minus rating.
Comrie appears to be the starter ahead of the Sabres Friday night matchup against the New Jersey Devils. With Devon Levi still injured, Comrie has seen most of the action in the crease and has fared well, posting a 2.05 GAA and .923 SV% in two games (1-1-0). That said, Comrie will face his toughest assignment yet on Friday as the Sabres will visit the New Jersey Devils and their third-ranked offence (4.00 GF/GP).
Svechnikov will make his season debut tonight after suffering a knee injury and subsequent season-ending knee surgery late last season. Svechnikov, who has missed the Hurricanes' first eight games of the season, might be eased into the lineup after missing a significant amount of time but should find himself back in the top-six and top powerplay unit before long. The 23-year-old winger had 55 points (23G / 32A) in 64 games last season.
Kuemper will be the starter for the Capitals on Friday after watching Hunter Shepard lead them to a 6-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils in his first career NHL game. Kuemper, and the Capitals as a whole, have struggled immensely to start the season. Kuemper's 3.67 GAA and .868 SV% through four games (1-2-1) pale in comparison to the 2.56 GAA and .916 SV% he has amassed over his 360-game career (166-123-44) and is a clear indication this Capitals team is no longer the powerhouse it once was. Despite being -125 home favourites, Kuemper and the Capitals will be challenged against the Minnesota Wild and their fifth-ranked offence (3.86 GF / GP).
Sandin will be a game-time decision after exiting the Capitals' 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 plus/minus rating.
Kuemper will likely be the starter for the Capitals on Friday after watching Hunter Shepard lead them to a 6-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils in his first career NHL game. Kuemper, and the Capitals as a whole, have struggled immensely to start the season. Kuemper's 3.67 GAA and .868 SV% through four games (1-2-1) pale in comparison to the 2.56 GAA and .916 SV% he has amassed over his 360-game career (166-123-44) and is a clear indication this Capitals team is no longer the powerhouse it once was. Despite being -125 home favourites, Kuemper and the Capitals will be challenged against the Minnesota Wild and their fifth-ranked offence (3.86 GF / GP).
Dach was placed on the injured reserve with an ankle injury before the start of the season and has now been assigned to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. The 62nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft has yet to play a game at the professional level and is coming off a season in the WHL where he scored 27 points (12G / 15A) in 23 games.
Vanecek is the likely starter for the Devils on Friday as they will look to bounce back after a 6-4 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Vanecek, who allowed two goals on 16 shots coming in relief of Akira Schmid on Wednesday, has been the better of the two goalies thus far despite a pedestrian 3.10 GAA and .900 SV% in four games (2-2-0). The Devils are listed as -191 home favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that is averaging only 2.71 goals per game, the 21st fewest in the league.
Skinner will be the starting goalie for the Oilers on Thursday after serving as the backup for three of their last four contests. The Oilers, who will once again be without Connor McDavid (upper-body), will be desperate to get their season on track as they are off to a disappointing 1-4-1 start. Last year's best offensive team (3.96 GF/GP) is averaging only 2.83 goals per game and is being outscored by an alarm 17-27 total. The Oilers will be challenged by the New York Rangers (-126 road favourites) and will hope that sophomore Stuart Skinner can recapture some of the magic he had last season as a Calder Trophy finalist.
Quick gets a somewhat surprising nod on Thursday given starter Igor Shesterkin is coming off one of his best starts of the season on Tuesday against the Flames. Quick has just one start and two appearances to his name on the year but has performed well when called upon. His last start came on Saturday against the Kraken where he stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced enroute to a 4-1 victory.
Woll is on his way to cementing himself as the go-to guy between the pipes for the Maple Leafs as he is likely to start for the second straight game. This season, Woll has given the Maple Leafs a chance to win each night, boasting a 1.44 GAA and .957 SV% through three contests (2-1-0). Ilya Samsonov, who entered the season as the Maple Leafs' likely starter, has struggled immensely, posting an ugly 4.34 GAA and .831 SV% in four games (2-1-0). The Maple Leafs are slight -101 road underdogs against an undefeated Dallas Stars team (4-0-1).
The Senators starting goalie position looked like it was about to be overtaken by Anton Forsberg before a forgettable performance on Tuesday where he allowed five goals on 18 shots, opening the door back up for Korpisalo. Korpisalo has had an equally forgettable start to his tenure as an Ottawa Senator, sporting an ugly 3.63 GAA and .872 SV% through four games (1-2-0). Until one goalie can prove himself as the undisputed number one, the two will likely continue to rotate starts. Tonight, Korpisalo and the Senators are +113 road underdogs against a New York Islanders team that has lost three straight.
Hellebuyck will look to extend his two-game winning streak as he appears to be the starting goalie for the Jets on Thursday. After an uncharacteristic start to the season, posting a .843 SV% through his first three contests (1-2-0), Hellebuyck seems to have regained his Vezina-caliber form, boasting a .933 SV% in his two games since (2-0-0). Hellebuyck and the Jets might be facing their toughest matchup of the season as they visit the high-flying Detroit Red Wings who are averaging an absurd 4.86 goals per game to start the season (5-1-1).
Carlsson returns to the Ducks lineup on Thursday after sitting out the last two games as the team attempts to ease his workload early in the season. The has a goal, six SOG, two PIMs, and a +2 plus/minus in two games thus far in 2023-24 while playing over 20 minutes a night.
DeBrincat was absent from Wednesday's morning skate due to illness but did skate Thursday and was a game-time decision vs. Winnipeg. The 25-year-old has been off to an absurd start during his Detroit tenure as he leads the NHL in goals (9) and is third in points (13) while adding 23 SOG and a +6 plus/minus across seven games thus far in 2023-24.
Georgiev will get his seventh start on Thursday and will look to build on his tremendous early-season results. The Avalanche are one of only three teams without a loss this season (6-0-0), thanks partly to a remarkable start from Georgiev, who has a 1.98 GAA and .930 SV%. The Avalanche are -145 road favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has lost three straight and been outscored 20-17 on the season (2-4-0).
