NHL Hockey Player News

Gudas has not played December 21st, and will be out again on Friday against the Coyotes. Gudas has five goals and four assists in 31 games this season.

Fehervary exited the game in the first period after falling awkwardly into the boards and will not return. We should expect to receive an update on his injury and a possible timeline for his return following the completion of Friday's game.

Merzlikins played the entirety of the first period of Friday's game but did not come out for the start of the second period due to an illness. Spencer Martin has entered the game in his place. Merzlikins is questionable to return.

Lindgren left the game in the first period shortly after taking a shot up high. Darcy Kuemper has entered the game in his place. We should expect to get an update on Lindgren's injury and a possible timetable for his return following the completion of Friday's game.

Meyers will re-enter Colorado's lineup on Friday in place of Ross Colton (undisclosed). He has one goal and no assists in five games this season.

Johnson will sit on Friday as Cole Guttman enters the lineup in his place. Johnson has two goals and no assists in 23 games this season.

Guttman will re-enter the lineup to centre Chicago's fourth-line against the Stars on Friday. He has two goals and one assist in 15 games this season.

Crevier was a late addition to Chicago's lineup against the Stars after Nikita Zaitsev (undisclosed) was announced as a late scratch. Crevier has no goals and three assists in 10 games this season.

Zaitsev was a surprise scratch from Friday's game after he participated in the team's morning skate. He has one goal and four assists in 18 games this season. Louis Crevier will draw back into the lineup in his place.

Mrazek was sensational on Wednesday in a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, saving 37 of 38 shots (.974 SV%) and will be rewarded with another start on Friday. Mrazek has won two of his last three games (2-1-0), posting an impressive .931 SV%. The Blackhawks, +320 road underdogs, will face off against the Dallas Stars for the first time this season, a team Mrazek has historically been solid against, posting a 2.41 GAA and .923 SV% in 12 career games (3-5-1).

Colton blocked a shot in the third period of Wednesday's game and exited after playing only 11:16 time-on-ice with an undisclosed injury. Before leaving the game, Colton recorded four hits and extended his point streak to two games with an assist. He was considered a game-time decision for Friday's game in St. Louis.

Georgiev allowed five unanswered goals on 22 shots (.815 SV%) in Wednesday's disappointing 5-4 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes but will return to the crease on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. The Avalanche are -163 road favourites against the Blues despite being pummelled 8-2 by them in their previous matchup on November 11th. Before his late-game collapse against the Coyotes on Wednesday, Georgiev won two straight games, saving 65 of 70 shots (.929

Wahlstrom will sit alongside Casey Cizikas (illness) as Julien Gauthier and Matt Martin draw back into the Islanders' lineup. Wahlstrom has two goals and three assists in 19 games this season.

Martin will make his first appearance since November 15th as Casey Cizikas will miss Friday's game due to an illness. Martin has one goal and one assist in 14 games this season.

Cizikas was a late scratch for Friday's game with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. The Islanders' fourth-line centre has five goals and five assists in 34 games this season. Matt Martin will draw into the lineup in his place.

Tierney will get a chance to play against his former team on Friday as he makes his first appearance since December 10th. He is yet to register a point in 13 games this season.

Miller will be the odd-man out on Friday as the Devils opt to go back to a more traditional lineup with Brendan Smith dropping back to take Miller's place on the blue-line. Miller has zero goals and one assist across 16 games this season. Chris Tierney will draw into the lineup in his place.

Lazar did not play on Wednesday but was be a game-time decision on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. Lazar has been a regular in the Devils lineup this season, scoring 10 points (4G / 6A) in 30 games while playing predominantly Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian. Chris Tierney will draw into the lineup in his absence.

Saros will get the nod for the sixth consecutive game as the Predators travel to Detroit to take on the Red Wings on Friday. Nashville's franchise netminder has been a little hot and cold over that stretch, recording a SV% of at least .912 in three of those games while posting a sub .800 SV% in each of the other two starts. He'll have his hands full again on Friday as he takes on a Red Wings team that currently sits fifth in the NHL in goals per game at 3.51.

Daws will make his season debut and his first appearance since the 2021-22 season when the Devils travel to Ottawa on Friday. Daws spent the entirety of last season with Utica (AHL), registering a .904 SV% across 33 appearances. He's made three starts in Utica this season since returning from off-season hip surgery, posting a .929 SV% across those three games. He'll have his hands full in Ottawa on Friday as he takes on a Senators' team that appears to be finding their stride after a dreadful start to the season.