Noesen will join Martin Necas (upper-body) on the sidelines for this one as the Hurricanes will be forced to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Noesen has ten goals and 13 assists in 38 games this season.
Necas left Thursday's practice early due to the injury and appears to be unavailable for Friday's game against the Capitals. The 24-year-old winger has nine goals and 17 assists in 38 games this season.
Ponomarev is Carolina's 2020 second-round pick (53rd overall) and will make his NHL debut on Friday after scoring six goals and 20 points in 20 games with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) to start 2023-24.
Vanecek has served as the backup to Nico Daws in two of the last three games, both wins for the Devils, but will return to the crease on Friday evening. Before allowing five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in his last outings, Vanecek won two straight games, saving 48 of 53 shots in the process (.906 SV%). Vanecek and the Devils are overwhelming -432 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks club that has lost four straight, being outscored 15-2 in their last three (0-3-0).
Pelech has been out since November 24th but is nearing a return to the Islanders' lineup as he is now day-to-day with a possibility to dress Saturday vs. Vegas. The 29-year-old's presence has been a big miss from the Islanders' lineup as he had three assists, 17 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus in 16 games prior to his injury.
Meyers has appeared in eight games for the Avalanche this season and has a goal, six SOG, and a -1 plus/minus while averaging 9:41 TOI/GP and has been recalled Friday after being reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) Thursday. The 25-year-old miraculously does not have an assist in 52 career NHL games played dispite having six goals.
Kochetkov will make his ninth consecutive start as he goes for his fourth straight win Friday in Washington. The 24-year-old has done well since the Hurricanes' crease was handed to him in the middle of December, with his 10-7-3 record, 2.53 GAA, .904 SV% and one shutout on the season. He will take on the Capitals on the road, who have lost five of their last six games and are 30th in the NHL in goals per game (2.36).
Jones will make his seventh straight start as he goes for his fourth consecutive win in a juicy matchup Saturday in San Jose. The 33-year-old signed a one-year, $875,000 contract in the offseason with Toronto and has been their saviour as of late with his 6-3-0 record, 2.20 GAA, .930 SV% and two shutouts. He heads to San Jose for a rare home and home battle. The Sharks are looking to snap a horrendous 10-game losing streak but bring little offence as they are last in the NHL in both goals per game (2.03) and shots per game (2.54).
Soderblom will draw the Blackhawks' crease for a second-straight game as he tries to break a perosnal seven game losing streak on the road in New Jersey Friday. The 24-year-old sophomore has been terrible yet again in 2023-24, with wins only against the Toronto Maple Leafs leading to his 2-12-1 record, 4.07 GAA and .874 SV%. He heads to New Jersey to take on the Devils, who have won four of their last five matchups and are sixth in the NHL in goals per game (3.53).
Ponomarev is Carolina's 2020 second-round pick (53rd overall) and has earned his first NHL call up Friday after scoring six goals and 20 points in 20 games with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) to start 2023-24. The 21-year-old has a high potential to make his first NHL appearance Friday as the Hurricanes take on Washington on the road.
Samoskevich played three games with the Panthers earlier this season, being held off the scoresheet, but has spent most of the season with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, tallying 22 points (9G / 13A) in 27 games. Samoskevich was the 24th overall pick of the Panthers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Cousins was the recipient of a controversial hit from Arizona's Jason Zucker which led to a three-game suspension. The 30-year-old scrappy centre has struggled to produce offensively in 2023-24 with only two goals, three assists, 20 PIMs, 63 SOG and a -10 plus/minus in 37 games played.
Christiansen was recalled last week and played his first three games for the Blue Jackets this season, recording one point (0G / 1A) while averaging 15:56 time-on-ice. He has been reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters, where he has 22 points (5G / 17A) in 28 games.
Hill participated in his first full practice since suffering an undisclosed injury on December 17th, suggesting his return to the lineup is on the immediate horizon. Hill returned to action on December 17th after a two-week absence from an injury but was not able to finish that contest and has been out of the lineup since.
Gudas has only played one of the last five games for the Ducks but could return to the lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. He has five goals, five assists, and 87 hits in 32 games this season.
Sanford has played 12 games for the Coyotes this season, recording two points (0G / 2A) and a +2 plus/minus rating. If the career journeyman goes unclaimed, he will return to the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL, where he has four points (1G / 3A) in 16 games this season.
Gibson will make his first start of 2024 after watching Lukas Dostal heroically save 57 of 59 shots in a 2-1 losing effort to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Ducks' last contest. In his last outing, Gibson allowed seven goals on 39 shots (.821 SV%) but allowed two or fewer in his previous three (2-1-0), posting a .940 SV%. The Ducks are sizeable +163 home underdogs on Thursday against a red-hot Winnipeg Jets club that played last night, defeating the San Jose Sharks 2-1.
Gagner has not played since December 21 due to a concussion and will have to wait at least one more game before returning despite being cleared for action. Before his injury, Gagner had five points (1G / 4A) in his last six games while averaging less than 10 minutes per game.
Gardner made his Flyers debut on Thursday, registering one hit while playing 7:28 time-on-ice. He will return to being a healthy scratch on Saturday as the Flyers will welcome Cam Atkinson and Morgan Frost back into the lineup.
Heiskanen awkwardly collided with his goaltender Scott Wedgewood while backchecking and exited the game in the third period after playing only 14:38 time-on-ice. After a slow start to the season with only seven points in his first 13 games (1G / 6A), Heiskanen was starting to come into his own, scoring 20 points (3G / 17A) in his last 24 games. Heiskanen's presence on the blue line will be sorely missed for the Stars, as he averages over 25 minutes per night. Expect Thomas Harley to see in an increase in deployment during Heiskanen's absence, including a role on the top powerplay unit.
