Allen stopped 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) as he picked up his third straight loss in a 2-1 overtime defeat to the Colorado Avalanche in his last game. The Canadiens starter has struggled at times this season, with his 9-12-1 record, .900 SV% and 3.27 GAA. He takes on the Dallas Stars, who are first in the Central Division but have lost two of their last three games after a 6-3 loss to Edmonton in their previous game.
Palmieri has played one game since Nov.21st due to an upper-body injury that has reaggrivated itself and has been placed on the injured reserve after playing 10:46 in a game vs. Arizona Friday. The 31-year-old veteran winger has six goals, nine points and 39 SOG through 21 games prior to hitting the shelf again due to injury.
Varlamov stopped 35 of 37 shots before leaving Saturday's game in Vegas with a lower-body injury and will head to the injured reserve. The Islanders recalled Cory Schneider from the AHL and he is expected to stay with the team until Varlamov is nursed back to full health.
Raty has five goals, seven assists, 10 PIMs and was a +4 plus/minus through 23 games with Bridgeport (AHL) and will be called up for the first time in his NHL career to the Islanders. The 2021 2nd-round pick (52nd overall) will be looking to make his NHL debut if he finds his way into New York's lineup.
Wotherspoon has been recalled to the Islanders for the first time in his career after scoring a goal, 11 assists, 27 PIMs and a +12 plus/minus through 27 games with Bridgeport (AHL). If he does make the Islanders' lineup, it will be the 25-year-olds NHL debut.
McLeod has not played since Nov. 26th due to an ankle injury but will draw back into the OIlers' lineup Friday as they take on Vancouver. The 23-year-old had three goals, five assists, 22 SOG and 10 PIMs in 21 games prior to his injury.
Christiansen has two assists, 19 SOG and is a -3 through 17 games with the Blue Jackets this season but will head to the press box as a healthy scratch with the return of Adam Boqvist (foot).
Tarasov allowed four goals on 38 shots (.895 SV%) as he picked up his fourth straight loss in a defeat to Philadelphia in his previous game. The 23-year-old has been leaned on heavily lately and played well despite what his 2-7-1 record may show, as he has a .913 SV% and 3.13 GAA. He will hope for better fortunes against the Chicago Blackhawks, who have lost their last eight games and are last in the NHL in goals per game with 2.26.
Skinner stopped 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) to snap a personal three-game losing skid with a victory over Dallas in his last start. The 24-year-old Edmonton native has taken the reigns of the starting position in Edmonton, with his 10-8-1 record, 2.84 GAA and .913 SV%. He will face the Vancouver Canucks, who are coming off a 6-5 victory over Seattle in their last game and are 10th in the NHL in goals per game with 3.29.
Boqvist has been out since October 25th due to a foot injury but returns to the Blue Jackets' lineup Friday as they take on Chicago. The 22-year-old could only get four games under his belt before the injury and had no points, three SOG and a -1 plus/minus. He had 11 goals, 11 assists, and 64 SOG in 2021-22 as one of the best offensive options on Columbus' blue line.
Stalock has not played since Nov. 1st due to a concussion but will make his first start back Friday. The 35-year-old has been having a resurgent season after taking all of 2021-22 off due to injury, with a 3-2-1 record, .914 SV% and 2.93 GAA in seven starts prior to the injury. He will face Columbus, who is looking to snap the current five-game losing streak they are on.
Skjei missed the Hurricanes' previous contest due to personal reasons and will be a game-time decision Friday vs. the Flyers. The 28-year-old has been having an incredibly solid season, with six goals, eight assists, a +11 plus/minus and 71 SOG through 32 games prior to taking a step away from the team.
Aho has missed the Hurricane's last seven games due to a lower-body injury but will be a game-time decision Friday as they take on the Flyers. If Aho does return, it will be massive for Carolina, as he had 11 goals, 27 points, 7 SOG, 18 PIMS and a +2 plus/minus through 26 games prior to the injury.
Oettinger allowed five goals on 33 shots (.848 SV%) in his previous start as he snapped a two-game winning streak with a loss to Edmonton. The 24-year-old has been the definition of solid for the Stars this season, with his 13-5-3 record, 2.47 GAA and .919 SV%. He will face the Montreal Canadians, who have lost four of their last five games after a 2-1 overtime loss to Colorado in their last game.
Stalock has not played since Nov. 1st due to a concussion but will make his first start back Friday. The 35-year-old has been having a resurgent season after taking all of 2021-22 off due to injury, with a 3-2-1 record, .914 SV% and 2.93 GAA in seven starts prior to the injury. He will face Columbus, who is looking to snap the current five-game losing streak they are on.
Smith had been playing in Grand Rapids (AHL) prior to being dealt Monday to the Florida Panthers, where he had two goals, three assists, 45 PIMs and a -21 plus/minus through 19 games. He was part of a trade which saw Detroit acquire Danny O'Regan, and Anaheim, Michael Del Zotto.
Marino left the Devils' game Monday due to an upper-body injury and missed Wednesday's game and is now considered out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Marino has three goals, six assists, 42 SOG and is a +10 plus/minus in 32 games played.
Fogarty played in two games with the Minnesota Wild but failed to pick up a point and will not head down to the Iowa Wild (AHL) where he had nine goals, 12 assists, 22 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus in 25 games prior to his promotion.
Holtz did not play in the Devils' previous game as he was a healthy scratch, but he will draw back the Devils' lineup Friday vs. Boston. The 20 year-old-rookie has two goals, 14 SOG and eight PIMs across 13 games played with New Jersey so far.
Okhotyuk had two goals, four assists, 18 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus across 17 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) before being recalled Thursday. He has played in five NHL games previously, scoring one goal and one assist
