Dowd missed the Capitals' previous game due to a lower-body injury and will be a game-time decision Monday vs. Detroit. The 32-year-old has five goals, five assists, 18 PIMs and is a +4 plus/minus through 32 games prior to the injury.
Kuemper has missed the Capitals' previous seven games due to an upper-body injury but will return Monday as a backup. The 32-year-old was having a decent first season in Washington prior to the setback, with his 8-9-2 record, 2.56 GAA and .916 SV%.
Skinner signs a three-year, $7.8 million contract extension after an incredibly strong start to his season which has saw him take over the Oilers' starting gig. The 24-year-old is 9-8-1 with a 2.83 GAA and .915 SV% through 19 games played in his first full NHL season.
Novak had been enjoying a fantastic season in Milwaukee (AHL) prior to his call up, ranking 14th in the AHL in points with 11 goals, and 15 assists in 25 games played. Novak has previousy played 27 games in the NHL prior to this season, collecting a goal and seven points while being a -4 plus/minus.
Kaut had four goals and five points in six games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) prior to his third call-up of the season to the Avalanche. In his previous stints with the Avalanche, he had a goal, two assists, and 19 SOG across 18 games while averaging 10:14 TOI.
Sillinger's second NHL season has not been going as planned, as he has two goals, six points, 41 SOG across 30 GP but will miss his first game of the year Monday due to an undisclosed injury. The 19-year-old entered the season with high hopes after putting up 31 points (16G/15A) in 79 GP in his rookie season last year.
Tarasov allowed four goals on 39 shots (.897 SV%) to pick up his third straight loss in a defeat to the league leading Boston Bruins in his last start. The 23-year-old has arguably been the Blue Jackets' best net minder this season even though he is only 2-5-1 with a .908 SV% and 3.27 GAA. He will face the Dallas Stars, who are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss but are fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.63).
Lindgren stopped 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) for his sixth win in seven starts as he defeated Toronto his previous time out. The 29-year-old has been incredibly solid as a fill in for Darcy Kuemper, with a 8-4-2 record, 2.70 GAA and .913 SV%. He will take on the Detroit Red Wings, who are in the middle of a five game losing skid after a loss to Ottawa in their last game.
This will be a massive loss for the Blue Jackets as they will be without their top centre for at least four weeks due to him undergoing surgery to repair a fractured thumb. Columbus' captain had been enjoying a strong first half of the season, with 11 goals, 22 points, 93 SOG and five PPG through 30 games while averaging the most time amongst their forwards with 20:11 ATOI.
Dunne has been recalled after it was announced Boone Jenner would miss at least a month due to thumb surgery. In 24 games with Cleveland (AHL), Dunne has five goals, 11 points, 31 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus. He will be looking to pick up his first career NHL point after failing to get any in a brief six game showing with the Blue Jackets back in 2020-21.
Brown had two assists and was a -3 plus/minus in a two game conditioning stint with Springfield (AHL) before being recalled to the St. Louis Blues. Brown missed 18 games due to an upper-body injury before being sent down to the minor but prior to his injury, he had no points, five SOG and was a -2 plus/minus through five games with St. Louis.
Blackwood's time in Utica (AHL) did not go as smoothly as planned as he had a 3.03 GAA and .891 SV% in just two starts with the team. Regardless, he was recalled to the Devils, where he struggled early in the season prior to a knee injury, posting a 4-2-0 record with a 2.79 GAA and .880 SV%.
Varlamov stopped 35 of 37 shots before leaving Saturday's game in Vegas with an undisclosed injury. The Islanders recalled Cory Schneider from the AHL on an emergency basis, suggesting that Varlamov will not play Monday.
Dowd was scratched ahead of Saturday's game vs. Toronto and is listed day-to-day. Consider Dowd questionable to play Monday vs. the Red Wings--expect Nicolas Aube-Kubel to remain in the lineup if Dowd can't play.
Oshie suffered an upper-body injury midway through Saturday's win over the Maple Leafs and did not return. The Capitals announced that he's day-to-day on Sunday, putting his status for Monday's game in Detroit in jeopardy.
