Peterka did not play in Buffalo's previous game and will miss at least one more contest due to a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old Peterka has a career-high 51 points (19G / 32A) in 61 games this season.
Bichsel did not practice on Thursday due to an illness and is not ready to join the team for the Friday night matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. The 20-year-old rookie defenseman is averaging 14:57 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 22 games this season. Brendan Smith will draw into the Stars' lineup as Bichsel's replacement.
Lian Bichsel (illness) will not play against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, allowing Smith to re-enter the lineup. The 36-year-old Smith last played on March 2nd. He is averaging 12:51 time-on-ice and has four points (0G / 4A) in 27 games this season.
The Stars enter a crucial game in their fight for the top spot in the Central Division on Friday and will lean on Oettinger between the pipes. Oettinger has been inconsistent at times this season and is coming off a poor outing where he allowed five goals on 27 shots in a 5-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The 26-year-old goalie has a 2.48 GAA and .909 SV% in 46 games this season (30-14-2). The Stars enter Friday's contest as +118 road underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets squad coming off a 2-1 win against the New York Rangers.
Gudbranson only played three games this season before suffering a shoulder injury and undergoing surgery in October. The 33-year-old is in his 14th NHL season, his third with Columbus, and is slated to make his return to the lineup next week.
Christiansen was limited to only 5:27 time-on-ice before exiting Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old Christiansen is averaging 12:43 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 65 games this season.
Backlund exited the Flames' 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in the first period and will be out week-to-week due to an upper-body injury. The 35-year-old Backlund is averaging 18:48 time-on-ice and has 24 points (11G / 13A) in 64 games this season. In a corresponding move, the Flames recalled Dryden Hunt from the Calgary Wranglers (AHL).
With Neal Pionk (undisclosed) out week-to-week, Miller will draw into the Jets' lineup on Friday against the Dalla Stars. The 32-year-old Miller is averaging 13:53 time-on-ice and has 11 points (2G / 9A) in 48 games this season.
Pionk played a season-low 16:18 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the New York Rangers and will be sidelined week-to-week due to an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old Pionk was having an impressive season on the Jets' blueline, averaging 22:09 time-on-ice, recording 37 points (9G / 28A) and 109 hits in 66 games.
The Flames have points in five straight (2-0-3) and will turn to Wolf between the pipes on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. Wolf was serviceable in his most recent outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%), but came up short in an eventual 4-3 shootout loss to Vancouver Canucks. The talented 23-year-old rookie goalie has a 2.53 GAA and .915 SV% in 39 games this season (22-12-5). The Flames enter Friday's contest as +190 home underdogs against an Avalanche squad with points in seven straight games (6-0-1).
Ehlers has been tending to an undisclosed ailment, missing the Jets' previous two practices, but will be in the lineup on Friday against the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old Ehlers is averaging 15:54 time-on-ice and has 57 points (21G / 36A) in 57 games this season. He has never finished a season with a point-per-game pace.
Ristolainen did not play on Thursday and remains day-to-da with an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old Finnish defenseman is averaging 20:31 time-on-ice and has 19 points (4G / 15A) in 63 games this season.
Hunt played one game with the Flames this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 29-year-old forward has been outstanding with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) this season, scoring 48 points (15G / 33A) in 48 games.
With Adam Boqvist (upper body) sidelined due to an injury, Mayfield will re-enter the lineup for the Islanders. The 32-year-old Mayfield is averaging 17:09 time-on-ice, recording seven points (2G / 5A) and a +14 plus/minus rating in 54 games this season.
Boqvist was limited to only 7:51 time-on-ice before exiting Monday's 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings with an upper-body injury and did not practice on Thursday. The 24-year-old Boqvist is averaging 13:31 time-on-ice and has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 30 games this season. Scott Mayfield will draw into the lineup as Boqvist's replacement.
The Jets will turn to Hellebuyck between the pipes on Friday in a heated matchup between the top two teams in the Central Division. As he has against most teams this season, Hellebuyck has been tremendous in two games against the Dallas Stars this season (1-1-0), posting an excellent 1.52 GAA and .952 SV%. The 31-year-old goalie has a 1.99 GAA and .927 SV% in 50 games this season (38-9-3). The Jets enter Friday's contest as -133 home favorites against a Stars team that has scored four or more goals in 10 of their last 11 games (8-2-1).
Kozak made his NHL debut earlier this season, scoring one goal in 11 games with the Sabres, but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 22-year-old forward has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 31 games with the Rochester Americans (AHL) this season.
The Islanders have been outscored 8-2 during a two-game losing skid and will likely turn to Sorokin between the pipes on Friday against the Edmonton Oilers. Sorokin was serviceable in his previous outing but did not receive ample goal support, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The 29-year-old goalie has a 2.77 GAA and .905 SV% in 48 games this season (24-20-4). The Islanders enter Friday's contest as +117 home underdogs against an Oilers team that lost 3-2 to the New Jersey Devils last night.
Parent's contract doesn't start until the 2025-26 season, so the 23-year-old will remain with Utica (AHL) for the 2024-25 season. The undrafted free agent has scored 11 goals with 15 assists (26 points) in 44 games in his second full season with Utica.
Christiansen was limited to only 5:27 time-on-ice before exiting Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old Christiansen is averaging 12:43 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 65 games this season.
