Athanasiou was hurt in his second game with the Oilers but avoided serious injury and could play Saturday. Athanasiou has picked up two points (1G / 1A) and three shots on goal in his first two games on Connor McDavid's wing.
Suess has scored 13 goals with 13 assists (26 points) in 54 AHL games this season. Suess' recall is likely related to Patrik Laine getting hurt on Thursday, suggesting Laine won't be available for Saturday's game in Edmonton.
Burakovsky has missed the last two games with an illness but head coach Jared Bednar said that Burakovsky "could play tonight" in Carolina. Burakovsky has been excellent in the last month and a half, posting 20 points (7G / 13A) in his last 17 games.
Francouz allowed two goals on 33 shots in Colorado's win over the Sabres on Wednesday. Francouz has won four straight starts, stopping 104 of the last 108 shots (.963 SV%) that he has faced. Tonight he'll face a Hurricanes team that has been up-and-down recently and come in on a three-game home losing streak and using their fourth-string netminder.
Thurkauf, 22, played in three straight NHL games but returns to the AHL with Alexander Wennberg and Riley Nash returning to the Blue Jackets lineup. Thurkauf has nine goals and 16 assists (25 points) in 47 games with Cleveland.
Lilja has played in seven straight games but will sit tonight with Alexander Wennberg and Riley Nash returning to the lineup.
Nash missed Tuesday's game with an undisclosed injury but will play tonight vs. the Wild. Nash has just one assist in his last 17 games, so he has no fantasy value whatsoever.
Forsberg was called-up when Petr Mrazek and James Reimer got hurt. He served as the backup for the first two games but will face the Avalanche tonight. He was 15-9-2 with a 2.95 GAA and .905 SV% in the AHL when he was called up. The 27-year-old comes into Friday at 11-24-4 with a 3.21 GAA and .901 SV% in 45 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets and Blackhawks.
Forsberg was called-up when Petr Mrazek and James Reimer got hurt. He served as the backup for the first two games but will face the Avalanche tonight. He was 15-9-2 with a 2.95 GAA and .905 SV% in the AHL when he was called up. The 27-year-old comes into Friday at 11-24-4 with a 3.21 GAA and .901 SV% in 45 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets and Blackhawks.
Korpisalo stopped 14 of 15 shots after replacing Elvis Merzlikins in the Blue Jackets 4-3 OT win over the Senators on Monday. He was scheduled to start Tuesday in Minnesota but head coach John Tortorella reneged with Korpisalo recently returning from injury. The 25-year-old comes into Friday at 12-8-1 with a 2.37 GAA, .910 SV% and two shutouts on home ice this year.
Wennberg has missed the last 12 games with an upper-body injury but is expected to be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Wild. Wennberg has five goals and 15 assists (20 points) in 52 games this season.
Ho-Sang has been playing with Bridgeport (AHL) but is being assigned to the Blues' AHL affiliate in San Antonio. Ho-Sang is still the property of the Islanders but this obviously isn't a good sign for his future with the team. It's been a rocky relationship since he was selected No.28 overall in 2014.
Georgiev allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Rangers win in Montreal last night. Since Igor Shesterkin got hurt, Georgiev has won two in a row while stopping 74 of the 79 shots (.937 SV%) that he's faced. Even with future Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist behind him, Georgiev will start for the second straight night and for the third time in four days. He's now 13-4-0 with a 2.75 GAA and .925 SV% on the road.
Saros allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Predators win over the Senators on Tuesday. Saros has won two straight while stopping 73 of 78 shots (.936 SV%) and will make his third consecutive start tonight vs. the Flames. Calgary has won the first two games of their road-trip and is 6-1-0 while averaging 4.86 goals per game in their last seven road games.
Hogberg allowed four goals on 45 shots in the Senators loss in Columbus on Monday. Hogberg has lost three straight (0-2-1) while posting a 4.61 GAA and .874 SV%. Tonight he faces a Canucks team that has gone 4-1-1 while scoring an impressive 4.33 goals per game in their last six games.
Stalock allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Wild's win over the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Stalock has won five of his last seven starts (5-1-1) while posting a strong 2.12 GAA, .919 SV% and one shutout. He has played great and is a must-start against a Red Wings team that is 1-7-0 while scoring just 1.63 goals per game in their last eight games.
Bobrovsky stopped 37 of 38 shots in the Panthers 2-1 win in Arizona on Tuesday. It was an outstanding game for Bobrovsky, who has won three of his last four games while posting a 2.51 GAA and .931 SV%. Tonight he'll start a crucial game vs. the Maple Leafs, who he stopped 31 of 34 shots in a 5-3 win against in early-February.
