Smith has been limited to only four games since December 12th due to a nagging back issue but will likely return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 35-year-old forward is averaging 11:41 time-on-ice and has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 30 games this season.
With Dylan Guenther (lower body) return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, Crouse will be a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Crouse is averaging 14:16 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (7G / 4A), 24 penalty minutes, and 105 hits in 52 games this season.
Guenther has not played since January 8th, missing 12 games, but will likely make his return on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 21-year-old Guenther has had a productive 2024-25 campaign, scoring 34 points (16G / 18A) in 40 games. That said, he only has two points (0G / 2A) in his last eight contests. Lawson Crouse will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Guenther's return to the lineup.
Joseph is battling an illness and his status for Tuesday's game against the Edmonton Oilers is up in the air. The 27-year-old Joseph is averaging 12:05 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 35 games this season.
The Jets are riding a six-game winning streak and will likely turn to Comrie between the pipes on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Comrie was solid in his most recent outing, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames. The 29-year-old Comrie has a 2.79 GAA and .905 SV% in 12 games this season (4-7-1). The Jets enter Tuesday's contest as +113 home underdogs against a Hurricanes squad coming off a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
Tucker played only 10:34 time-on-ice in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club and will not play on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers due to an upper-body injury. Nick Leddy (lower body) will return from a multiple-month absence, replacing Tucker on the blue line.
Leddy has not played since mid October due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 33-year-old Leddy was averaging 22:09 time-on-ice in four games before his injury. Tyler Tucker is battling an upper-body injury and will be the odd man out of the lineup, accommodating Leddy's return.
The Flames are coming off a strong outing with Dan Vladar between the pipes in a 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken but will return to rookie phenom Wolf on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 23-year-old Wolf has been excellent in his first NHL season, posting a 2.50 GAA and .917 SV% in 30 games (19-9-2). The Flames enter Tuesday's contest as +131 home underdogs against a Maple Leafs squad that has scored only one goal in three of their last four games (1-3-0).
The Blue Jackets' three-game winning streak snapped in their most recent outing when Merzlikins allowed five goals on 39 shots (.872 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. Merzlikins will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has been solid lately, posting a .915 SV% in his last nine games (7-2-0). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +152 road underdogs against a Sabres team without offensive threat Tage Thompson (upper body).
The Blues' four-game losing skid snapped in their most recent outing, courtesy of Binnington saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Binnington will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers and look to improve his 2.83 GAA and .898 SV% through 37 games this season (14-19-3). The Blues enter the action on Tuesday as +156 home underdogs against an Oilers squad that defeated them 4-2 on December 7th.
The Panthers have outscored their opposition 14-4 in their last three games (3-0-0) and will turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. After an uncharacteristically average first half of the season, Bobrovsky has been outstanding lately and allowed only five combined goals in his last four games (4-0-0) while posting a stellar .953 SV%. The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as -116 road favorites against a Capitals team that defeated them 4-1 on November 25th.
Rosen was the 14th overall pick of the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old played once game with the Sabres earlier this season but has predominantly been in the AHL, scoring 39 points (23G / 16A) in 40 games with the Rochester Americans.
With Kirill Marchenko (jaw) sidelined, Labanc will re-enter the lineup for Columbus on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 29-year-old Labanc only has two points (1G / 1A) in his last 20 games.
The Blue Jackets' three-game winning streak snapped in their most recent outing when Merzlikins allowed five goals on 39 shots (.872 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. Merzlikins will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has been solid lately, posting a .915 SV% in his last nine games (7-2-0). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +152 road underdogs against a Sabres team without offensive threat Tage Thompson (upper body).
The Blues' four-game losing skid snapped in their most recent outing, courtesy of Binnington saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Binnington will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers and look to improve his 2.83 GAA and .898 SV% through 37 games this season (14-19-3). The Blues enter the action on Tuesday as +156 home underdogs against an Oilers squad that defeated them 4-2 on December 7th.
Poturalski is an undrafted forward with six games of NHL experience. The 31-year-old Poturalski has been one of the most prominent point producers in the AHL the past several seasons, including scoring 45 points (18G / 27A) in 41 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) this season.
The Panthers have outscored their opposition 14-4 in their last three games (3-0-0) and will likely turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. After an uncharacteristically average first half of the season, Bobrovsky has been outstanding lately and allowed only five combined goals in his last four games (4-0-0) while posting a stellar .953 SV%. The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as -116 road favorites against a Capitals team that defeated them 4-1 on November 25th.
Tampa Bay will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 36 shots (.917 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has a 2.30 GAA and .918 SV% in 39 games this season (21-15-3). Tampa Bay enters Tuesday's contest as -168 home favorites against an Ottawa club that played last night and defeated the Nashville Predators 5-2.
Samuelsson is battling a lower-body injury and will not play on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 24-year-old Samuelsson is averaging 18:31 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) in 35 games this season.
Thompson exited Sunday's 4-3 win over New Jersey Devils in the third period after being on the receiving end of an unsuspecting hit from Stefan Noesen. The 27-year-old Thompson has been tremendous offensively lately and will be sorely missed by a Sabres team riding a three-game winning streak. Thompson has 14 points (7G / 7A) in his last nine games.
