Sprong played in one game during his call-up but sat as a healthy scratch on Friday with Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg back in the lineup. Sprong returns to the AHL, where he has seven goals and 11 assists (18 points) in 24 games.
Kempny missed last night's game with an illness and will miss his second straight game on Saturday. With Kempny staying back in Washington, Christian Djoos will remain on the Capitals blueline vs. the Hurricanes.
Brooks, who was a fourth-round pick in 2016, has eight goals and eight assists (16 points) in 20 AHL games this season. Brooks will replace Ilya Mikheyev in the lineup but will likely make his debut on the fourth line with Frederik Gauthier and Dmytro Timashov.
Sissons was hurt last night vs. the Penguins and was spotted leaving Bridgestone Arena with a protective boot on his right leg. Sissons move to IR means he will miss at least one week, meaning he'll miss the Winter Classic. Yakov Trenin was called up to take Sissons' roster spot.
Trenin comes back up after a six-game stint before the Christmas break, where he had one goal and one assist. Trenin will replace Colton Sissons on the roster after he was moved to IR. The former second-round pick has 14 goals and 12 assists (26 points) in 20 AHL games this year.
Holtby was yanked after allowing four goals on 11 shots in the Capitals loss in Boston on Monday. With Ilya Samsonov starting last night's overtime win, Holtby will get the Hurricanes in Carolina on Saturday. Holtby is 9-4-1 with a 3.19 GAA and .897 SV% on the road this year and allowed three goals on 28 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss in his first game vs. the Hurricanes.
Murray allowed four goals on just 14 shots in the Penguins 4-1 loss in Vancouver last Saturday. No one needed the Christmas break more than the 25-year-old Penguins' netminder, who is 1-3-3 with a 3.89 GAA and .848 SV% in his last eight starts. He comes into Saturday's game at 6-2-2 with a 2.58 GAA and .913 SV% at the PPG Paints Arena this season.
Mrazek allowed four goals on 31 shots after replacing James Reimer in the Hurricanes 8-6 loss in Toronto on Monday afternoon. Mrazek has given up three-plus goals in three straight games but has performed well on home-ice this season. Mrazek is 10-4-0 with a 2.42 GAA, .905 SV% and one shutout in 14 games at PNC Arena but the Capitals are an equally strong 16-4-1 on the road.
With Jake Muzzin out week-to-week with a broken foot, Marincin will play alongside Justin Holl against the Rangers. Marincin has no points while playing 11:51 ATOI in seven games with the Maple Leafs this season.
Muzzin suffered a broken foot while blocking a shot during last night's win in New Jersey. Muzzin played through the injury but was diagnosed with a broken foot post-game. Martin Marincin will draw into the lineup for Muzzin on Saturday night.
Raanta allowed three goals on 41 shots in the Coyotes' loss in Nashville on Monday. Raanta hasn't been great recently, going 1-4-0 with a 2.85 GAA and .909 SV% in his last six outings but at least he catches the Golden Knights on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Saturday. He is 1-1-1 with a 3.23 GAA and .908 SV% in three career starts against Vegas.
Mikheyev had to undergo wrist surgery after getting cut by a skate on Friday night and will miss at least three months. He could eventually be moved to LTIR to provide the Maple Leafs with some salary relief but for now, he is on regular IR to open up a roster spot to call-up Timothy Liljegren.
Moore is out indefinitely with a concussion so the Maple Leafs have moved him to IR to open up a roster spot to recall Kenny Agostino from Toronto (AHL).
Liljegren could make his NHL debut Saturday vs. the Rangers. It's hard to imagine the Maple Leafs recalling one of their top defensive prospects to sit as a healthy scratch when they already have seven healthy blueliners on the roster. Liljegren has three goals and 14 assists to lead all Marlies defensemen with 17 points in 27 games.
With Mikheyev out for at least three months, the Maple Leafs bring up another winger for Saturday's game. Agostino could make his Maple Leafs debut on Saturday night and comes up leading the Marlies in goals (16) and second in points (26).
Laughton was on the ice for Friday's practice but will miss at least another game when the Flyers face the Sharks in San Jose. With Laughton still out, the recently waived Andy Andreoff will play on Saturday.
Andersen gave up six goals on 40 shots in the Maple Leafs' 8-6 win over the Hurricanes on Monday afternoon. Andersen is on a four-game winning streak despite posting a 3.25 GAA and .899 SV%. Under Sheldon Keefe the Maple Leafs are scoring 4.06 goals per game, so there will be plenty of goal-support for Andersen, but his splits could continue to take a hit.
Fleury gave up seven goals on 38 shots in the Golden Knights blowout 7-3 loss to the Avalanche on Monday. Fleury has struggled in his last two outings, giving up a combined 12 goals on 72 shots (.833 SV%). Tonight he faces a Coyotes team that has alternated wins and losses in their last 10 games while averaging 3.00 goals for and 3.00 goals against per game.
Markstrom allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Canucks 4-2 win over the Oilers on Monday. Markstrom followed up his three-game losing streak with a three-game winning streak, stopping 94 of the 101 shots (.931 SV%) that he has faced. Markstrom has gone 2-0-0 with a 2.51 GAA and .921 SV% in his first two starts against Los Angeles this season.
Markstrom allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Canucks 4-2 win over the Oilers on Monday. Markstrom followed up his three-game losing streak with a three-game winning streak, stopping 94 of the 101 shots (.931 SV%) that he has faced. Markstrom has gone 2-0-0 with a 2.51 GAA and .921 SV% in his first two starts against Los Angeles this season.
