Klingberg will miss Friday's game vs. the Red Wings with a lower-body injury that he suffered in the Winter Classic. With Klingberg out, Taylor Fedun will draw into the Stars lineup for the first time since December 20th.
Khudobin allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Stars win in Arizona last Sunday. Khudobin has gone 3-0-0 with a 1.95 GAA and .948 SV% in his last four outings (three starts). He hasn't played in Dallas much this season but has been great when he has. The 33-year-old is 3-1-0 with a 1.62 GAA and .937 SV% in four games at American Airlines Center.
With Brendan Gallagher, Joel Armia and Jonathan Drouin out right now, the Canadiens are looking for help upfront. Kovalchuk, whose contract was terminated by the Kings in mid-December, is a low-risk option that Montreal will be able to send to Laval (AHL) if it comes to that. Kovalchuk had just three goals and six assists (nine points) in 17 games with the Kings earlier in the year.
With Adam Pelech out for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury, Aho comes up from Bridgeport for the first time this season. The 23-year-old defenseman has two goals and 18 assists (20 points) in 34 games.
Pelech was a late scratch for Thursday's game with a "lower-body injury" that the Islanders confirmed was an Achilles tendon injury on Friday. Pelech will miss the rest of the 2020 season, so Sebastian Aho (not that one) has been called up from Bridgeport (AHL).
Brannstrom has shown some flashes of what made him a top prospect in the NHL this season but the Senators acquired Mike Reilly from Montreal on Thursday so they could send Brannstrom to the AHL to get some more development time.
Scott was called-up after an injury to Alexandre Texier on Wednesday but did not make his NHL debut because Sonny Milano returned from injury. With 12 healthy forwards on the roster as of now, Scott heads back to the AHL and awaits his next call-up.
Victor Olofsson was hurt on Thursday night, so Wilson has been summoned from the AHL and will likely make his season debut on Saturday afternoon. Wilson has six goals and eight assists (14 points) in 22 AHL games this season.
Olofsson had to be helped down the tunnel after suffering a lower-body injury on the Sabres' game-tying goal. The Sabres quickly recalled Scott Wilson from Rochester on Friday morning, suggesting that Olofsson is going to miss some time. Expect the Sabres to release a more detailed injury update in the next 24 hours.
Kiviranta is in his first year in North America and has tallied 18 points (9G / 9A) in 33 games with Texas this season. Kiviranta's call-up is likely a reaction to the Corey Perry hearing. Perry elbowed Ryan Ellis in the head during the Winter Classic and will likely be suspended for Friday's game, opening the door for Kiviranta to make his NHL debut.
Mrazek allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Canadiens on Tuesday. Mrazek won his final two games of December, finishing the month at 5-2-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .907 SV%. One of those wins came against the Capitals, allowing four goals on 29 shots in a 6-4 win last Saturday.
Bobrovsky surrendered four goals on 28 shots in the Panthers loss in his return to Columbus on Tuesday. Bobrovsky is in the middle of another tough stretch, losing two of his last three while allowing a combined 15 goals on 105 shots (.857 SV%). He's still a strong option in Ottawa--he stopped 29 of 30 shots in a winning effort in his first start vs. the Senators.
Frolik is in the final year of his five-year contract that carries a $4.3M AAV cap-hit and gets acquired for the same fourth-round pick that the Sabres acquired from Montreal for Marco Scandella. Frolik has scored five goals with five assists (10 points) in 38 games this season but has played a much smaller role than in previous seasons. With Jeff Skinner out, the Sabres were looking for some wing help in their middle-6.
Rutta is dealing with a lower-body injury and is officially listed as day-to-day. With Rutta sidelined, Brayden Coburn will draw back into the lineup.
Coburn returned from injury Sunday vs. the Red Wings but was a healthy scratch in Buffalo on Tuesday. With Jan Rutta dealing with an injury, Coburn will draw back into the lineup tonight and is expected to skate with Victor Hedman.
Dobson was a healthy scratch for the last three games but will play Thursday because Adam Pelech was a late scratch due to a lower-body issue. Dobson has just two assists in 11 games this season.
Pelech was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup, so Noah Dobson will replace him vs. the Devils. Pelech should be considered day-to-day as we head into the weekend.
McAvoy was officially listed as a game-time decision but was expected to play tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. McAvoy missed the previous three games but comes in with four assists in his last seven games.
Scandella suited up in 31 of 41 games this season, scoring three goals with six assists (nine points) while averaging 1.23 hits and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Scandella is in the final year of his five-year deal that carries a $4.0M AAV cap-hit. He joins the left-side of the Canadiens' blueline that includes Ben Chiarot, Brett Kulak and Victor Mete.
