After sitting as a healthy scratch for three straight games, the $9.0 million dollar man will re-enter the lineup on Saturday afternoon. Skinner will replace Jack Eichel in the lineup but is expected to remain in a bottom-6 role.
Eichel was a surprise scratch on Thursday and will remain out of the lineup on Saturday afternoon. Tage Thompson replaced him on Thursday but Jeff Skinner will be back in the lineup for him on Saturday.
Ullmark was hurt while making a remarkable save on Thursday and keeping the puck out of the net will cost him at least one month. With Ullmark out, Carter Hutton will become the Sabres' No.1 netminder with Jonas Johansson serving as the No.2.
Cernak was hurt in the Lightning's most recent game, playing just 8:24 TOI vs. the Hurricanes. However, he was on the ice for Saturday's morning skate and head coach Jon Cooper said it looks like he's fine for tonight's game vs. Dallas.
Cirelli has been out since February 11th with an upper-body injury but all signs are pointing towards him returning to the lineup on Saturday. Cirelli skated with Alex Killorn and Steven Stamkos and took reps on the second power-play unit in the morning skate. He had four goals and six assists (10 points) in 12 games before getting hurt.
Ovechkin was originally listed as a game-time decision after missing Friday's practice but will play this afternoon vs. the Devils. Ovechkin has had a bit of a disappointing season to-date, scoring just six goals in 15 games, but New Jersey is a team that he's dominated in his career.
Murray did not participate in Friday's practice and will be a game-time decision for Saturday's game against the Capitals. Monitor his status as the Devils take the ice for warmups at 12:30 PM ET.
Gudas was a late scratch from Thursday's game but will draw right back into the lineup on Saturday. Gudas is second in the league in hits and brings value in banger leagues but provides very little in the way of offence.
Gambrell missed one game with a concussion because a few got cancelled due to COVID-19 protocol but he's expected to be back Saturday vs. the Blues. Gambrell would replace Tomas Hertl, who is the one on the COVID-19 list. He has just two assists in 13 games this season.
Simek has been sidelined by an upper-body injury since February 13th but is expected to replace either Nicolas Meloche or Frederik Claesson in the Sharks lineup on Saturday. Simek has two assists, five shots and a minus-2 rating in 11 games this season.
It will be Chmelevski's first game since February 5th, as he draws into the lineup to replace Tomas Hertl (COVID-19). Chmelevski has just one career NHL game under his belt but the former sixth-round pick had one assist in 6:11 TOI in that game.
Hertl tested positive for COVID-19 and head coach Bob toughener said he'll miss at least two weeks as he follows protocol. With the Sharks back in action on Saturday, look for Alexander Chmelevski to replace Hertl in the lineup.
