Griffith has missed the last four games with a concussion, but will return to the Panthers’ lineup on Friday. Griffith will skate on the top line with Vincent Trocheck and Jaromir Jagr and comes in with five assists in 23 games this season.
McLeod has spent nine and a half years with Colorado, collecting 117 points (66G / 51A) in 659 career NHL games. McLeod is a career fourth liner and will likely find a similar role in his new home in Nashville.
Girard, 22, was a fourth round pick (95th overall) in 2013 and has picked up eight points (3G / 5A) in 35 games with Milwaukee (AHL) this season. Girard will report to San Antonio (AHL).
Barkov is out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury and head coach Tom Rowe said that Barkov “is not close,” so expect him to be sidelined for at least a couple more weeks. Vincent Trocheck will continue to play huge minutes with Barkov out.
In late December it was believed that Huberdeau would be ready to go in mid-February, but it sounds like he won’t be ready until the first week of March. The Panthers have had a tough time with injuries this season and Huberdeau couldn’t return soon enough.
Andersen allowed five goals on 31 shots in the Maple Leafs’ loss to Montreal last Saturday. Since January 1st, Andersen has allowed a combined 17 goals on 176 shots (.892 SV%) in four starts. Andersen has struggled since the calendar flipped to 2017, but the Leafs will stick with him tonight in New York.
Buchnevich has been out since November 12th, but will return to the lineup tonight after a brief three-game conditioning stint with Hartford (AHL). Buchnevich had one goal and one assist during those three games and returns to the Rangers, where he has eight points (4G / 4A) in 10 games this season.
Nash has missed the last eight games with a groin injury, but he will return to the lineup tonight vs. Toronto. Nash has registered 13 goals and seven assists (20 points) in 30 games this season. Tonight he will skate with Oscar Lindberg and Jimmy Vesey.
Laine will miss his third straight game with a concussion and remains without a timetable for his return. Laine’s movement to IR created a roster spot too recall Julien Melchiori to be recalled from Manitoba (AHL).
Hrivik has appeared in 16 games with the Rangers this season, but will come out of the lineup tonight with both Rick Nash and Pavel Buchnevich returning to the lineup tonight, Hrivik will be scratched and could be sent back to the AHL soon enough.
There is no word as to what is ailing Pesce, but head coach Bill Peters said that Pesce will be a game-time decision tonight. If Pesce can't play, Ryan Murphy will replace him in the lineup.
Holtby stopped 30 of 32 shots in the Capitals’ win over the Penguins on Wednesday. Since his rough outing vs. the Maple Leafs on January 3rd, Holtby has gone 4-0-0 with a 0.75 GAA, .974 SV% and two shutouts. Holtby is the hottest goalie in the NHL right now and is a must-start regardless of his opponent.
Luongo made 29 stops on 30 shots in the Panthers’ win in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Luongo has now won two in a row while stopping 57 of 58 shots (.983 SV%) and tonight he faces the Islanders, but in the friendly confines of BB&T Center. He is 2-1-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .948 SV% vs. the Isles.
Vasilevskiy allowed six goals on 40 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Penguins on Sunday. Ben Bishop started last night and his return means less games for Vasilevskiy, but he’ll go tonight because of the back-to-back. Vasilevskiy has lost five of his last six while posting a 4.07 GAA and .878 SV%.
Lundqvist allowed four goals on 37 shots in the Rangers’ win in Columbus last Saturday. Lundqvist has won three of his last four while posting a 3.01 GAA and .896 SV%. Lundqvist has gone 9-4-1 with a 2.73 GAA and .900 SV% on home ice this season and draws a tough matchup vs. a high-scoring Maple Leafs team.
Josi left after he was hit high but Bruins’ forward Anton Blidh and didn’t come back to the game. Head coach Peter Laviolette thought the hit was “late and dirty.” Monitor his status prior to Saturday’s game in Colorado.
Rask made three saves before he was hit in the throat by a Roman Josi shot and was forced from the game. After the game, Rask said that he “was going to be okay,” so monitor his status prior to Saturday’s game vs. the Flyers.
Hanzal missed last Saturday’s game vs. the Islanders with an upper-body injury, but he is expected to return to the lineup tonight vs. the Jets. Hanzal skated with Tobias Rieder and Anthony Duclair in Thursday’s practice and comes into Friday with 15 points (9G / 6A) in 34 games this season.
Brouwer has missed the last eight games with a finger issue, but s expected to return to the lineup Friday vs. the Devils. Brouwer has had a tough season, picking up 17 points (8G / 9A) in 36 games this season.
Carrier, 20, was a fourth round pick in 2015 (115th overall) and this is his first NHL call-up. Carrier has picked up four goals and 18 assists (22 points) in 35 games in his first season with Milwaukee.
