The Kings have recalled Andre Lee from the Ontario Reign (AHL) in correspondence to Thomas being placed on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old Thomas has already played a career-high 10 games this season, averaging 11:07 time-on-ice and scoring two points (1G / 1A).
Buchnevich suffered a lower-body injury after falling awkwardly midway through the second period of Wednesday's game and was unable to return. Thankfully for the Blues, the injury should not keep him sidelined for an extended period. The 29-year-old Buchnevich has 15 points (6G / 9A) in 24 games this season.
Chinakhov has been one of the best offensive producers for the Blue Jackets this season but will not play on Friday. The 23-year-old is averaging a career-high 17:01 time-on-ice and has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 21 games this season.
Hintz did not play in Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks but will re-enter the lineup on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 28-year-old Hintz, nearly a point-per-game player over the past three seasons, only has 13 points (8G / 5A) in 20 games this season, but has three in his last three (2G / 1A). Logan Stankoven (undisclosed) will exit the stars lineup, making room for Hintz to return.
The Blue Jackets will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes for a fifth straight game. Despite allowing four or more goals in three of his last four, Merzlikins has salvaged a 3-1-0 record. The 30-year-old Latvian netminder has a 3.15 GAA and .890 SV% in 13 games this season (6-5-2). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Friday as slight -108 home favorites against a Calgary Flames club riding a two-game losing skid.
Stankoven is battling an undisclosed ailment and will miss his first game of the season on Friday. The 21-year-old rookie has 15 points (4G / 11A) in 21 games this season. Roope Hintz (undisclosed) will draw back into the lineup for the Stars.
Nils Lundkvist (lower body) will return from an injury and Alex Petrovic will make his season debut for the Stars at Matt Dumba and Brendan Smith will be healthy scratches. The 35-year-old Smith has been serviceable in a limited capacity for the Stars, averaging 13:47 time-on-ice and scoring three points (0G / 3A) in 12 games.
Nils Lundkvist (lower body) will return from an injury and Alex Petrovic will make his season debut for the Stars at Matt Dumba and Brendan Smith will be healthy scratches. Dumba started the season on the top defensive pair alongside Miro Heiskanen but has struggled, finding himself on the bottom pair lately.
Lundkvist has not played the last three games due to a lower-body injury but will re-enter the lineup on Friday. The 24-year-old Lundkvist has one point (0G / 1A) in 15 games this season while averaging 13:58 time-on-ice. Brendan Smith and Matt Dumba will both be healthy scratches on the Stars' blueline as Alex Petrovic joins Lundkvist returning to the lineup.
Petrovic has only played one regular season NHL game in the last five years but had an impact in seven playoff games with Dallas this past postseason. Nils Lundkvist (lower body) also returns to the Stars lineup on Friday as Matt Dumba and Brendan Smith will be healthy scratches.
The Stars have been bleeding goals lately, allowing 11 in their last four periods. Oettinger allowed five on 33 shots in his previous outing (.848 SV%) but was playing well before that blip, allowing two or fewer in five straight (5-0-0), posting a .934 SV%. The Stars enter the action on Friday as -138 home favorites against division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche, coming off a 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Friedman has played 88 career games in the NHL but has had trouble solidifying himself on a roster. The 28-year-old defenseman has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in eight games.
Bains has been back and forth from the AHL all season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in Vancouver. The 23-year-old Bains is averaging 10:56 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A) in 11 games.
The Blackhawks signed Brossoit to a two-year deal worth $6.6 million ($3.3M AAV) in the offseason. The 31-year-old Brossoit has suffered a setback in his return to action after underdoing an additional procedure and will be out of the lineup for approximately six more weeks.
The Stars have been bleeding goals lately, allowing 11 in their last four periods. Oettinger allowed five on 33 shots in his previous outing (.848 SV%) but was playing well before that blip, allowing two or fewer in five straight (5-0-0), posting a .934 SV%. The Stars enter the action on Friday as -138 home favorites against division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche, coming off a 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Tarasov has not played since November 16th and will not suit on Friday due to an illness. The 25-year-old Tarasov has an ugly 4.04 GAA and .861 SV% in eight games this season (3-4-1). The Blue Jackets have recalled Jet Greaves from the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) on an emergency basis.
Granlund was a late scratch on Monday, with his absence being announced prior to warmups, and did not play on Wednesday. Macklin Celebrini centered the Sharks first line in his place. The 32-year-old Granlund has been excellent since joining the Sharks last season, scoring 84 points (21G / 63A) in 92 combined games.
Swayman has only played three of the last six games for the Bruins but will return to the crease on Friday. The 26-year-old Swayman has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, posting an ugly 3.16 GAA and .888 SV% in 16 games (6-8-2). That said, he has saved 32 of 34 shots faced (.941 SV%) over his last two games (1-1-0). The Bruins enter Friday's contest as -166 home favorites against a Pittsburgh Penguins club coming off a 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, the first time they have scored over four goals since October 16th.
Meier was issued a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct late after an illegal cross-check on Zachary L'Heureux of the Nashville Predators. After a hearing with NHL Player Safety, Meier was issued a one-game suspension. Meier is averaging 17:09 time-on-ice and has 15 points (7G / 8A) in 24 games this season.
For the third time in the last five games, the Flyers will roll with Fedotov between the pipes. Fedotov has allowed four goals in three of his previous four games (2-1-1) and has a 3.69 GAA and .874 SV% in eight games this season (3-4-1). The Flyers enter the action on Friday as +127 road underdogs against a New York Rangers club riding a four-game losing skid.
