Wagner played 12 games with the Avalanche this season, scoring one point (1G / 0A), but will report to the Eagles (AHL) after clearing waivers. The 33-year-old Wagner has 66 points (39G / 27A) in 385 career NHL games.
With Alexandar Georgiev sidelined, day-to-day, due to an upper-body injury, the Avalanche have recalled Miner from the Colorago Eagles (AHL) to back up Justus Annunen. The 23-year-old Miner has never played an NHL game and has a 2.34 GAA and .905 SV% in six games with the Eagles this season (3-2-1).
Justus Annunen will start for Colorado on Friday as Georgiev is battling an upper-body injury. Georgiev's day-to-day prognosis is a promising one for a netminder finally starting to regain his form in the crease after a terrible start to the 2024-25 season, allowing only nine total goals in his previous four games (3-1-0) and posting a .913 SV%.
Wood has not played since October 28th but, after being activated from Injured Reserve, will return to the lineup on Friday against the Washington Capitals. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. Wood joins Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) as players making long-awaited returns to the lineup.
Eberle played only 6:22 time-on-ice before exiting Friday's 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks due to a lower-body injury. The 34-year-old Eberle is averaging 15:51 time-on-ice and has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 17 games this season.
For the sixth straight game, the Golden Knights will likely turn to Hill between the pipes. The 28-year-old Hill has had an up-and-down season, posting a lackadaisical 3.27 GAA and .879 SV% in 11 games (7-3-1), but was solid in his previous outing, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The Golden Knights enter the action on Friday as -121 road favorites against the Utah Hockey Club, fresh off an impressive 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Jones suffered an upper-body injury and exited Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche after only 5:56 time-on-ice. He has been placed on Injured Reserve and will be out of the lineup for at least a week, retroactive to November 13th.
With the score tied 2-2, Kuemper exited Wednesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche early in the third period. He was replaced by David Rittich, and the Kings ultimately lost the game 4-2. Kuemper missed some time earlier this season due to a lower-body injury, but it's unclear if his current ailment is related.
The 26-year-old Moverare has been a journeyman since making his North American professional debut in the 2020-21 season. He played a career-high 24 games with the King last season, scoring one goal.
Portillo was the third-round pick, 67th overall, of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old goalie has yet to play and NHL game and has spent the past two season with the Ontario Reign (AHL) after a successful tenure with the University of Michigan. Portillo will likely serve as the backup to David Rittich while Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) is sidelined.
After a solid start to the 2024-25 season, recording two points (1G / 1A), 36 blocks, 28 hits, and a +11 plus/minus through 16 games, McNabb has been rewarded with a three-year, $10.95 million contract extension. The 33-year-old McNabb is in his 13th NHL season, spending the previous eight with the Golden Knights.
Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes on Saturday in a divisional matchup against the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old Gustavsson has been excellent this season, boasting a stellar 2.08 GAA and .924 SV% in 12 games (8-2-2). Gustavsson and the Wild will host a Dallas Stars team that has outscored their opposition 14-3 over their past two games (2-0-0).
Brodin exited Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks after playing 16:38 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury and did not play on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 31-year-old Bordin is averaging 22:04 time-on-ice, second most among Minnesota defensemen, and has six points (1G / 5A) in 15 games this season.
Eriksson Ek exited Thursday's game against the Montreal Canadiens in the first period after playing only 3:43 time-on-ice but could be an option to return to the lineup on Saturday against divisional foes, the Dallas Stars. The 27-year-old Eriksson Ek is averaging 17:33 time-on-ice but only has eight points (5G / 3A) through 14 games, a 0.57 point per game pace, after producing at a 0.81 point per game pace over the previous two seasons.
After being sidelined for the first part of the season after undergoing an appendectomy, Gibson will return to the crease for the Ducks for the second time in three games. Gibson was tremendous in his season debut last week, saving 38 of 40 shots (.950 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Ducks enter the action on Friday as +130 home underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings club that has won three of their last five (3-2-0).
Nichushkin was suspended for six months in May and will make his season debut on Friday, his first day of eligibility. Off-ice issues aside, Nichushkin has been dynamite in his last three seasons with the Avalanche, scoring 152 points (70G / 82A) in 169 games, and he will provide an offensive boost to an injury-depleted team upon his return to the lineup. Nichushkin is expected to play on a line with Jonathan Drouin and Casey Mittelstadt.
After seemingly taking over the crease for Colorado, playing six of eight games, Annunen has returned to the backup role after a strong four-game stretch by Alexandar Georgiev (3-1-0). That said, Annunen will return to the crease on Friday against the Washington Capitals and look to improve his 2.64 GAA and .894 SV% through eight games (5-2-0). The Avalanche enter Friday's contest as -169 home favorites against a Capitals club that has lost two of their previous three (1-1-1).
Drouin has not played since the first game of the season, missing 16 consecutive contests, but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Washington Capitals. After several forgetful seasons, the 29-year-old Drouin had a career-high 56 points (19G / 37A) in 79 games last season. That said, at least to start, Drouin will be on the second line, away from his familiar spot alongside Nathan MacKinnon.
Vejmelka was predominantly the backup to Connor Ingram for the first portion of the season but will start for the third time in five games. Vejmelka was outstanding in his previous outing, earning a second consecutive start, saving 49 of 50 shots (.980 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Czech netminder improved to a 2.37 GAA and .926 SV% in five games (1-3-0) this season. Utah HC enters Friday's contest as +106 home underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Zuccarello exited Thursday's 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens in the first period after playing only 3:15 time-on-ice and is expected to miss three-to-four week after undergoing successful surgery. The 37-year-old Zuccarello has not missed a beat, playing predominantly alongside Kirill Kaprizov, scoring 14 points (6G/ 8A). in 16 games this season.
