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.
Greenway played a season-low 13:26 time-on-ice on Thursday and exited practice early on Friday due to an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old Greenway is averaging 16:17 time-on-ice, recording six points (3G / 3A), and 40 hits in 16 games this season.
Point has not played since November 3rd, missing three straight. He will miss a fourth consecutive game on Saturday but appears to be nearing a return, participating in drills at practice on Friday. Before his injury, Point was enjoying another productive campaign, scoring 13 points (8G / 5A) through 12 games.
Thompson scored a goal on Monday, extending his goal-scoring streak to four games, but exited the contest after only 6:49 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury, did not play on Thursday and will not play on Saturday. The 27-year-old Thompson has been off to a terrific start to the 2024-25 campaign, with 18 points (11G / 7A) in 15 games and could return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Jake Bean will draw into the Flames lineup on Friday, replacing Barrie after playing two straight. The 33-year-old Barrie is averaging 15:20 time-on-ice an has two points (1G / 1A) in nine games this season.
Tyson Barrie will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Bean to return to the lineup. The 26-year-old Bean is averaging 15:34 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in eight games.
Jarvis was a late scratch on Monday with his absence not being announced prior to warmups, did not play on Wednesday, and will likely miss some more time due to an upper-body injury. The 22-year-old Jarvis has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 13 games this season.
Vejmelka was predominantly the backup to Connor Ingram for the first portion of the season but will likely 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.
Schmid entered a contest in relief of Adin Hill last week, saving all 12 shots he faced, but otherwise saw no action while filling in for an injured Ilya Samsonov for the Golden Knights. The 24-year-old Schmid will return to the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL), where he has a 3.56 GAA and .885 SV% in six games (1-5-0).
While he's yet to make an impact at the NHL level, Denisenko has impressed in the AHL over the last two seasons, tallying 21 goals and 42 assists across 75 games. He made his Golden Knight season debut on Wednesday, recording five hits and two penalty minutes in 8:27 time-on-ice.
