Romanov has missed three straight games due to an upper-body injury but is likely to make his return on Friday, replacing Dennis Cholowski. The 24-year-old Romanov has two points (0G / 2A), 19 blocks, and 14 hits in eight games this season.
Bains recorded his first career NHL goal on Saturday and has been impressive in Vancouver this season but continues to be a part of paper transactions sending him back to Abbotsford (AHL) due to salary cap implications. Last season with Abbotsford (AHL), Bains was an offensive stalwart, producing 55 points (16G / 39A) in 59 games, but the 23-year-old has played exclusively at the NHL level this season.
Brannstrom has been solid in Vancouver this season, averaging 14:15 time-on-ice from the blue line, tallying a point (0G / 1A) and a +3 plus/minus. That said, he continues to be a part of paper transactions, sending him back and forth from Abbotsford (AHL) due to salary cap implications.
Declan Chisholm will draw in Minnesota's lineup on Friday for his seventh game of the season, resulting in Merrill being a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Merrill has been a lineup-regular for Minnesota this season, averaging 13:01 time-on-ice and scoring one point (0G / 1A) in nine games.
Jon Merrill will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, allowing Chisholm to slide back into the lineup. The 24-year-old Chisholm has played six games this season, scoring one point (0G / 1A) and averaging 14:41 time-on-ice.
Ryan Hartman (upper body) will make his return from a five-game absence, making Gaudreau the odd man out of the lineup on Friday. The 31-year-old Gaudreau is averaging 13:59 time-on-ice and has three points (2G / 1A) through nine games this season.
With Mathew Barzal (upper-body) away from the team to get evaluated, Engvall will slide back into the Islanders lineup on Friday. The 28-year-old Engvall is averaging 10:27 time-on-ice and has four penalty minutes in two games this season.
Hartman has missed the last five games due to an upper-body injury but will make his return to the lineup on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, replacing Frederick Gaudreau. The 30-year-old Hartman was off to a strong start to the season before his injury, with two goals in his first four games.
Minnesota was confidently rolling with Gustavsson to start the 2024-25 season, allowing two or fewer goals in his first five games (4-0-1) before a forgettable outing in his most recent contest, allowing six goals on 22 shots (.727 SV%) in a disappointing 7-5 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. That said, the 26-year-old Gustavsson is still sporting an excellent 2.17 GAA and .922 SV% through six games this season (4-1-1). Minnesota enters the action on Friday as -113 home favorites against the Tampa Bay Lightning, winners of three straight.
Oliver Wahlstrom will draw into the Islanders' lineup on Friday, sending Martin back to the press box as a healthy scratch. Matt Martin has only played two games this season, averaging 9:34 time-on-ice, but has been his usual bruting self, racking up five hits.
Alexander Romanov (upper-body) will make his return from a three-game absence on Friday, sending Cholowski to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Cholowski was thrust into the lineup due to Romanov's injury and recording one point (1G / 0A) in three games.
Matt Martin will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Wahlstrom to re-enter the lineup. At morning skate on Friday, Wahlstrom was skating on a line with Pierre Engvall and Casey Cizikas. The 24-year-old Wahlstrom is averaging 9:39 time-on-ice through six games this season and has zero points.
The Islanders have been very liberal in alternating goalies this season despite Sorokin seemingly returning to the form that made him a Vezina-trophy runner-up in the 2022-23 season. The 29-year-old Sorokin has been terrific to start the 2024-25 campaign, posting a dazzling 1.80 GAA and .932 SV%, but only has a 2-2-1 record to show for it. The Islanders rank worst in the league offensively, averaging only 2.2 goals per game, and enter the action on Friday as slight -104 road underdogs against the Buffalo Sabres.
Barzal played 22:46 time-on-ice in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, showing no signs of impairment, but is away from the team as he gets evaluated for an upper-body injury back in New York. After a stellar 2023-24 season, scoring 80 points (23G / 57A) in 80 games, Barzal has started the 2024-25 campaign slowly, with only five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games. At the Islanders' morning skate on Friday, Jean-Gabriel Pageau was in Barzal's usual spot, flanking Bo Horvat.
The Jets will likely give Connor Hellebuyck the night off on Friday and turn to Comrie between the pipes for his third start of the season. The 29-year-old Comrie has been serviceable in limited action this season, posting a respectable 3.00 GAA and .915 SV% through two contests (2-0-0). The Jets enter the action on Friday as -178 road favorites against a surprising Columbus Blue Jackets club (5-3-1) that ranks fifth-best in the league with a +10 goal differential.
The injury-depleted Avalanche, now without Matthew Stienburg due to a two-game suspension, have recalled another newcomer on Friday with the arrival of Prischepov. The 20-year-old Prischepov was a seventh-round pick of the Avalanche in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He has four points (1G / 3A) in six games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.
Tynan made his season debut on Wednesday, his first NHL game since the 2021-22 season, recording a -1 plus/minus in 8:36 time-on-ice. The 32-year-old Tynan has spent most of his career in the AHL and has four points (0G / 4A) in six games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.
Wiesblatt was the 31st overall pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old has not played an NHL game yet and has two points (0G / 2A) in six AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals this season.
Shesterkin will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak when he returns to the crease for the Rangers on Friday night against the Ottawa Senators. The 28-year-old Shesterkin was busy in his last outing, saving a season-high 41 shots, but allowed four goals (.911 SV%) in the 5-3 losing effort against the Washington Capitals. The Rangers enter the action on Friday as -187 home favorites against the high-scoring Ottawa Senators (4.2 GF / GP).
Benson has not played the last three games due to a lower-body injury but is nearing a return after returning to practice on Friday. Benson has played six of seven games to start the season for the Sabres before his injury, scoring zero points and recording a -4 plus/minus.
