Hughes has missed the previous four games due to an upper-body injury but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 25-year-old Hughes is having another excellent season, scoring 42 points (8G / 34A) in 34 games. He was on a particularly strong stretch before his injury, with 22 points (4G / 18A) in his last 14 games.
Lafferty will fill in for Beck Malenstyn (illness) after serving as a healthy scratch for Saturday's game in Vegas. Lafferty has just one goal and two assists in 29 games this season.
Malenstyn is battling an illness and will miss his first game of the season when the Sabres play the Washington Capitals on Monday. The 26-year-old Malenstyn is averaging 10:30 time-on-ice and has eight points (4G / 4A) in 40 games this season.
After a three-game winning streak, the Sabres have returned to the loss column, being outscored 13-8 during a three-game losing skid (0-2-1). Luukkonen struggled in his previous outing, allowing six goals on 29 shots (.793 SV%) in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He has a 3.07 GAA and .894 SV% in 28 games this season (11-12-4). The Sabres enter Monday's contest as +126 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals club with points in three straights (2-0-1).
Laine appears to be nearing a return to the lineup but will miss a third straight contest on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 26-year-old Laine has been impressive in his limited time with the Canadiens, scoring 10 points (8G / 2A) in 13 games despite averaging a career-low 14:51 time-on-ice.
The Canadiens played their last game with Jakub Dobes in their crease, an impressive 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Still, they will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. Montembeault allowed four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. He has a 2.91 GAA and .900 SV% in 31 games this season (14-15-2). The Canadiens enter Monday's contest as +113 home underdogs against a Canucks squad coming off a 3-0 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Lambos was the 26th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game. He has five points (2G / 3A) in 27 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season.
Gaunce has been in and out of Minnesota's lineup the past several weeks, recording zero points in five games. The 30-year-old has spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 17 points (11G / 6A) in 22 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL).
Boyd is no stranger to the NHL, with 118 points (47G / 71A) in 299 career games, but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 31-year-old forward has 20 points (3G / 17A) in 22 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL).
Grundstrom exited Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames after only 1:34 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury and has not played since. The 27-year-old forward has five points (1G / 4A) in 30 games this season.
Haula has played through some injuries this season but will sidelined on a week-to-week basis due to an ankle sprain. The 33-year-old Finnish forward is averaging 14:27 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (5G / 6A), 22 blocks, and 67 hits in 42 games this season.
McCabe played 7:12 TOI before getting injured in a fight with Garnet Hathaway. McCabe has been a steadying force on Toronto's blue line this season and will be out of the lineup until at least January 14th against the Dallas Stars. The 31-year-old McCabe is averaging 20:52 time-on-ice and has 11 points (1G / 10A), 68 blocks, and 72 hits in 36 games this season.
With Jake McCabe (upper body) placed on Injured Reserve, the Maple Leafs have recalled Rifai from the Toronto Marlies (AHL). The 26-year-old Rifai has yet to play and NHL game this season. He has four points (2G / 2A) in 26 contests with the Marlies in the AHL.
With one game left in his eight-game suspension, Rempe has been reassigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). The 22-year-old Rempe has been limited to five NHL games this season. He has five points (3G / 2A) in 18 contests with Hartford in the AHL.
The Panthers will return to Bobrovsky between the pipes on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. Bobrovsky was excellent in his previous outing, saving 37 of 39 shots (.949 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has a 2.78 GAA and .899 SV% in 26 games this season (17-8-1) but has been more impressive lately, allowing only 10 goals in his past five games (3-2-0), posting a stellar .936 SV%. The Panthers enter Monday's contest as +108 road underdogs against an Avalanche club that has scored four or more goals in six of their last seven (6-0-1).
Burroughs has been used sparingly this season, often rostered as a seventh defenseman. The 29-year-old is averaging only 5:44 time-on-ice in his last 12 games, scoring one point (0G / 1A) in the process.
Helenius did not play the previous game for the Kings but has been recalled from the Ontario Reign (AHL). The 22-year-old Helenius, in his first NHL season, is averaging 8:33 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 21 games.
Kaliyev was unable to secure a spot on the Kings' roster this season and was placed on waivers on Sunday. The 23-year-old Kaliyev was the 33rd overall pick of the Kings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He has 71 points (35G / 36A) in 188 career games.
Larsson exited Seattle's previous game due to an undisclosed injury after only playing 12:03 time-on-ice but will return to action on Monday against his former club, the New Jersey Devils. The 32-year-old Larson has been a stabilizing force on Seattle's blue line this season, averaging 20:38 time-on-ice and recording seven points (1G / 6A), 83 blocks, and 55 hits in 40 games.
