Krug did not pay in the Blues' 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday due to a lower-body injury but will return to the ice on Saturday. Krug is averaging a modest 0.49 points per game this season but has been limited to only two points (0G / 2A) in his last nine outings.
The Coyotes will turn to Vejmelka to tend the twine on Friday, his third start in the last five games. Vejmelka has played well lately, allowing three or fewer goals in four straight (2-2-0), including his most recent outing when he was tremendous, saving 37 of 38 shots (.974 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. The Coyotes enter action as slight -106 underdogs against the Seattle Kraken.
Barkov played a season-high 24:26 in his last game on March 16th, but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, and will likely miss a second consecutive game on Saturday. The 28-year-old Barkov has four points (3G / 1A) in his last six games but has been held off the scoresheet in four.
The Red Wings have been victorious in their last two games, with Jame Reimer in the crease, but will turn to Lyon on Saturday against the red-hot Nashville Predators. Lyon has been abysmal lately, allowing four or more goals in six of his last seven games (0-7-0), including five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%) in his last outing, a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Blue Jackets have been outscored 10-4 in their past two games (0-1-1) and will turn to Merzlikins to tend the twine on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. Merzlikins has lost three straight, including a forgettable performance in his last outing, allowing six goals on 27 shots (.778 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The Blue Jackets enter action as enormous +329 road underdogs.
Eriksson Ek has not played the last four games due to a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. Eriksson Ek has been tremendous for Minnesota this season, scoring 60 points (29G / 31A) in 66 games, only one point shy of his career-high set last season.
Crookshank was a fifth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old played seven games with Ottawa earlier this season but has spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with Belleville (AHL), tallying 46 points (24G / 22A) in 50 games.
St. Ivany was the fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has yet to play an NHL game. The 24-year-old California-born defenseman has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), tallying 12 points (4G / 8A) in 52 games. He will make his NHL debut on Friday as Ryan Graves is away from the team to attend to the birth of his child.
The Penguins will be without Graves on Friday as he is attending to the birth of his child. Graves has 14 points (3G / 11A) and 139 blocks in 68 games this season. Jack St. Ivany is expected to make his NHL debut in Graves' absence.
The Penguins have lost six of their last eight games (2-5-1) and will turn to Jarry between the pipes for the sixth time in the last seven games. Jarry has allowed five or more goals in two straight, including a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils in his last outing when he allowed five goals on 38 shots (.868 SV%). The Penguins enter action as +173 road underdogs against the Dallas Stars.
The Avalanche are riding a seven-game winning streak and will turn back to Georgiev in the crease after giving him the night off in their last contest. Georgiev has allowed three or fewer goals in three straight, including saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in his last outing, a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Colorado enters action on Friday as a significant -390 home favourite against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Wedgewood was away from the team for Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes to attend to the birth of his child. He will return to his usual backup duties behind Oettinger on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After a disastrous 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, the Capitals will turn to Kuemper between the pipes on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Kuemper has been inconsistent all season and has only played once in the last 11 games for the Capitals, a 7-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers when he allowed seven goals on 37 shots (.811 SV%). The Capitals enter action as +174 road underdogs against the Hurricanes.
Thiesing is an undrafted 22-year-old forward out of Tennessee who has spent the last three seasons playing collegiate hockey with Ohio State University. In the 2023-24 campaign, Thiesing scored 16 points (9G / 7A) in 31 games with OSU.
The Stars will wrap up the five-game homestand on Friday and turn to Oettinger between the pipes against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Oettinger has been wildly inconsistent all season but is fresh off a 5-2 victory against the Arizona Coyotes when he saved 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%). The Stars are riding a two-game winning streak and enter action as -195 home favourites.
Phillips has not played a game with the Capitals since February 22nd but could draw back into their lineup on Friday in anticipation of a lengthy suspension for Tom Wilson. In 27 games with the Capitals this season, Phillips has five points (1G / 4A).
Oshie did not play in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs due to an upper-body injury but was back on the ice at the morning skate on Friday and is still not expected to return yet. The 37-year-old Oshie has been plagued with injuries this season and only has one point (1G / 0A) in his last five games.
After a disastrous 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, the Capitals will likely turn to Kuemper between the pipes on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Kuemper has been inconsistent all season and has only played once in the last 11 games for the Capitals, a 7-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers when he allowed seven goals on 37 shots (.811 SV%). The Capitals enter action as +174 road underdogs against the Hurricanes.
Crookshank was a fifth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old played seven games with Ottawa earlier this season but has spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with Belleville (AHL), tallying 46 points (24G / 22A) in 50 games.
