Dermott has not played since November 19th and was placed on waivers on Thursday by the Oilers. The 27-year-old defenseman has played 10 games this season, averaging 13:05 time-on-ice, recording zero points, 10 blocks, and six hits.
It's unclear if DeSmith will be able to suit on Saturday but if he isn't, Dallas will have to recall a netminder from Texas (AHL) to serve as Oettinger's backup. DeSmith last played on December 2nd, saving 36 of 37 shots (.973 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club.
Dumba has already missed nine games this season due to injuries and being a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Dumba has not acclimated to Dallas' system as anticipated, spending lots of time on the third defensive pair after beginning the campaign playing alongside Miro Heiskanen. Dumba has one point (0G / 1A) and is averaging 15:33 time-on-ice, his lowest total since his rookie season. Lian Bichsel drew into the lineup for his NHL debut on Thursday, replacing Dumba.
Minnesota had a forgetful performance on Thursday, a 7-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, and will turn to Fleury between the pipes on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Fleury entered the crease in relief of Filip Gustavsson in Thursday's loss, allowing two goals on nine shots (.778 SV%). The veteran Fleury has a 2.71 GAA and .905 SV% in eight appearances this season (5-1-1).
Zuccarello has not played since suffering an injury on November 14th, missing 13 games, but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Before his injury, the 37-year-old Zuccarello had not missed a beat, playing predominantly alongside Kirill Kaprizov, scoring 14 points (6G/ 8A) in 16 games this season.
Nazar was the 13th overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old forward made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in three games. He has 24 points (11G / 13A) in 21 games with the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) this season.
With K'Andre Miller (upper body) placed on Injured Reserve, Mackey will make his NHL debut on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 28-year-old Mackey has 40 games of NHL experience but has primarily been an AHL play, including scoring six points (2G / 4A) in 22 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack this season.
Talbot returned from a four-game absence on Thursday and saved 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, but tweaked something at practice on Friday and will not be able to play on Saturday. Ville Husso will get the start between the pipes as Alex Lyon (lower body) is still sidelined.
Cam Talbot was back in the crease on Thursday but tweaked something at practice on Friday and will not be able to play on Saturday. Husso has a 3.74 GAA and .870 SV% in seven appearances (0-4-2) but has been better since his most recent call-up from the AHL, posting a .899 SV% in four appearances (0-2-1).
Middleton suffered the injury in the first period of Thursday's game and was unable to return. The 28-year-old Middleton is averaging a career-high 20:36 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (5G / 8A), 76 blocks, and 42 hits in 29 games this season.
Smith exited Thursday's 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders midway through the third period with a lower-body injury. The 35-year-old Smith has 10 points (6G / 4A) in 26 games while averaging 11:47 time-on-ice.
Stolarz was able to play the first period of Thursday night's game but was unable to join his teammates for the start of the second due to a lower-body injury. Joseph Woll will likely be exclusively in the crease for the Maple Leafs while Stolarz is injured but the team also recalled Dennis Hildeby on Friday from the Marlies (AHL).
Lee made his NHL debut this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in 16 games with the Kings. The 24-year-old has spent most of the previous three seasons in the AHL with the Ontario Reign, including scoring two points (1G / 1A) in four games this season.
Ehlers has not played since suffering a lower-body injury last Friday but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. Before his injury, the 28-year-old Ehlers was pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 25 points (9G / 16A) in 24 games.
With Dan Vladar (lower body) day-to-day, the Flames have recalled Cooley from the Calgary Wranglers (AHL). That said, if Vladar misses any time, Dustin Wolf will likely see all the action between the pipes for the Flames. The 27-year-old Cooley has a 1.80 GAA and .942 SV% in 18 games (14-3-0) with the Wranglers.
Adding insult to injury, Vladar is day-to-day with a lower-body injury just one day after allowing eight goals on 26 shots (.692 SV%) in an 8-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. If Vladar misses any time, Dustin Wolf will likely take the reins of the crease in Calgary.
Lafferty has not played since November 29th due to a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Washington Capitals. Lafferty has just one goal and zero assists in 21 games this season.
Greenway just returned from a 10-game absence due to injury and could be sidelined again on Saturday as he is dealing with soreness. The 27-year-old Greenway is averaging 16:04 time-on-ice, recording six points (3G / 3A) in 18 games.
Maple Leafs' head coach Craig Berube suggested that McMann could return to the lineup as soon as this weekend. Before his injury, McMann was providing decent secondary offense for the Maple Leafs, with his six goals, seven points and 52 SOG in 21 games played this season.
The Flyers are riding a two-game winning streak and will turn to Ersson between the pipes on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. Ersson wasn't heavily tested in his previous outing and allowed three goals on 18 shots (.833 SV%) but was on the right end of a 5-3 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old Ersson has a 2.85 GAA and .893 SV% in 13 appearances this season (6-3-2).
