Johnson will play his first game with Minnesota after signing with the team in the off-season. He scored two goals and added three assists in 42 games with the Blackhawks last season, and has totaled nine points in 18 AHL games this season.
Minnesota has won four straight and will roll with Gustavsson between the pipes on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. Gustavsson has been tremendous this season, making a case for the Vezina trophy with a sublime 2.04 GAA and .929 SV% through 19 games this season (12-4-3). Minnesota enters Friday's contest as -191 road favorites against an Anaheim club they defeated 5-2 on November 8th when Gustavsson saved 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%).
Trade talks have surrounded Trouba since the offseason and a deal has finally landed, sending him to the Anaheim Ducks. The 30-year-old Trouba was the captain of the Rangers, averaging 20:00 time-on-ice, and recording six points (0G / 6A), 68 blocks, and 39 hits in 24 games. Trouba will have one year remaining in his contract after the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
Vaakanainen was limited to only five games with the Ducks this season, scoring one point (0G / 1A), and will get a fresh start with the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old Vaakanainen was the 18th overall pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He played a career-high 68 games with the Ducks last season, tallying 14 points (1G / 13A).
Perreault was the 27th overall pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2021-22 season, playing one game with the Ducks, but has not played since. He has five points (1G / 4A) in five games with the Trois-Rivieres Lions (ECHL) this season.
Hoefenmayer was a fourth-round pick, 108th overall, of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game and has seven points (1G / 6A) in 11 games with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL) this season.
The Golden Knights have won two straight and will turn to Hill between the pipes on Friday night against the Dallas Stars. Hill saved all 28 shots he faced in his previous outing, a 1-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers, for his second shutout of the season. The 28-year-old Hill has a 2.67 GAA and .900 SV% through 17 games (11-4-2) this season. The Golden Knights enter Friday's contest as +112 road underdogs against a Stars club that has won three of their last four (3-1-0).
The Stars gave up three unanswered goals in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday and will look to return to the win column on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Oettinger allowed three goals on 17 shots (.824 SV%) in Wednesday's losing effort but has been reliable most of the season, posting a 2.41 GAA and .912 SV% in 18 games (13-5-0). The Stars enter Friday's contest as -124 road favorites against a Golden Knights club welcoming Mark Stone (lower body) back into their lineup.
Lemieux was the 31st overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2014 NHL Draft but has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring two points (2G / 0A) in 12 games with the Chicago Wolves. The 28-year-old has played 307 career NHL games, scoring 74 points (36G / 38A) and racking up 548 penalty minutes.
With Mark Stone returning from a lower-body injury, Schwindt will be a healthy scratch to accommodate his return. The 23-year-old Schwindt is averaging 9:55 time-on-ice and has six points (0G / 6A) in 24 games this season.
Demko has not played yet this season due to a knee injury and will make his debut on Friday, serving as the backup to Kevin Lankinen. The 28-year-old Demko was tremendous for the Canucks last season, posting a career-best 2.45 GAA and .918 SV% in 51 games (35-14-2). The Canucks next game will be on Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Lankinen was on the wrong end of a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, allowing three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%), but will return to the crease for a fourth straight game on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Lankinen is sporting a solid 2.66 GAA and .906 SV% through 18 games this season (12-3-3). The Canucks enter Friday's contest as sizeable -209 home favorites against a Blue Jackets club that lost 6-3 to the Edmonton Oilers last night.
Stone has not played since November 6th, missing 14 games with a lower-body injury. Before his injury, the 32-year-old Stone was off to a monstrous start to the 2024-25 season, among the league leaders, with 21 points (6G / 15A) in 13 games.
Lankinen was on the wrong end of a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, allowing three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%), but will return to the crease for a fourth straight game on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Lankinen is sporting a solid 2.66 GAA and .906 SV% through 18 games this season (12-3-3). The Canucks enter Friday's contest as sizeable -209 home favorites against a Blue Jackets club that lost 6-3 to the Edmonton Oilers last night.
McGinn has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on November 18th. The 30-year-old has six points (3G / 3A) and is averaging 11:44 time-on-ice through 17 games this season.
Dennis Cholowski will draw back into the Islanders' lineup on Saturday, resulting in Hutton being a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Hutton is averaging 13:35 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 11 games this season.
Grant Hutton will be a healthy scratch on Saturday, allowing Cholowski to re-enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Cholowski has played well when called upon this season, averaging 12:11 time-on-ice, recording six points (2G / 4A), and a +5 plus/minus.
Barzal has not played since suffering an upper-body injury at the end of October but has be actively skating on his own. After a stellar 2023-24 season, scoring 80 points (23G / 57A) in 80 games, Barzal started the 2024-25 campaign slowly, with only five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games.
Cody Glass (concussion) will return to the lineup on Friday, resulting in Nieto being a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Nieto is averaging 11:59 time-on-ice and has zero points through nine games this season.
Matthew Nieto will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Glass to make his return from a concussion. The 25-year-old has not played since November 7th and has four points (0G / 4A) in 14 games this season.
