Texier played the last three games for the Blues but will miss Friday's game against the Nashville Predators due to an illness. The 25-year-old Texier is averaging 12:53 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 18 games this season.
The Predators are riding a two-game winning streak and will turn to Saros between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Saros was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 29-year-old Saros has a 2.69 GAA and .907 SV% in 28 games this season (8-14-6). The Predators enter Friday's contest as -130 road favorites against the Blues.
Chiarot missed his first game of the season on Monday but could draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 33-year-old Chiarot is averaging 21:02 time-on-ice, recording 70 blocks, 49 hits, and five points (1G / 4A) in 33 games.
Edvinsson has not played the last two games for the Red Wings but will draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 21-year-old defenseman has primarily played on the Red Wings' top defensive unit alongside Moritz Seider, scoring 13 points (3G / 10A) in 30 games.
Tanev missed his first game of the season in the Maple Leafs' previous outing but will return for Friday's game in Detroit. The 35-year-old Tanev is averaging 19:36 time-on-ice, recording 10 points (1G / 9A), a +11 plus/minus, and 99 blocks in 34 games this season.
Woll has played four of six games since Anthony Stolarz suffered a lower-body injury and will return to the crease on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 26-year-old Woll allowed three goals on 25 shots (.880 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Red Wings on December 14th. He has a 2.61 GAA and .908 SV% in 15 games this season (9-6-0). The Maple Leafs enter Friday's contest as -145 road favorites.
The Devils have won five of their last six (5-1-0) and will roll with Markstrom between the pipes on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 34-year-old Markstrom has been tremendous lately, allowing only three combined goals in his last five games (5-0-0), posting an outstanding .960 SV%. He is riding a two-game shutout streak and has a 2.12 GAA and .912 SV% in 26 games this season (18-6-2). The Devils enter Friday's contest as -125 home favorites in the front end of a back-to-back set against the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes held a rare morning skate at their home facilities on Friday before heading out to New Jersey for their contest against the Devils later in the day. Kochetkov was stellar in his last game before the holiday break, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.43 GAA and .903 SV% in 21 appearances (14-6-0). He has allowed three or fewer goals in five straight (3-2-0), posting a solid .934 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as +112 road underdogs against a Devils squad they will face again on Saturday.
The Sabres snapped a league-worst 13-game losing skid in their previous outing when Luukkonen saved 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 7-1 win over the New York Islanders. It was only the second time in nine games that Luukkonen has allowed fewer than three goals in a game (1-6-2). He has a 3.03 GAA and .895 SV% in 24 appearances this season (9-11-23). The Sabres enter Friday's contest as -160 home favorites against a Chicago Blackhawks club amid a two-game losing skid.
Daccord reportedly suffered the injury in Seattle's last game before the holiday break but was able to stay in. The team did not provide any further details on his injury. Philipp Grubauer is the projected starter in Daccord's absence.
Burakovsky did not make the short trip to Vancouver with the team and will sit out Saturday's game with an illness. Daniel Sprong is the most likely candidate to fill Burakovsky's spot on the Kraken's fourth line and second power-play unit.
With Nicolos Roy (upper body) not ready to return to the lineup, Laczynski has been recalled from Henderson (AHL). In three games with Vegas this season, the 27-year-old Laczynski is averaging 8:56 time-on-ice, recording zero points, a -1 plus/minus, and two blocks.
Cayden Primeaeu is expected to be placed on waivers tomorrow, allowing Dobes to make his NHL debut on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. Dobes was a fifth-round pick, 136th overall, of the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old goalie, a product of Ohio State University, has a 2.44 GAA and .910 SV% in 14 games (9-3-1) with the Laval Rocket (AHL).
