Eklund left the ice early in the first period during Thursday's 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, needing assistance due to an ankle injury. The team has not provided a concrete update, but it appears to be a long-term issue. The 23-year-old Swedish forward was getting favourable deployment early in his tenure with the Senators and scored two points (1G / 1A) in four games.
Montembeault did not finish practice on Wednesday due to a lower-body injury, and is expected to miss approximately two weeks. The 29-year-old goalie fell out of favour in Montreal last season and spent time in the AHL, but he has started the 2026-27 season in the NHL as Jakub Dobes' backup.
Just days after losing Aleksander Barkov (lower body), the Panthers' injury woes continued as Marchand exited Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury. Marchand began the season on the sidelines with an undisclosed injury and lasted only 9:36 on ice in his second game before suffering his latest ailment. Fortunately for Marchand and the Panthers, though he will miss some time, he is expected back in the lineup by late November.
Burakovsky suffered an upper-body injury in Ottawa's final preseason game and has not played since, but could make his debut on Saturday. The 31-year-old veteran was acquired in a trade with Chicago in the offseason and is entering the final year of a five-year, $27.5 million contract. He had 11 goals and 33 points in 75 games played last season with the Blackhawks.
Haydn Fleury will make his season debut on Friday, sending St. Ivany to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old St. Ivany is averaging 14:13 time-on-ice and has zero points in two games this season.
Bauer, a sixth round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, will re-enter the lineup to fill in for the injured Josh Morrissey (upper body). The 24-year-old Bauer made his NHL debut earlier this season and is averaging 7:17 time-on-ice through two games.
Jack St. Ivany will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Fleury to enter the lineup for his season debut. The 30-year-old Fleury averaged 13:56 time-on-ice and scored four points (2G / 2A) in 38 games last season.
Morrissey exited Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche after just 9:32 on ice with an upper-body injury. He will not play on Friday, but it is not expected to be a long-term issue. Expect Neal Pionk to take Morrissey's place on the Jets' top powerplay unit.
Sergei Murashov had a decent outing in his season debut, but the Penguins have turned to Arturs Silovs in three of four games. That said, aside from his season-opening shutout, Silovs has struggled between the pipes. The 22-year-old Murashov, who saved 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, could earn increased playing time if he can string together several strong outings. The Penguins enter Friday's contest as slight +102 road underdogs against a 1-1-0 Columbus Blue Jackets team that has not played in six days.
Severson has been recovering from shoulder surgery in April, but returned to practice last week and will make his season debut on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Severson played an integral part of the Blue Jackets' blueline last season, averaging 21:04 time on ice and scoring 32 points (8G / 24A) in 71 games. The team will lean on him again in 2025-26 as they hope to battle for a playoff spot.
Sergei Murashov had a decent outing in his season debut, but the Penguins have turned to Arturs Silovs in three of four games. That said, aside from his season-opening shutout, Silovs has struggled between the pipes. The 22-year-old Murashov, who saved 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, could earn increased playing time if he can string together several strong outings. The Penguins enter Friday's contest as slight +102 road underdogs against a 1-1-0 Columbus Blue Jackets team that has not played in six days.
The Maple Leafs acquired Wood at the beginning of the season as part of the deal that sent Matthew Knies to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Kirill Marchenko. The 31-year-old Wood hasn't played this season, but he could be nearing his Maple Leafs debut. Wood scored 14 points (8G / 6A) in 54 games with Columbus last season.
Foligno only played 3:29 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres before exiting the game with an upper-body injury. The veteran 38-year-old forward has one goal through three games this season. Nico Sturm drew into Minnesota's lineup on Thursday as Foligno's replacement.
Pitlick has 111 points (58G / 53A) in 452 career NHL games, but has played almost exclusively in the AHL over the past few seasons. The 34-year-old forward has three points (1G / 2A) through three games this season with the Iowa Wild (AHL).
The Minnesota Wild drafted Lorenz 56th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but he has yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old scored 35 points (17G / 18A) in 43 games last year, his fourth and final season playing collegiate hockey for the University of Denver.
Shesterkin was named the NHL's opening-week first star after posting a stellar 1.67 GAA and .934 SV% in three games (2-1-0), capping it by scoring his first career goal into an empty net. The 30-year-old Russian goalie has continued his winning ways since, saving 17 of 19 shots (.895 SV%) in the Rangers' previous outing, a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders. The Rangers, riding a league-best four-game winning streak, enter Friday's contest as +129 road underdogs against a 2-1-0 Washington Capitals team.
With Connor Hellebuyck (suspended) away from the team after his highly publicized trade request, the Jets' goaltending faced serious concern. That said, newcomers Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson have held down the fort, allowing only 10 combined goals through four games (3-0-1). Stevenson was excellent in his debut last week, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old goalie has only played six career NHL games, but hopes to have a bigger role in 2026-27. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as -112 home favourites against the Anaheim Ducks, who are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Compher did not play the previous game for the Red Wings due to an undisclosed injury, and has been retroactively placed on Injured Reserve. The 31-year-old Compher has spent most of his career as a bottom-six forward, but has been thrust into a more offensive role for the Red Wings. He scored 28 points (11G / 17A) in 82 games last season.
The Blue Jackets have relied solely on Jet Greaves through two games this season (1-1-0), but with a back-to-back looming, the team will turn to Talbot for his first start on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 39-year-old Talbot has been reliable in recent years, but is coming off a forgetful season, posting an ugly 3.19 GAA and .883 SV% in 34 appearances (12-9-6) with the Detroit Red Wings. The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as -118 home favourites against a Penguins team on a two-game losing streak (0-2-0).
