Protas has not played Washington's previous three games due to an undisclosed injury, but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 24-year-old forward has 31 points (16G / 15A) in 41 games this season.
With an illness circulating around the Blackhawks' dressing room, several players, including Foligno, were game-time decisions on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 38-year-old Foligno has eight points (1G / 7A) in 21 games this season.
With an illness circulating around the Blackhawks' dressing room, several players, including Mikheyev, were game-time decisions on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 31-year-old Mikheyev has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 39 games this season.
Spencer Knight is also unavailable due to an illness, so Drew Commesso will get the start for Chicago. The Blackhawks will have Dave Nozzolillo, an EBUG, serve as the backup.
Knight's absence on Friday night was a big surprise after he was previously confirmed to start the game earlier in the day. Arvid Soderblom is also out with an illness, so Drew Commesso, a 23-year-old with just two NHL appearances to his name, will get the call between the pipes.
Namestnikov was a surprise addition to the Jets lineup on Friday after Morgan Barron was announced as a late scratch due to an illness. Namestnikov will skate with Adam Lowry and Nino Niederreiter on Winnipeg's third line.
Miller was a surprise addition to the Jets lineup on Friday after Neal Pionk was announced as a late scratch due to an illness. Miller will skate with Dylan Samberg on Winnipeg's second pair.
Barron was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the Jets not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Vladislav Namestnikov will dress in his place.
Pionk was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the Jets not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Colin Miller will dress in his place.
The Jets are on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Friday, so it will be Comrie who gets the latest chance of ending Winnipeg's prolonged losing streak. Comrie, as you might have guessed, was tagged with the loss in his last start, allowing six goals on 30 shots in a 6-5 loss to the Maple Leafs on New Year's Day. The 30-year-old netminder brings a 6-9-1 record and an .880 SV% into Friday night's matchup, where the Jets enter action at +110 on the money line.
Kuemper has been excellent all season for the Kings, but has battled some adversity lately, allowing four or more goals in three of his last four games (2-1-1). Still, the 35-year-old veteran goalie sports a solid 2.38 GAA and .910 SV% through 27 games this season (12-7-7). The Kings enter Friday's contest as -125 road favorites against a Winnipeg Jets team that lost 4-3 last night to the Edmonton Oilers, adding to their terrible 3-13-5 run.
The illness that's ravaging Chicago's dressing room has apparently reached both Arvid Soderblom and Spencer Knight, as both will be unavailable for Friday's game against the Capitals. Chicago will be forced to turn to Commesso between the pipes, who was recalled from Rockford (AHL) earlier in the day. Commesso has just two NHL appearances to his name, though the 23-year-old does have a .909 SV% in 19 AHL games this season. Chicago enters action on Friday at +110 on the money line.
Dries last appeared in the NHL in 2022-23 with Vancouver and has earned his first call up since after Detroit announced they had recalled the forward from Grand Rapids (AHL) on Friday. The 31-year-old veteran forward has been enjoying a succesful run with Grand Rapids to start this season, with 11 goals, 25 points and 16 PIMs in 26 games played.
Brink left Tuesday's game vs. Anaheim after just one shift and 26 seconds TOI due to an upper-body injury and has avoided worst case scenario after the team announced he was day-to-day on Friday. The 24-year-old forward has taken a step forward offensively in his third NHL season this year, with 11 goals, 20 points and 71 SOG in 41 games played.
Jones failed to appear in a game during his recent call up to the Sabres and has been returned on loan to the Rochester Americans (AHL). The 25-year-old is having an incredibly succesful run in the minors so far this season, with two goals and 30 points in 27 games played.
Klingberg alternated in and out of drills at practice on Friday, but he will remain out of the lineup when the Sharks return to the ice on Saturday. He has already missed 12 games this season. The 33-year-old Klingberg is averaging 21:37 time-on-ice and has 16 points (9G / 7A) in 31 games.
Merzlikins has not played since December 20th, but will return to the crease on Saturday in a challenging contest against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. The 31-year-old Latvian goalie started the season in a rotation with Jet Greaves, but poor play quickly made the coaching staff lose trust in him. Merzlikins has an abysmal 4.54 GAA and .839 SV% in his last eight games (2-5-1).
Misa made his NHL debut earlier this season but was used sparingly before suffering an injury, totaling only three points (1G / 2A) in seven games. The 18-year-old second-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft scored seven points (2G / 5A) in seven games with Team Canada at the U-20 World Junior Championships and hopes his bronze-medal success at the tournament can help him build some confidence at the NHL level.
Konecny only played the first two periods of Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, exiting the game with an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old Konecny has yet to miss a game this season, and his status for Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning is up in the air. Konecny has 28 points (14G / 24A) in 42 games this season.
With the Flyers battling some injuries up front, they have recalled Ginning from Lehigh Valley (AHL). The 25-year-old forward has three points (1G / 2A) with Lehigh Valley this season.
