Villeneuve was a fourth-round pick in 2020 and is expected to make his NHL debut after 224 career games in the AHL. Villeneuve, who has 29 points (3G / 26A) in 59 AHL games this season, will replace Philippe Myers on the third pair.
Thompson stopped all 22 shots that he faced in Wednesday's 4-0 shutout win in Toronto. It was Thompson's third shutout of the season and fifth win in his last six starts--5-1-0 with a 3.31 GAA, .891 SV% and one shutout. Today he will look to win his 30th game of the season, but it will be a challenge against a Penguins team that is 5-1-0 while scoring 5.8 goals per game in their last six games.
With Jacob Markstrom out for the rest of the season and Nico Daws confirmed to start on Sunday, it will be Jake Allen in net for the Devils on Saturday. Allen has given up three-plus goals in five straight outings, going 3-1-1 with a 3.35 GAA and .885 SV%. Tonight he'll face a desperate Red Wings team, who he has not faced this season, but Allen is 7-9-0 with a 2.58 GAA and .911 SV% on the road.
Sorokin gave up three goals on 16 shots in the Islanders 5-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Thursday. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Sorokin, who has now given up three-plus goals in five straight games, posting a 4.59 GAA and .848 SV% in the process. With a pivotal back-to-back this weekend, new head coach Pete DeBoer hinted at Sorokin starting both games.
Wiebe signed his entry-level contract earlier Friday and was announced in the starting lineup vs. Seattle on Saturday by Head Coach Craig Conroy. The 22-year-old was key part of the North Dakota (NCAA) team that was eliminated from the Frozen Four on Thursday. He put up five goals and 29 points in 40 games with North Dakota this season.
Vilen was recalled from Utica (AHL) on Friday and will make his NHL debut on Sunday as the second half of New Jersey's back-to-back. The 23-year-old was the Devils 2025 5th round pick (129th overall) and he has spent the last three seasons in Utica, picking up four goals and 24 points in 59 games this season.
Reichel put up three points in nine games during his call up to the Bruins but has been reassigned to Providence (AHL) on Friday with the introduction of James Hagens to the roster. The 23-year-old Reichel is with his third organization this season after being traded from both Chicago and Vancouver prior to landing in Boston.
Hours after North Dakota was elimated from the Frozen Four, Abram Wiebe has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames. The 22-year-old defensemen was originally drafted by Vegas in the 7th round of the 2022 NHL draft (209th overall) but was traded to Calgary in the deal that saw Rasmus Andersson go the other way. In 40 games at the University of North Dakota (NCAA), he had five goals and 29 points.
Kochetkov has been out since December 20th with a hip injury but is set to return and has been assigned to Chicago (AHL) for a conditioning stint. Prior to his long-term injury, the 26-year-old had a 6-2-0 record with a 2.33 GAA and .899 SV%. Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen have being holding down the crease in his absence.
Malott has been a steady force on Los Angeles bottom-six but will be a game-time decision vs. Edmonton on Saturday. The 29-year-old has been effective in his first full NHL season, with three goals, nine points and 55 PIMs in 58 games played.
Seattle was missing their starting goaltender at practice on Friday as Joey Daccord was being further evaluated for an undisclosed injury. The Kraken are already short handed in net without Philipp Grubauer (injury) and Matt Murray (personal), leaving them with rookie goaltender Niklas Kokko between the pipes.
Makar has been out since March 30th with an upper-body injury but returned to Colorado's practice in a regular jersey on Friday. The two time Norris winning defensemen return is a welcome sign after Colorado locked up the Presidents Trophy on Thursday. Makar is expected to be full healthy for the playoffs and currently sits at 20-goals and 75 points in 73 games played this season.
Daws was recalled on Friday from Utica (AHL) after it was announced Jacob Markstrom would be shut down for the remainder of the season due to injury and rest. It is Daws second call up of the season after he excelled in one appearance in October, where he backstopped the Devils to a victory behind a 31-save performance (.968 SV%). He takes on the Ottawa Senators, who are in the midst of a playoff battle for the final wildcard position.
New Jersey announced Friday that 36-year-old netminder Jacob Markstrom would miss the final week of the season as he rests and recovers from nagging injuries. The news comes as little surprise after New Jersey was mathematically eliminated from the playoffs earlier this week. Markstrom puts a cap on a disappointing second season in New Jersey, posting a final record of 23-19-1 wth a SV% of .883 and an ugly 3.07 GAA. Nico Daws was recalled in a corresponding move.
Just hours after being knocked out of the Frozen Four with North Dakota, Jake Livanavage has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Pittsburgh. The 21-year-old undrafted defensemen had a successful third season in North Dakota (NCAA), with five goals, 25 points and a +10 plus/minus in 39 games this season.
Gibson left Thursday's game vs. Philadelphia after a scary collision with an upper-body injury but will be okay after taking a maintenance day on Friday. The 32-year-old is expected to be healthy and okay for Detroit's game vs. New Jersey and will bring his 29-20-4 record, .904 SV% and 2.64 GAA into the important matchup.
Hagens has been practicing with Boston after signing his entry-level contract earlier in the week but will remain out on Saturday vs. Tampa Bay and will not make his NHL debut. The 19-year-old has had success at both the NCAA level (47 Pts in 34 GP) and AHL (4 Pts in 6 GP) this season.
