The Jets will hand Hellebuyck his 18th start of the season when they travel to Denver on Friday. Hellebuyck was unfortunate to be tagged with the loss in his last start, allowing just a single goal on 26 shots in a 1-0 loss in St. Louis on Wednesday. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner brings a 9-7-1 record and .918 SV% into Wednesday night's matchup with the mighty Avalanche, where the Jets enter action at +200 on the money line.
Yamamoto will take a seat on Friday in order to make way for the return of Alex Kerfoot (lower-body). Yamamoto has appeared in 26 games this season, registering four goals and five assists.
Kerfoot will finally make his season debut on Friday after suffering a lower-body injury in the pre-season. The 30-year-old forward appeared in 81 games with Utah last season, tallying 11 goals and 17 assists.
Vejmelka was excellent in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, saving 27 of 28 shots, and is quietly putting together a nice string of games. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has won three straight, posting a decent 2.75 GAA and .901 SV%. The Mammoth enters Friday's contest as -134 home favorites against a New Jersey Devils team that has struggled to score, tallying just two goals in its last two games (1-1-0).
The Devils will turn to Markstrom between the pipes for the 18th time this season when they travel to Utah on Friday. Markstrom picked up another loss in his last start, allowing two goals on 15 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Canucks on Sunday. The 36-year-old goaltender owns an 8-7-1 record and a disappointing .874 SV% on the season. The Devils enter action on Friday at +120 on the money line.
Barzal is likely battling a nagging injury, as he was a game-time decision earlier this week as well, despite still drawing into the lineup. The 28-year-old Barzal is riding a five-game point streak, scoring five points (1G / 4A).
If not for an injury to Pyotr Kochetkov to start the 2025-26 season, Bussi would likely not be in the mix for the Hurricanes, but excellent play has earned him his fourth start in the last six games. The 27-year-old Bussi, a first-year NHLer, has a solid 2.05 GAA and .911 SV% in 12 games this season (11-1-0). Even better, he boasts a 1.55 GAA and .929 SV% in his last six games (6-0-0). The Hurricanes enter the action on Friday as -131 road favorites against a Panthers team that has won six of its last seven games (6-1-0).
Zamula was waived by Philadelphia on Thursday and went unclaimed on Friday leading to his inevitable demotion to Lehigh Valley (AHL). The 25-year-old had only appeared in one game since December 3rd after appearing in an average of 65 games over the last two seasons and had one assist in 13 games played this season. He will now provide Philadelphia with defensive depth from the minors as he works to make his way back up to the big club.
After 16 points in 26 games with Lehigh Valley (AHL), Denver Barkey has earned his first call up to Philadelphia and has been added to their active roster. The 20-year-old forward was Phildaelphia's 2023 3rd round pick (95th overall) and will make his NHL debut if he finds his way into the Flyers lineup.
Trineyev recently made his NHL debut, going without a point in two games with the Capitals. He returned to the AHL, where he has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 16 games with Hershey (AHL). Ivan Miroshnichenko has been recalled from Hershey in a corresponding move.
Miroshnichenko was drafted 20th overall by the Capitals in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL so far, scoring nine points (4G/5A) in 12 games. Bogdan Trineyev has been loaned to Hershey in a corresponding move.
Erne has been sidelined for nearly six weeks, recovering from a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 30-year-old Erne has three points (2G / 1A) in 14 games this season. Colin Blackwell will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Erne's return.
Blackwell has played all but one game this season, but will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 32-year-old forward has seven points (2G / 5A) in 34 games this season. Adam Erne will return from a lower-body injury and draw into the lineup as Blackwell's replacement.
The Stars are coming off a 5-3 win over the San Jose Sharks last night and will turn to DeSmith to tend the twine on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 34-year-old DeSmith has been outstanding in a supporting role for the Stars this season, posting a 2.13 GAA and .923 SV% in 12 games (8-1-3). He has an elite 1.65 GAA and .944 SV% in his last eight games (6-0-2). The Stars enter Friday's contest as slight -110 road favourites against a Ducks team that is 5-4-1 in their last 10.
Dickinson has not played the previous two games for San Jose, but will return to the lineup on Saturday against the Seattle Kraken. The 19-year-old rookie defendseman has three points (1G / 2A) in 26 games this season.
Lambos was drafted 26th overall by the Minnesota Wild and played his first NHL game in Minnesota's most recent outing. The 22-year-old defenseman has five points (2G / 3A) in 26 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season.
Jones has been a regular in Minnesota's lineup the past month, but has become the odd man out of the lineup with several regulars set to return from injuries. The 26-year-old Jones played 20 games with Minnesota and scored zero points.
Olen Zellweger will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Dallas Stars, allowing Helleson to re-enter the lineup. The 24-year-old Helleson returns from a two-game absence. He has nine points (2G / 7A) in 32 games this season.
Drew Helleson will draw back into Anaheim's lineup on Friday against the Dallas Stars, resulting in Zellweger being a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Zellweger will sit for the first time this season. He has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 34 games this season.
Hunt played two games with the Flames this season, but, after clearing waivers, will return to a familiar place in the AHL. The 30-year-old Hunt has 18 points (5G / 13A) in 16 games with the Wranglers (AHL) this season.
