MacKinnon left Sunday's game in the third period with a lower-body injury and head coach Jared Bednar called him week-to-week on Tuesday. With MacKinnon out on Tuesday, J.T. Compher will move up between Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen and Sheldon Dries will draw into the lineup.
Toews was hurt late in Thursday's win over the Sharks after blocking a shot with his foot. Toews did not travel to Minnesota, so he'll miss at least two games but could be out longer. Conor Timmins will replace Toews on Saturday.
Wedgewood gave up three goals on 17 shots in the Devils' loss to the Flyers on Thursday. New Jersey dominated the game but were unable to get timely saves from Wedgewood, who has now lost three of his first starts wile posting a 2.80 GAA and .900 SV%. On Saturday he will face a sabres team that has been very competitive to start the season, opening at 3-3-2 while averaging 2.75 goals per game (19th).
Wedgewood surrendered four goals on 30 shots in the Devils loss to the Flyers on Tuesday. It was a tough way to follow up a shutout and moved Wedgewood to 1-2-0 with a 2.70 GAA and .914 SV% since taking over for Mackenzie Blackwood (COVID-19 protocol). Tonight he faces the Flyers again, and so far this season they are 4-2-1 and at tied for sixth in the NHL in goal-scoring (3.57 GF/gm).
Helm has missed the last two games with an undisclosed issue but could return to the lineup on Thursday. Helm is listed as a game-time decision but even if he plays he no fantasy value in a bottom-6 role for the Red Wings.
Wedgewood stopped all 28 shots that he faced in the Devils' shutout win over the Islanders on Sunday. It was a terrific bounce-back performance from Wedgewood, who struggled a bit in his season debut a few nights prior. Tonight he'll face a Flyers team that is dealing with a few injuries and have lost three of their last four games.
Helm returned from a COVID-19 related absence on Friday but is once again questionable for Sunday's rematch in Chicago. The Red Wings have a lot of players missing right now, so they'll likely need to bring someone up from the taxi squad to replace Helm if he's unavailable.
Manson missed Wednesday's game with an injury he suffered on Monday and unfortunately for the Ducks, the oblique issue will keep him out for roughly six weeks. This is a huge loss for a Ducks blueline that is running thin on experience.
Manson played just 6:14 TOI on Monday before leaving with an upper-body injury. With Manson out for Wednesday's game vs. the Wild, Andy Welinski will draw into the lineup and Jani Hakanpää will move up to play with Cam Fowler.
Francouz suffered a minor injury and is listed as day-to-day, so Hunter Miska has been promoted to the active roster to serve as Philipp Grubauer's backup in Los Angeles.
Blackwood was outstanding in the Devils’ season opener, stopping 35 of the 37 shots that he faced in the shootout loss to the Bruins. Boston dominated the game but Blackwood stood tall and kept the Devils alive. He will likely be under siege again this afternoon in the rematch.
Blackwood came into 2021 expecting to split time with Corey Crawford but could become a workhorse after Crawford retired prior to the start of the season. Blackwood performed well in 2020, going 22-14-8 with a 2.77 GAA and .915 SV%. He enters the season with a career .916 SV% in 70 appearances, so he should make for a low-end No.2/high-end No.3 fantasy netminder but draws a tough matchup vs. the Bruins on opening night.
