Mikkola was limited to only 13:26 time-on-ice in Monday's 4-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and will be out of the lineup on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Adam Boqvist will return to the lineup as Mikkola's replacement on the blue line.
The Devils have won five of their last six (5-1-0) and will likely roll with Markstrom between the pipes on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 34-year-old Markstrom has been tremendous lately, allowing only three combined goals in his last five games (5-0-0), posting an outstanding .960 SV%. He is riding a two-game shutout streak and has a 2.12 GAA and .912 SV% in 26 games this season (18-6-2). The Devils enter Friday's contest as -125 home favorites in the front end of a back-to-back set against the Hurricanes.
For the sixth time in the last seven games, the Devils will roll with Markstrom in their crease. Markstrom is coming off his lightest workload of the season, a 12-save shutout in a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 34-year-old Markstrom has a 2.20 GAA and .911 SV% in 25 games (17-6-2) and has been tremendous lately, allowing only three goals in his last four games (4-0-0) and posting a stellar .952 SV%. The Devils enter Monday's contest as sizeable -230 home favorites against a struggling New York Rangers club defeated 3-1 by the Carolina Hurricanes yesterday.
Eller is battling an illness and will be shut down until after the Christmas break. The 35-year-old Eller has 13 points (6G / 7A) in 33 games this season, including six points (2G / 4A) in 16 games with the Capitals.
Lafferty has not played since November 29th due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Lafferty has just one goal and zero assists in 21 games this season.
Bennett snapped a season-worst three-game pointless skid with an assist on Monday but was sidelined on Wednesday due to an illness and will be a game-time decision on Friday. The 28-year-old Bennett is pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 27 points (13G / 14A) in 31 games while maintaining his rugged style, recording 39 penalty minutes and 71 hits.
Ivan Barbashev (upper body) and Nicolas Roy (upper body) will not play on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks, allowing Tanner Laczynski and Cole Schwindt to draw into the lineup for the Golden Knights. The 23-year-old Schwindt is averaging 9:55 time-on-ice and has six points (0G / 6A) in 24 games this season.
Petrovic played his third game of the season in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, recording a -2 plus/minus in 14:06 time-on-ice. The 32-year-old could be an option to be recalled ahead of Friday's game against the New York Rangers as the Stars continue to navigate injuries and illnesses on their blueline.
Reinhardt played five games with Ottawa earlier this season, scoring two points (1G / 1A), but has primarily been a fixture in the AHL. The 24-year-old winger has 16 points (6G / 10A) in 13 games with the Belleville Senators (AHL) this season.
Barkov was a late scratch on Saturday due to an illness, and missed a second straight game on Monday. The Panthers will be without Sam Bennett (illness) on Wednesday so Barkov's return could not come at a better time. He has 29 points (9G / 20A) in 22 games this season.
Petrovic will get an opportunity to play in just his third game of the season as Nils Lundkvist is out with an illness. Petrovic has appeared in just three total games across the last two seasons with the Stars and is yet to register a point.
Bennett snapped a season-worst three-game pointless skid with an assist on Monday but will be sidelined due to an illness on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Bennett is pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 27 points (13G / 14A) in 31 games while maintaining his rugged style, recording 39 penalty minutes and 71 hits.
Barkov was a late scratch on Saturday due to an illness, and missed a second straight game on Monday. The Panthers will be without Sam Bennett (illness) on Wednesday and can ill-afford to be without Barkov's production again. He has 29 points (9G / 20A) in 22 games this season.
