Booth has signed his first professional contract, a three-year, entry-level deal with the King with an AAV of $852,500. The 19-year-old was the 116th overall pick of the Kings in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has 14 points (2G / 12A) in 29 games with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL.
Guttman will be a healthy scratch and return to the press box as Tyler Johnson (undisclosed) will return to the lineup. Guttman registered 8:02 time-on-ice, one shot, and one hit entering the lineup in favour of Johnson on December 23rd.
Kuemper did not play the last two games before the Christmas break for the Capitals but seems to be turning the corner on a terrible start to the 2023-24 campaign. In his first 13 games (5-6-2), Kuemper posted an ugly .887 SV% but is boasting a stellar .947 SV% in three games since (3-0-0), riding three consecutive quality starts for the first time this season. That said, the Capitals are sizeable +181 road underdogs against a New York Rangers team that has won four of their last five outings (4-1-0).
Guttman will play in place of the injured Tyler Johnson (undisclosed). Guttman has two goals and one assist in 14 games this season.
Guttman is expected to be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Philipp Kurashev (illness) to return to the lineup after a one-game absence. Guttman has appeared in nine straight games for the Blackhawks and has three points (2G / 1A), 18 shots, and eight blocks through 14 games on the season.
Zuccarello has not played the last two games for Minnesota due to an upper-body injury and has been placed on the injured reserve, meaning he will be out of the lineup until after the Christmas break. Before his injury, Zuccarello had only one point (0G / 1A) in his last five games despite averaging nearly 18 minutes of ice time per game, receiving top-line and top powerplay deployment.
On the front end of a back-to-back for the Capitals, Kuemper will start for the second straight game. Kuemper is riding consecutive quality starts and wins for only the second time this season, and will look for his first three-game winning streak on Wednesday. The 33-year-old netminder has saved 60 of the last 63 shots he has faced (.952 SV%). The Capitals are -114 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that has been scoring at an impressive rate lately, averaging 4.1 goals per game over their last 11 contests (7-2-2). Kuemper allowed three goals on 21 shots (.857 SV%) in a losing effort to the Islanders last month.
Zuccarello missed the Wilds' game Monday vs. Pittsburgh and will remain out Tuesday against Boston as he is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. It is a massive loss for the Wild as the 36-year-old veteran right-winger has six goals, 22 assists, 74 SOG, 10 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 28 games prior to his injury.
Zuccarello's absence on Monday night was a surprise with the team not giving any indication he would miss the game in Pittsburgh prior to warmups. The 36-year-old is averaging a point-per-game this season, registering six goals and 22 assists across 28 games.
Forsberg will draw back into the Senators' crease for the first time since December 7th as Ottawa is set to play their second game in as many nights. Forsberg took the loss his last time out, allowing four goals on 22 shots enroute to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Maple Leafs. The 31-year-old netminder has endured a rocky start to his 2023-24 campaign, posting an .885 SV% and a 3.03 GAA. He draws another difficult assignment on Friday as the Senators find themselves as +185 underdogs in Dallas.
Haula missed the Devils' previous game due to an upper-body injury but will return Wednesday vs. Boston after only a one-game absence. The 32-year-old left-winger is having one of the most productive offensive seasons of his career with seven goals, 13 points, 20 PIMs and 40 SOG through 21 games prior to the injury.
Forsberg has strung together two excellent performances and will start again on Thursday when the Senators take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his last two outings (2-0-0), Forsberg has saved 72 of 74 shots (.973 SV%), a turning point on an otherwise forgettable season in which he had a .850 SV% through his first seven contests (3-4-0). The Senators are +113 home underdogs on Thursday as the Maple Leafs have recorded at least a point in eight of their last nine games (5-1-3).
Armia is expected to exit the lineup and be a healthy scratch after playing four straight for the Canadiens, scoring two points (2G / 0A) and firing 11 shots on goal. Michael Pezzetta will draw back into the lineup to replace Armia.
