Pitlick played the last five games for the Rangers but will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Adam Edstrom to draw back into the lineup. In 34 games this season, Pitlick has four points (1G / 3A) while averaging 10:12 time-on-ice.
Foligno only played 7:23 TOI before leaving last Friday's game with a lower-body injury. Brandon Duhaime is expected to move up to the third line to replace Foligno on Monday and Connor Dewar (lower-body) is expected to return the lineup to replace him.
Brodin did not play on Wednesday due to an illness but will re-enter the lineup on Friday, replacing Alex Goligoski. In 32 games this season, Brodin has 13 points (1G / 12A), 61 shots, and 81 blocks.
The Oilers' franchise-best 16-game winning streak ended on Tuesday with a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, but they will attempt to get back into the win column with Pickard between the pipes on Friday. Pickard has been reliable when called upon between the pipes this season, including a 27-save shutout in his last outing, a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Pickard and the Oilers have another favourable matchup on Friday as -266 road favourites against the Anaheim Ducks, fourth-worst in the league offensively (2.56 GF / GP).
Brodin returned from a five-week absence due to an upper-body injury last month and has played seven consecutive games since, tallying four points (0G / 4A), 13 shots, and three hits. He has predominantly played on a defensive pair with Zach Bogosian but will have to wait until at least Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins before returning to the lineup.
Gustavsson will start the fifth straight game on Wednesday in Minnesota's return to the ice from the All-Star break. Gustavsson has dropped each of his last two starts, despite limiting the opposition to a respectable three goals per game in both contests. That said, the 25-year-old netminder has been limited to only three wins in his last eight games (3-5-0), posting an ugly .874 SV%. Minnesota will attempt to get back into the win column as sizeable -203 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has lost four straight (0-4-0), being outscored 12-2.
Brodin returned from a five-week absence due to an upper-body injury last month and has played seven consecutive games since, tallying four points (0G / 4A), 13 shots, and three hits. He has predominantly played on a defensive pair with Zach Bogosian and will likely return to that spot if he can play on Wednesday.
Kirkland has been recalled for a second time this season after scoring two goals, 14 assists, and eight PIMs in 18 games played with Tucson (AHL). The 27-year-old returns to the Coyotes, where he appeared in two games this season but didn't put up any counting stats while only averaging 7:13 TOI.
Pickard has been limited to only one game in the last nine for the Oilers but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The lack of play hasn't been an indictment on Pickard's play but rather a testament to Stuart Skinner's, as Pickard has been stellar when called upon, allowing three or fewer goals in his last three games (3-0-0), posting a serviceable .904 SV%. The Oilers, winners of 14 straight, are gargantuan -601 home favourites against a Blackhawks club defeated 6-2 by the Seattle Kraken last night.
Pickard has been limited to only one game in the last nine for the Oilers but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The lack of play hasn't been an indictment on Pickard's play but rather a testament to Stuart Skinner's, as Pickard has been stellar when called upon, allowing three or fewer goals in his last three games (3-0-0), posting a serviceable .904 SV%. The Oilers, winners of 14 straight, are gargantuan -601 home favourites against a Blackhawks club defeated 6-2 by the Seattle Kraken last night.
Gustavsson will start his fifth straight game on Thursday and look to extend his winning streak to four. The 25-year-old Gustavsson has allowed three or fewer goals in three straight (3-0-0), posting a serviceable .919 SV%. Minnesota, -112 home favourites, face off against division rivals, the Nashville Predators, who have lost two straight, being outscored 7-3.
Gustavsson will search for his third straight win when he tends the twice against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Gustavsson was tremendous in his last outing, saving 40 of 42 shots (.952 SV%) in a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Minnesota is a -165 home favourite against a Washington club that has scored two or fewer goals in three of their last four games (2-2-0).
Brink was a healthy scratch for the Flyers' previous three games and will head to Lehigh Valley (AHL) on loan so that he can continue to get some playing time. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a solid rookie campaign with Philadelphia in 2023-24, with seven goals, 18 point, 55 SOG and a +7 plus/minus in 38 games played prior to being sent down.
Foligno will return to the lineup for the first time in eight games, playing his first game since signing a two-year, $9 million ($4,500,000 AAV) contract extension. Foligno has made an impact in his first season with the Blackhawks, scoring 17 points (8G / 9A) in 39 games, his best point-per-game pace (0.44) in five seasons.
Cody Glass and Juuso Parssinen will be healthy scratches on Monday, allowing McCarron and Philip Tomasino to draw into the lineup. McCarron is expected to play on the fourth line with Tomasino and Cole Smith.
With Marc-Andre Fleury still unavailable due to an upper-body injury he suffered in Friday's game in Florida, the Wild will turn to Filip Gustavsson when they travel to Carolina on Sunday. Gustavsson relieved Fleury after the injury on Friday night and secured a victory, allowing three goals on 24 shots as the Wild were able to stave off the Panthers' comeback and hold onto a 6-4 win. Gustavsson has struggled since returning from a lower-body injury on January 13th, posting an ugly .813 SV% across three appearances. He'll have his hands full again on Sunday with the Wild being +160 underdogs in Carolina.
