Dylan McIlrath will be a healthy scratch for Washington on Wednesday, allowing Chisholm to re-enter the lineup against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 25-year-old Chisholm has not played since December 23rd. He has three assists in 15 games this season.
Protas has not played Washington's previous three games due to an undisclosed injury, but could return to the lineup on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 24-year-old forward has 31 points (16G / 15A) in 41 games this season.
Thompson was serviceable in Washington's most recent game, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%), but did not receive enough goal support, losing 4-1 to the Dallas Stars. The 28-year-old Thompson is on a season-worst four-game losing streak (0-3-1) and hopes to rebound on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Thompson has a solid 2.40 GAA and .915 SV% in 31 games this season (15-12-4). The Capitals enter the action on Friday as -124 road favorites against a rolling Blackhawks team on a four-game winning streak, which will welcome their leading scorer, Connor Bedard (shoulder), back into the lineup.
Gibson has been terrific between the pipes for the Red Wings, and he hopes to continue his upward trend on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 32-year-old goalie had a concerning start to his tenure with the Red Wings, posting an ugly 3.45 GAA and .865 SV% in his first 13 games (5-7-1), but has been among the NHL's top goalies since, posting a 2.24 GAA and .927 SV% in 13 games since (11-2-0).
The Blackhawks are on a four-game winning streak and will turn to Knight on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old Knight was excellent against the Capitals earlier this month, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win. Knight has a solid 2.62 GAA and .910 SV% in 30 games this season (13-11-6). The Blackhawks enter Friday's contest as +114 home underdogs against a Capitals team that is 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.
Vejmelka has had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, posting a 2.65 GAA and .897 SV% in 33 games (19-11-2), but has recently strung together a strong stretch of play. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has a solid 2.14 GAA and .919 SV% in his last seven games (5-2-0). The Mammoth enters the action on Friday as -177 home favourites against a St. Louis Blues team coming off an embarrassing 7-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Drysdale exited Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks after only 5:56 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. An update on Drysdale's status has not yet been provided, but he will be sidelined for at least one week before he is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve. The 23-year-old defenseman has 18 points (3G / 15A) in 41 games this season.
Giles played three games for the Sharks this season, recording one assist, but will return to the AHL. The undrafted 26-year-old forward has nine points (5G / 4A) in 28 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) this season.
Stenlund did not play in Utah's most recent game due to illness, but he was at practice on Friday and will be a game-time decision against the St. Louis Blues. The 29-year-old forward is averaging 14:32 time-on-ice and has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 43 games this season.
Laba has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on New Year's Eve, but he returned to practice on Friday. The 22-year-old forward, in his first NHL season, has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 42 games.
With an illness circulating around the Blackhawks' dressing room, several players, including Mikheyev, will be game-time decisions on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 31-year-old Mikheyev has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 39 games this season.
With an illness circulating around the Blackhawks' dressing room, several players, including Foligno, will be game-time decisions on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 38-year-old Foligno has eight points (1G / 7A) in 21 games this season.
After playing below expectations in 2024-25, Bedard was showing why he was a first-overall draft pick with his impressive play this season, scoring an impressive 44 points (19G / 25A) in 31 games. The 20-year-old has not played since December 12th and will draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Washington Capitals, looking to pick up where he left off before his injury.
Quillan played three games for the Maple Leafs this season, but will return to the Marlies (AHL). The undrafted 23-year-old forward has 23 points (5G / 18A) in 26 games with the Marlies this season.
The Blackhawks are on a four-game winning streak and will likely turn to Knight on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old Knight was excellent against the Capitals earlier this month, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win. Knight has a solid 2.62 GAA and .910 SV% in 30 games this season (13-11-6). The Blackhawks enter Friday's contest as +114 home underdogs against a Capitals team that is 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.
Ivan made his NHL debut last season and scored eight points (5G / 3A) in 40 games with the Avalanche, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old Czech forward has eight points (2G / 6A) in 28 games with the Eagles (AHL) this season.
In 33 games this season, his first exposure to the NHL, Nystrom has eight assists and is averaging 15:37 time-on-ice. He has impressed coaches, but with Jaccob Slavin (upper body) expected to return in Carolina's next game, Nystrom has been reassigned to the Chicago Wolves (AHL).
Leonard played the previous two games for the Red Wings, but he will return to the lineup on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. The 27-year-old Leonard has four points (2G / 2A) in nine games this season.
Eriksson Ek exited Thursday's 3-2 overtime win over the Seattle Kraken after only 7:57 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old Eriksson Ek is averaging 19:34 time-on-ice and has 32 points (11G / 21A) in 45 games this season. Minnesota returns to action on Saturday against the New York Islanders, and it is unclear whether the Swedish forward will be available.
Konecny only played the first two periods of Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, exiting the game with an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old Konecny has yet to miss a game this season, and it is unclear what his status is moving forward. Konecny has 28 points (14G / 24A) in 42 games this season.
