Nieto played eight games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) earlier this season, his first stint in the AHL in over a decade, but will return to the club after being re-assigned on Friday. The 32-year-old Nieto has two points (1G / 1A) in 31 games with Pittsburgh this season.
Dach exited Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings after 11:27 time-on-ice due to an elbow injury, and will not play on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. The 22-year-old Dach is averaging 12:08 time-on-ice and has seven points (2G / 5A) in 25 games this season.
The Blackhawks have lost six straight and will hope for a better result on Saturday with Soderblom tending the twine against the St. Louis Blues. The 25-year-old Soderblom struggled in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 15 shots (.600 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. he has a 3.14 GAA and .901 SV% in 32 games this season (8-16-7).
Johansson did not play the previous game for Minnesota but will likely return to the lineup on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 34-year-old forward is averaging 16:08 time-on-ice and has 25 points (7G / 18A) in 59 games this season.
Minnesota has outscored their opposition 7-1 in their previous two games (2-0-0), and will roll with Gustavsson between the pipes on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 26-year-old Gustavsson was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 34 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the Seattle Kraken for his fifth shutout of the season. He has a 2.51 GAA and .917 SV% in 47 games this season (27-15-4).
Schuldt played five games with the Sharks, his first NHL action since making his debut with the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2018-19 season, but will return to AHL. The Sharks recalled Lucas Carlsson from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Carlsson has not played an NHL game since a two-game stint with the Florida Panthers in the 2022-23 season, but could get an opportunity to draw into the Sharks' lineup. The 27-year-old defenseman has 23 points (10G / 13A) in 44 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) this season. Jimmy Schuldt has been re-assigned to the San Jose Barracuda in a corresponding move.
Romanov has missed two games while recovering from an illness but will likely return to the lineup on Saturday against the Calgary Flames. The 25-year-old Romanov is averaging 22:46 time-on-ice, recording 18 points (4G / 14A), 120 hits, and 138 blocks in 52 games this season.
Hogberg has been used very sparingly by the Islanders this season, predominantly serving as Ilya Sorokin's backup, but he will return to the crease on Saturday against the Calgary Flames. The 30-year-old Hogberg has been impressive when called upon, posting a solid 1.70 GAA and .938 SV% in eight appearances this season (2-3-0).
Soderblom showed no signs of an injury in the Red Wings' previous game, playing 13:57 time-on-ice, but will be sidelined day-to-day with an undisclosed ailment. The 23-year-old Soderblom is averaging 13:13 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) in 22 games this season.
Gustafsson only played 13:34 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, was absent from practice on Thursday, and will be sidelined indefinitely due to an undisclosed injury. The 33-year-old Gustafsson is averaging 16:19 time-on-ice, recording 18 points (2G / 16A) and a -19 plus/minus rating in 60 games this season.
Rossi exited Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Seattle Kraken in the first period after only 3:00 time-on-ice, but was back at practice on Friday. The 23-year-old Rossi has had an excellent season, seeing an elevated role due to the ongoing Kiril Kaprizov injury, scoring 53 points (21G / 32A) in 69 games.
Foote played two games with the Devils earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 24-year-old forward has 39 points (18G / 21A) in 53 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) this season.
Nedeljkovic watched Tristan Jarry and the Penguins go 4-1-0 in their last five games, but he will return to the crease on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Nedeljkovic struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 27 shots (.852 SV%) in a 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He has a 3.17 GAA and .891 SV% in 33 games this season (12-14-5). The Penguins enter Friday's contest as -121 home favorites against a Blue Jackets squad that has been shut out three times during a five-game losing skid (0-4-1).
Rafferty is an undrafted defenseman who last appeared in the NHL in the 2020-21 season, playing one game with the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old Rafferty has 19 points (6G / 13A) in 50 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) this season.
Watson is no stranger to the NHL, with 118 points (60G / 58A) and 707 penalty minutes in 517 career games, but he has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 33-year-old forward has 37 points (16G / 21A) in 56 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).
