It appears Sorokin will start for the third consecutive game to open the season for the Islanders, who are playing the front end of a back-to-back on Friday. In two games so far, Sorokin has been his usual, Vezina-caliber self, recording a 1.00 GAA and .952 SV% along with a shutout in two games (2-0-0). The Islanders are slight +105 home underdogs against the New Jersey Devils, who have only one win in their first three games (1-1-1).
Miller has yet to play this season for New Jersey this season and will remain unavailable Friday as they take on the New York Islanders. The 30-year-old was acquired in the offseason for a 2025 fifth-round pick from Dallas after he had six goals, 15 assists, 106 SOG, 37 PIMs and a +23 plus/minus through 79 games in 2022-23. Miller is being re-evaluated with a possible update expected Saturday.
Bernard-Docker did not pick up a point in his two games played with Belleville (AHL) but has been recalled to Ottawa Friday. The 23-year-old defensemen cleared waivers after not originally making the Senators' roster but with the recent injury to Artem Sub will find himself back up with the big club. In 19 games in 2022-23 he had one assist, 11 PIMs, 22 SOG, and a -2 plus/minus with Ottawa.
Simek failed to appear in any of the Sharks' first four games and has been assigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) after clearing waivers Friday. The 31-year-old heads to the AHL after posting a goal, two assists, 29 PIMs, and a -13 plus/minus in 44 games with the San Jose Sharks in 2022-23.
Toninato had a goal, an assist, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through two games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) and has been recalled to the Jets Friday. The 29-year-old forward returns to the NHL where he has played six seasons and has 12 goals, 30 points and 73 PIMs in 169 career games played.
Harkins was originally acquired off waivers from Winnipeg by Pittsburgh on October 1st but has cleared waivers again and been assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 26-year-old winger failed to pick up a point in four games so far in 2023-24 but had four SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/miuns.
Zohorna did not have any points and was a -1 plus/minus in two games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) but has been recalled to Pittsburgh Friday. The 27-year-old stands a towering 6'6" and left an impression after an extremely strong preseason (3 Pts in 4 GP). He has made NHL appearances in three separate seasons with three different teams and has five goals, 11 points and a +8 plus/minus in 35 career games played.
MacEwen was placed on waivers Thursday but cleared and has officially been reassigned to Belleville (AHL). The 26-year-old enforcer had an assist, two SOG, and a +1 plus/minus in two games played in 2023-24 while averaging only 6:38 TOI on the Senators' fourth line. He was signed to a three-year, $2.325 million contract ($775,000 AAV) by the Ottawa in the offseason.
Fabbri has been plagued with injuries throughout his career and will once again be sidelined for approximately four weeks with a lower-body injury. Thankfully for Fabbri and the Red Wings, the injury is not knee-related, which has been the culprit of most of his injury woes. In his only game this season, Fabbri scored one goal in 14:44 time-on-ice. Andrew Copp has been the biggest benefactor with Fabbri out of the lineup, as he has jumped up to the second line and scored four points (3G / 1A) in those three games.
Husso will get his second consecutive start and look for his third consecutive win on Saturday as the Red Wings face off against the Ottawa Senators. Husso has been far from remarkable this season, posting a 3.37 GAA and .881 SV%, but has still managed a winning record through three starts (2-1-0) thanks in part to the Red Wings' early-season offensive prowess (4.75 GF/GP). Husso and the Red Wings will be put to the test against the Senators as they have been equally difficult to contain offensive, also scoring an average of 4.75 goals per game.
Glass left the Predators' previous game vs. NYR early after just three shifts and 1:46 toI due to a lower-body injury and will now be out 7-10 days. The 24-year-old centre had yet to pick up a point this season in five games played, but has nine SOG and two PIMs. He is coming off a career campaign in 2022-23, where he had 14 goals, 21 assists, 20 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus in 72 games.
Acciari will be available to suit up on Saturday after not participating in practice for the Penguins on Thursday because of an upper-body injury. If Acciari draws into the lineup, he will likely center the fourth line with Matthew Nieto and Jeff Carter. He has zero points, five blocks, eight hits, and a -1 plus/minus rating through four games.
Johansson will continue his reign as the starting goalie for the Lightning as he is projected to get his fifth start in the six games on Saturday. The Lightning have uncharacteristically been outscored 20-17 in five games so far this season (2-2-1) and are doing their best to tread water with Andrei Vasilevskiy still sidelined for the foreseeable future. Johansson and the Lightning will face off against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that is coming off a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers and will be hungry to respond after an all-around sluggish start to the 2023-24 campaign (2-2-0).
Allen will return to the crease for the first time since opening night when he allowed five goals on 42 shots in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sam Montembault has been between the pipes in the two games since but hasn't been significantly more effective in helping the Canadiens shut things down defensively. The Canadiens currently rank 25th in the league, allowing an average of 4.00 goals per game. Working in Allen's favour, he will be facing off against a Washington Capitals team that is off to an abysmal start. After three games (1-2-0), the Capitals rank dead-last offensively, averaging only 1.00 goals per game.
Benson was not a participant at practice on Friday as he recovers from a lower-body injury. The 18-year-old rookie has two points (0G / 2A) in four NHL games this season, averaging 14:03 time-on-ice. If he cannot play on Saturday, Benson will likely be replaced by Victor Olofsson, who is coming off consecutive healthy scratches.
Levi is currently day-to-day as he nurses a lower-body injury. Levi has been the starting goalie for each of the Sabres' four games thus far (1-3-0), recording a 3.26 GAA and .890 SV%. It is unclear at this time if Eric Comrie or Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen man the crease in Levi's absence.
Letting did not participate in the Penguins' practice Thursday after being evaluated for a lower-body injury but did participate Friday and considers himself a game-time decision Saturday vs. St. Louis. The 36-year-old defensemen is in his 18th season with the Penguins and has three assists, six SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in four games played so far in 2023-24.
Benoit will be returned to the Marlies (AHL) where he will presumably see some playing time. The 25-year-old defenseman was called up by the Maple Leafs earlier this season but never found his way into the lineup. He had 10 points (3G / 7A) in 78 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season.
