Carcone has not played since February 8th, missing three games, but will re-enter the lineup on Friday. The 27-year-old Carcone has 20 points (15G / 5A) in 46 games this season but has been held off the scoresheet in his last five.
With Connor Ingram out of the lineup due to an injury, Vejmelka will likely start on Friday for the Coyotes and be their go-to option between the pipes. Vejmelka saved 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%) in relief on Wednesday in a 3-1 losing effort to the Minnesota Wild. The Coyotes will need Vejmelka to be stellar on Friday night, a tall task for a struggling netminder behind a team riding a seven-game losing streak that is a +178 home underdog against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Luukkonen was originally projected to start on Thursday for the Sabres but was a late scratch in favour of Eric Comrie as Luukkonen tended to a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old netminder has taken over the Sabres' starting crease this season with his strong play and 13-13-2 record, 2.51 GAA and .913 SV%. He will face a hot Minnesota Wild club on Saturday that is riding a four-game winning streak.
After their franchise-best 16-game win streak ended on February 6th, the Oilers have lost two of four (2-2-0), including a disappointing 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blue on Thursday with Stuart Skinner between the pipes, and will turn to Pickard on Saturday afternoon. Pickard last played on February 9th, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The 31-year-old Pickard will attempt to extend his win streak to six games against the Dallas Stars.
Minnesota claimed Chisholm from waivers at the end of January and he will make his debut with the team on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 24-year-old has a one-year, $775,000 contract and had appeared in two games for the Jets this season, collecting one assist, and a +1 plus/minus.
Minnesota has rotated between Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes lately but will turn to Gustavsson on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. Gustavsson has won two straight contests and saved 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday. Minnesota will look to extend their winning streak to five games on Saturday.
Mermis has been a regular in the lineup for the last six weeks but will be a healthy scratch on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 30-year-old Mermis has seven points (2G / 5A) in 37 games this season while primarily playing on a defensive pair with Jon Merrill.
Beauvillier has been out of the lineup since the beginning of January but appears to be nearing a return to the Blackhawks' lineup with the possibility of returning on Monday. Beauvillier had scored six points (2G / 4A) in 15 games since joining the Blackhawks.
Lundkvist exited Thursday's 9-2 win over the Nashville Predators with only 1:34 time-on-ice after being on the receiving end of a controversial hit from Jeremy Lauzon. The 23-year-old Lundkvist has 15 points (2G / 13A) in 43 games this season.
Paul was limited to only 9:37 time-on-ice in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche before exiting the game with an undisclosed injury and is expected to be a game-time decision on Saturday in Florida after also missing practice on Friday. Before his injury, Paul had four points (2G / 2A) in his last five games.
Luukkonen was originally projected to start on Thursday for the Sabres but was a late scratch in favour of Eric Comrie as Luukkonen tended to a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old netminder has taken over the Sabres' starting crease this season with his strong play and 13-13-2 record, 2.51 GAA and .913 SV%.
Milano has not played since December 10th, missing 27 games with an upper-body injury, but appears to be ready for a return to the lineup on Saturday. Milano had been held to only one point (1G / 0A) in his last nine games before his injury, firing only six shots on goal and averaging 11:19 time-on-ice.
The 28-year-old McCarron has been rewarded for his most productive season to date, scoring 13 points (7G / 6A) in 42 games while averaging 11:52 time-on-ice and continuing his bruting style with 89 hits. McCarron has predominantly played this season on a line with Philip Tomasino and Cole Smith.
Vladar has not played since January 20th, serving as a backup to Jacob Markstrom, and has been activated after being on IR for the last week. The Flames recalled Dustin Wolf from the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) earlier this week before reassigning him back on Friday morning. Vladar owns an ugly 3.27 GAA and .888 SV% in 16 games (7-7-2) this season.
Schwindt returned to the Flames lineup on Thursday, his first game since January 27th, and has been reassigned to the Calgary Wrangles (AHL). The 22-year-old rookie right-winger has appeared in four games this season for the Flames, playing a minor role and picking up one SOG, two PIMs, and a -1 plus/minus while averaging less than seven minutes time-on-ice.
Wolf saw his first NHL action in over two months on Thursday after being recalled earlier this week to replace Dan Vladar (IR). The Flames goaltending prospect fared poorly, allowing six goals on 31 shots (.806 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the bottom-dwelling San Jose Sharks. Most of Wolf's heavy lifting this season has been done with the Wranglers, where he has been sensational this season, posting a 2.27 GAA and .927 SV% in 28 games (18-7-2).
Hunt played four games with the Flames earlier this season, scoring zero points and recording a -3 plus/minus rating. The majority of his 2023-24 campaign has been with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL), where he has accumulated 22 points (7G / 15A) in 23 games.
Luukkonen was originally projected to start on Thursday for the Sabres but was a late scratch in favour of Eric Comrie as Luukkonen tended to a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old netminder has taken over the Sabres' starting crease this season with his strong play and 13-13-2 record, 2.51 GAA and .913 SV%.
Zub played every game for the Senators since January 11th before missing Tuesday's and Thursday's contests with a lower-body injury and has been quietly productive from the blueline in that span, scoring seven points (0G / 7A) in his last 11 games. He has spent most of his time lately on the top defensive pair alongside Thomas Chabot.
Sanderson has not played since exiting the Senators' game on January 31st against the Detroit Red Wings after playing only 4:49 TOI due to a lower-body injury. The 21-year-old sophomore has taken a step forward across all aspects of his game in his second season and has seven goals, 24 points, 99 SOG, 19 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus in 47 games before his injury.
