The Avalanche had already announced that Byram was still undergoing evaluations and would not play Saturday, but now he has landed on IR and will miss at least one week. Look for Caleb Jones to draw into the lineup on Saturday.
Byram left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury and did not return. The Avalanche said that he's still being evaluated, so he will not be available for Saturday's game vs. the Panthers. Expect Caleb Jones to draw into the lineup tomorrow.
Hughes left for the locker room with only a couple of minutes remaining in the game, and it's unclear at this time whether or not the injury would have prevented him from returning to the game. His status for Saturday's game his brother Quinn and the Canucks is currently unknown.
Johnston missed Wednesday's game against the Maple Leafs but is set to return to the lineup for Friday's game against the Jets. Johnston has no goals and two assists in 26 games this season.
Brossoit will get the nod in the tail-end of Winnipeg's back-to-back after starter Connor Hellebuyck got the call in Thursday's 2-1 victory over the Sharks. Though his usage has been sparse, Brossoit has been on quite a roll lately, posting a .946 SV% and a 3-1-0 record across his last four games. His last start came on New Year's Eve in Minnesota, when he stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced enroute to a 3-2 victory. He's in a great spot to pick up his third straight victory on Friday with the Jets being -190 road favourites over Anaheim.
Lacombe will sit on Friday as Radko Gudas is set to return from an illness. Lacombe has no goals and four assists in 35 games this season.
Leason will be the odd-man out on Friday as Ross Johnston draws back into the lineup. Leason has six goals and five assists in 33 games this season.
Gudas has only played one of the last five games for the Ducks but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. He has five goals, five assists, and 87 hits in 32 games this season.
Foligno fought the Devils' Brendan Smith in the second period of Friday's game and left the game shortly afterwards. We should expect to receive an update on the injury and a possible timeline for his return to the lineup following the completion of Friday's game.
Bedard took a heavy open-ice hit from the Devils' Brendan Smith in the first period of Friday's game and did not return. We should expect to receive an update on the injury and a possible timeline for his return to the lineup following the completion of Friday's game.
Zuccarello hasn't played since December 16th due to the upper-body injury. His availability for Saturday's game in Columbus is still unknown at this time. Zuccarello has six goals and 22 assists in 28 games this season.
Kirkland has spent most of his eight-year professional career in the AHL, making his NHL debut last season with the Anaheim Ducks, being held without a point in seven contests. Kirkland has 13 points (1G / 12A) this season in 12 games with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL).
With Martin Necas (upper-body) and Stefan Noesen (illness) both unavailable on Friday, DeAngelo will get the opportunity to play for the first time since December 17th as the Hurricanes are forced into dressing seven defensemen against the Capitals. DeAngelo has two goals and seven assists in 20 games this season.
Noesen will join Martin Necas (upper-body) on the sidelines for this one as the Hurricanes will be forced to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Noesen has ten goals and 13 assists in 38 games this season.
Necas left Thursday's practice early due to the injury and appears to be unavailable for Friday's game against the Capitals. The 24-year-old winger has nine goals and 17 assists in 38 games this season.
Ponomarev is Carolina's 2020 second-round pick (53rd overall) and will make his NHL debut on Friday after scoring six goals and 20 points in 20 games with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) to start 2023-24.
Vanecek has served as the backup to Nico Daws in two of the last three games, both wins for the Devils, but will return to the crease on Friday evening. Before allowing five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in his last outings, Vanecek won two straight games, saving 48 of 53 shots in the process (.906 SV%). Vanecek and the Devils are overwhelming -432 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks club that has lost four straight, being outscored 15-2 in their last three (0-3-0).
Pelech has been out since November 24th but is nearing a return to the Islanders' lineup as he is now day-to-day with a possibility to dress Saturday vs. Vegas. The 29-year-old's presence has been a big miss from the Islanders' lineup as he had three assists, 17 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus in 16 games prior to his injury.
Meyers has appeared in eight games for the Avalanche this season and has a goal, six SOG, and a -1 plus/minus while averaging 9:41 TOI/GP and has been recalled Friday after being reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) Thursday. The 25-year-old miraculously does not have an assist in 52 career NHL games played dispite having six goals.
