Oesterle made his first appearance in the Flames lineup in nearly two months earlier this week, playing 14:07 time-on-ice and recording two hits. Oesterle has no goals and two assists in 22 games this season.
Gibson has served as the backup for the last three games but will return to the crease on Friday night. The veteran netminder saved four of 28 shots (.857 SV%) in his last outing, a 6-4 victory over the San Jose Sharks, and has been exceptional in his career against the Dallas Stars, posting an excellent 2.66 GAA and .920 SV% in 17 games (5-8-3). The Ducks enter action as +275 home underdogs against the Stars.
Podkolzin just played his first three games with Vancouver this season, being held off the scoresheet while averaging nearly 11 minutes of ice time. He has spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with Abbotsford (AHL), where he has 28 points (15G / 13A) in 44 games.
Katchouk was a healthy scratch in five of the last seven games for the Blackhawks and was placed on waivers on Thursday. The 25-year-old has nine points (5G / 4A) in 38 games this season.
Bjornfot has not played an NHL game since January 10th and was placed on waivers on Thursday. In three games this season, the 22-year-old Bjornfot has zero points, two hits, and five blocks.
Lagesson played in the Maple Leafs' 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres earlier this week but was a healthy scratch in the previous two games. In 30 games this season, Lagesson has four points (0G / 4A), 57 hits, and 38 blocks.
Zboril has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign, posting nine points (0G / 9A) in 31 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL). The 27-year-old defenseman is an impending unrestricted free agent.
After playing 162 combined games with the Columbus Blue Jackets over the last two seasons, Peeke has been limited to only 23 in the 2023-24 campaign. Peeke has two years remaining on his contract with a $2.75 million AAV.
The Flyers have replenished some defensive depth by acquiring Johnson after trading Sean Walker to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Johnson has been out of the lineup since February 27th due to an undisclosed injury. The veteran defender has only three points (3G / 0A) in 50 games this season and has been held off the scoresheet in 16 straight.
Allison played 60 games with the Philadelphia Flyers last season, tallying 15 points (6G / 9A), but has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL. The 26-year-old Allison has 17 points (10G / 17A) in 46 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season.
Gurianov began the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admiral, scoring an impressive 30 points (12G / 18A) in 27 games. He was called up to the Predators mid-season and struggled to translate his skills to the NHL level, as has been the case throughout his career, scoring only two points (1G / 1A) in 14 games.
Speculation about the Devils acquiring a goalie all season was finally validated on Friday when they acquired Allen from the Montreal Canadiens for a conditional third-round pick that can become a second-round pick depending on games played. Allen is currently sporting a .892 SV% and a career-worst 3.65 GAA through 21 games this season (6-12-3).
Annunen has earned more time between the crease lately, starting two of the last four games for the Avalanche, but might be sidelined on Friday due to an illness. Annunen is riding a two-game shutout streak, both against the Chicago Blackhawks, saving 61 consecutive shots.
Reimer will start the tail-end of a back-to-back for the Red Wings on Saturday, his first start since February 25th. The veteran netminder allowed two goals on 14 shots (.857 SV%) entering Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in relief of Alex Lyon but has won his last two starts, allowing only two total goals.
Lyon has struggled lately, losing three straight, but will return to the crease for the fifth straight time on Friday night. Lyon has allowed four or more goals in three straight, including allowing five on 40 shots (.875 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. The Red Wings enter action as -139 road favourites against an Arizona Coyotes club that lost 5-2 last night to the Minnesota Wild.
The Avalanche acquired Trenin and Graham Sward from the Predators for Jeremy Hanzel and a 2025 third-round pick on Thursday. In 60 games with the Predators this season, Trenin had 14 points (10G / 4A), 94 shots, and 168 hits.
After trading Ryan Johansen to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Avalanche filled their center-ice gap by acquiring Mittelstadt via trade from the Buffalo Sabres. The 25-year-old Mittelstadt was enjoying his best season with the Sabres, with 47 points (14G / 33A) in 62 games.
Trade rumours circulating Walker for the last few weeks finally materialized on Wednesday in a trade sending him to Colorado. The 29-year-old Walker, in his first season with the Philadelphia Flyers, tallied 22 points (6G / 16A), 109 shots, 81 hits, and 98 blocks in 68 games.
Parise has been effective since being signed by Coloraod last month but will miss his first game on Friday due to a lower-body injury. The 39-year-old Forward has seven points (4G / 3A) in 15 games while averaging 14:15 time-on-ice.
Nichushkin has not played since January 10th before entering the NHL's Player Assistance program. He has missed 20 games and, after returning to practice last week, is ready to rejoin the Avalanche on Friday. Before his absence, Nichushkin scored at a torrid pace with 21 points (19G / 9A) in his last 15 games.
