Nate Danielson will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Leonard to suit up for his season debut. Leonard has 21 points (8G / 13A) in 81 career NHL games, but has spent most of his career in the AHL. The 28-year-old forward had 54 points (33G / 21A) last season in 47 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).
Danielson, the 9th-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, has not yet been able to make his mark at the NHL level. The 22-year-old forward has two assists in 12 games this season and will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. John Leonard will make his season debut, drawing in as Danielson's replacement.
Last season, Tarasov posted a 3.05 GAA and .895 SV% in 33 games (13-15-3) with the Florida Panthers, and he will face his former team for the first time since joining the Red Wings. The 27-year-old Russian goalie has been used sparingly this season, but has been solid when called upon, posting a 1.40 GAA and .940 SV% in four appearances (1-0-2). The Red Wings enter Monday's outing as +155 road underdogs against a Panthers team on a three-game winning streak.
Morrissey has not played since suffering an upper-body injury nearly four weeks ago. He is accompanying the Jets on their four-game road trip, and he practiced in a non-contact jersey on Monday, but it is unclear when he might return to the lineup. The 31-year-old Morrissey has become a reliable point-producing defenseman and power-play quarterback in recent seasons, a role he should be able to return to when he is ready to suit up.
After a promising inaugural full season with the Blackhawks in 2025-26, posting a 2.82 GAA and .902 SV% in 55 games (19-25-11), Knight has had an inconsistent start to 2026-27. That said, he has strung together a few good outings, posting a 2.37 GAA and .922 SV% in his last three games (1-2-0). The 25-year-old American goalie has a 3.21 GAA and .897 SV% in 11 games this season (4-7-0). The Blackhawks enter Monday's game as sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche team that has scored five or more goals in three of their last four games (3-1-0).
The Bruins lead the Atlantic Division with a 10-4-1 record, largely thanks to Jeremy Swayman's stellar play. That said, Swayman is coming off his worst performance of this season, allowing four goals on 18 shots (.778 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 27-year-old American goalie has a 2.35 GAA and .912 SV% in 11 games this season (7-3-1). The Bruins enter Monday's outing as slight +104 home underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights team that has scored two or fewer goals in four of their last five games (1-3-1).
Timmins has struggled to stay healthy at the NHL level, failing to surpass 52 games played in all but one of his seven seasons. He has already missed Buffalo's first 14 games this season, but was back at practice on Monday. The 28-year-old defenseman had eight assists, 29 hits, and 81 blocks in 39 games last season.
Kulich has been sidelined for over a week with a concussio, but returned to practice on Monday. The 22-year-old Czech forward, has three points (1G / 2A) in eight games. It is unclear if he will be ready to play when Buffalo returns to action on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators.
Lyon suffered an upper-body injury in training camp and has not played this season, but returned to practice on Monday. The Sabres have seen inconsistent goaltending from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis in the interim. They are eager for Lyon's return, hoping he can regain his form from last season, when he posted a 2.77 GAA and .907 SV% in 36 appearances (20-10-4).
McWard is an undrafted defenseman that has played nine NHL games, but has spent most of his professional career in the AHL. The 25-year-old scored 27 points (6G / 21A) last season in 63 games with the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL).
Markstrom has missed over two weeks due to an upper-body injury but will return to the crease on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 36-year-old Swedish goalie has been serviceable early in his Panthers tenure, posting a 3-1-1 record, but has been lightly tested most nights, resulting in a pedestrian .897 SV% and a 2.21 GAA. The Panthers enter Monday's contest as -171 home favourites against a Red Wings team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last seven games (4-2-1).
Soderblom played a season high 13:52 time-on-ice in a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators on October 24th, but has not played since due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old Swedish forward has one assist in six games this season.
Korczak in his first season with Pittsburgh, has seen a more prominent role than years past, averaging 18:21 time-on-ice, over two minutes more than he had averaged with the Vegas Golden Knights in the previous five seasons. The 25-year-old defenseman has six assists, 20 blocks, and 11 hits in 14 games this season.
Malkin missed one game earlier this season, and his status for Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights is up in the air. The 40-year-old forward has remained productive this season, scoring 11 points (6G / 5A) in 13 games despite averaging a career-low 17:03 time-on-ice.
Kuraly played his first game in two weeks on Saturday, recording zero points in 8:45 time-on-ice, and will return to the sidelines on Monday. Matthew Poitras will enter the lineup as Kuraly's replacement.
Poitras did not play in Boston's previous game, but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. After only playing three games with Boston last season, the 22-year-old Poitras is off to a solid start in 2026-27, with seven points (3G / 4A) in 11 games.
Dach was late scratch from Saturday's game due to an illness, and will remain sidelined for practice on Monday. The 25-year-old Dach has three assists in 13 games this season. It is unclear if Dach will be an option when Montreal returns to action on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets.
Bump made his NHL debut last season, scoring nine points (5G / 4A) in 17 games with the Flyers. The 22-year-old fifth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft has been a goal-scoring machine at the AHL level early in 2026-27, scoring eight points (7G / 1A) in five games. He scored zero points in eight games with the Flyers this season.
Brazeau suffered a lower-body injury in training camp that has sidelined him for the first 14 games of the season. The 28-year-old forward had 34 points (17G / 17A) in 64 games last season. He returns to Pittsburgh after a brief conditioning stint with Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AHL), where had tallied on assist in two games.
