Eklund exited last Monday's game with an upper-body injury after playing only 7:39 time-on-ice and has not played since. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 19:43 time-on-ice and has 27 points (7G / 20A) in 36 games this season.
Wedgewood was hurt after Zach Benson fell on his right leg in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Wedgewood had to be helped off the ice and was reportedly wearing a boot post-game. Colorado has recalled Trent Miner to serve as Mackenzie Blackwood's backup in the interim.
Sturm is battling an undisclosed ailment and his status for Saturday's game against the New Jersey Devils is up in the air. The 36-year-old Sturm is averaging 9:43 time-on-ice and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 36 games this season.
Scott Wedgewood exited Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres after a collision with Zach Benson and is expected to be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. Miner could serve as the backup to Mackenzie Blackwood for the entirety of Wedgewood's absence as Colorado head coach Jared Bednar stated that Blackwood will likely see a heavy workload. The 23-year-old Miner has a 2.47 GAA and .903 SV% in 16 games (8-5-3) with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.
The Predators are amid a three-game losing skid, outscored 15-7, and attempt to return to the win column with Saros between the pipes on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old Saros is averaging a win in 50 percent of games over his career but, with an 8-16-6 record this season, is well off his usual pace, only recording a win in 27 percent of games. He has a 2.82 GAA and .903 SV% this season. The Predators enter Friday's contest as -172 road favorites against a Canucks team that defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-3 last night.
In only 39 games this season, Kastelic has already matched a career-high with 11 points (4G / 7A) and has been rewarded with a three-year contract extension. The bruting 6-4 forward is second in the NHL with 151 hits.
Svechkov made his NHL debut earlier this season, scoring two points (2G / 0A) in nine games, but has spent most of the season in the AHL. He has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 13 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). The 21-year-old Svechkov was the 19th overall pick of the Predators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Wilsby was a surprise scratch on Tuesday, with the Predators not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Justin Barron drew into the lineup in his place. The 24-year-old Wilsby has played well in his first NHL season, averaging 18:43 time-on-ice and scoring three points (1G / 2A) in 15 games.
Wolf has been outstanding lately but has been limited to only one start in the past three games for the Flames. He returns to the crease on Saturday against the Nashville Predators. The 23-year-old Wolf has helped his team collect points in five straight (4-0-1), allowing only 10 combined goals and posting a superb .929 SV%.
Mermis has only played one game this season, recording a -2 plus/minus in 10:47 time-on-ice. The 30-year-old Mermis is an undrafted defenseman with 75 games of NHL experience. He played a career-high 47 games with the Minnesota Wild last season, recording eight points (3G / 5A).
Manson has only played three games since returning from a 12-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old Manson is averaging 18:00 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 27 games this season. It's unclear if this ailment is related to his previous injury.
Thatcher Demko exited Vancouver's previous game due to back spasms and will not dress on Friday against the Nashville Predators. Silovs began the season in Vancouver but has been in the AHL since Demko debuted. The 23-year-old Silovs has a 2.44 GAA and .900 SV% in five games with Abbottsford (AHL).
Lankinen entered yesterday's 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken in relief of Thatcher Demko (back), saving 13 of 15 shots (.867 SV%). He will return to the crease on Friday against the Nashville Predators, his former club. The 29-year-old Lankinen has a 2.60 GAA and .907 SV% in 25 games this season (15-6-4). The Canucks enter Friday's contest as +154 home underdogs against a Predators club amid a three-game losing skid.
With Jeremy Lauzon battling a lower-body injury, Stastney will draw into Nashville's lineup on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. Stastney was a fifth-round pick of the Predators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old defenseman played 20 games with the Predators last season, scoring four points (2G / 2A), but has exclusively played in the AHL this season. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 10 games with Milwaukee (AHL).
Wiesblatt was the 31st overall pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game. He has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 27 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.
Lauzon was limited to 6:19 time-on-ice in Nashville's 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday and will not play on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. It's unclear if his lower-body ailment is related to the one that kept him out of the lineup for 10 games earlier this season.
Savard is battling an undisclosed injury and could miss Friday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks. He only played 15:40 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, his second-lowest ice time of the season. The 34-year-old defenseman has 10 points (1G / 9A), 90 blocks, and 31 hits in 35 games this season.
Alex Nedeljkovic played the last two games for the Penguins (1-1-0), but the club will return to Jarry between the pipes on Friday against the Florida Panthers. Jarry allowed five goals on 33 shots (.848 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders. The 29-year-old Jarry has an ugly 3.58 GAA and .883 SV% in 17 appearances this season (8-6-2). The Penguins enter Friday's contest as +181 road underdogs against a Panthers club outscored 14-6 in their last four games (1-3-0).
Letang practiced on Friday but will miss a third straight game due to a lower-body injury on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The veteran defenseman is averaging 23:24 time-on-ice and has 16 points (7G / 9A) in 34 games this season.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, a night after losing 4-2 to the Dallas Stars, the Senators will turn to Forsberg between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Forsberg has not played since December 8th, missing time due to a lower-body injury. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in limited action this season, posting a mediocre 2.95 GAA and .889 SV% despite recording two shutouts in 11 appearances (4-6-0). The Senators enter Friday's contest as +100 road underdogs against a St. Louis Blues club coming off a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
