Witkowski was a healthy scratch in New Jersey but will likely replace Carter Verhaeghe on the fourth-line on Friday. Witkowski has one goal and two assists in 11 games this season.
Cernak was a late-scratch in New Jersey on Wednesday and is listed as a game-time decision for Friday's game vs. the Islanders. Cernak doesn't provide a lot of offence (1G / 0A) but has solid peripheral stats (3.2 hits/gm and 1.7 blocks/gm).
Howard stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Red Wings win over the Oilers on Tuesday. The Red Wings' netminders have been alternating starts but on Friday, Hethey will start Howard two in a row for the first time this season. He is 10-10-1 on the road since the start of last season and Hurricanes present a very scary road matchup for Howie and the Red Wings.
Abdelkader has missed the last three games with a lower-body issue but is expected to play in Carolina. Abdelkader fills a fourth-line role for Detroit and comes in with three assists while playing 13:08 ATOI in 10 games this season.
Larkin missed Thursday's practice but head coach Jeff Blashill anticipates his No.1 centre playing in Carolina. After going quiet for a few games, Larkin has tallied two goals and two assists in his last two games, giving him 11 points (4G / 7A) in 13 games this season.
Merzlikins stopped all 19 shots that he faced after replacing Joonas Korpisalo in the Blue Jackets loss to the Oilers on Wednesday. Tonight will be Merzlikins' first start since October 18th and he comes in having allowed a combined 10 goals on 92 shots (.891 SV%) in three appearances this season. Even without Vladimir Tarasenko, the Blues present a difficult road test--there are better options than Merzlikins tonight.
Binnington made 35 saves on 36 shots in the Blues win over the Wild on Wednesday. Binnington is starting to heat up, winning four of his last five starts (4-1-0) while posting a 2.01 GAA and .931 SV%. He won his only start against Columbus last year and the Blue Jackets come in averaging the sixth-fewest goals per game (2.58) in the NHL right now.
Greiss stopped 30 of 32 shots in the Islanders win in Ottawa last Friday. The Islanders will continue with their goaltending rotation, which means Greiss tonight and Semyon Varlamov on Saturday. Greiss has won three straight while only allowing six goals on 91 shots (.934 SV%). He's been outstanding but has a tough matchup vs. the Lightning and their No.9 ranked offence (3.42 GF/gm).
Blackwood gave up four goals on 16 shots in the Devils loss to the Coyotes last Friday. Cory Schneider started on Wednesday and was lit up for seven goals, so the Devils will come back to Blackwood on Friday. The 22-year-old has gone 2-1-2 with a 2.47 GAA, 893 SV% and one shutout in five starts a the Prudential Center this season.
Vasilevskiy gave up three goals on 41 shots in the Lightning's loss in New York on Tuesday. Curtis McElhinney got the nod the following night, so Vasilevskiy will close Tampa Bay's week out with a start in Brooklyn. He hasn't been all that impressive yet, going 4-2-0 with a. 2.98 GAA and. 911 SV% in his last six outings.
Binnington made 35 saves on 36 shots in the Blues win over the Wild on Wednesday. Binnington is starting to heat up, winning four of his last five starts (4-1-0) while posting a 2.01 GAA and .931 SV%. He won his only start against Columbus last year and the Blue Jackets come in averaging the sixth-fewest goals per game (2.58) in the NHL right now.
Dowd is dealing with a lower-body injury that he suffered in Toronto on Tuesday. With Dowd out, Chandler Stephenson will play vs. Buffalo and Liam O'Brien was called up from Hershey (AHL) to serve as an extra forward.
Kuznetsov was nicked up in against the Maple Leafs but was on the ice for Friday's morning skate and is expected to play vs. the Sabres. Kuznetsov will centre the second line and comes in with five goals and four assists (nine points) in 11 games.
Mrazek allowed one goal on 29 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Flames on Tuesday. After a few tough games, Mrazek has won two in a row while stopping 60 of the 61 shots (.983 SV%) that he has faced. He has gone 5-0-0 with a .930 SV% on home ice and is 1-1-0 with an .889 SV% in three games vs. Detroit since being traded in 2018.
Blackwood gave up four goals on 16 shots in the Devils loss to the Coyotes last Friday. Cory Schneider started on Wednesday and was lit up for seven goals, so the Devils will come back to Blackwood on Friday. The 22-year-old has gone 2-1-2 with a 2.47 GAA, 893 SV% and one shutout in five starts a the Prudential Center this season.
Holtby allowed three goals on 31 shots in the Capitals win in Toronto on Tuesday. It hasn't always been pretty at times but suddenly Holtby has won four of his last five (4-0-1) starts while posting a 2.95 GAA an .916 SV%. On Friday, he will face the 9-2-2 Sabres, who he was 1-1-0 with a .932 SV% against in 2018-19.
Mrazek allowed one goal on 29 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Flames on Tuesday. After a few tough games, Mrazek has won two in a row while stopping 60 of the 61 shots (.983 SV%) that he has faced. He has gone 5-0-0 with a .930 SV% on home ice and is 1-1-0 with an .889 SV% in three games vs. Detroit since being traded in 2018.
Baertschi was a surprise training camp casualty but has unsurprisingly dominated the AHL since then, tying for 10th in the league in points with 10 (2G / 8A) in just seven games. Micheal Ferland suffered an upper-body injury in a fight with Kyle Clifford on Wednesday, so look for Baertschi to take his spot in the lineup on Friday.
Toronto is actively shopping Petan right now but hasn't had any suitors yet. Petan has been a healthy scratch in three straight games and eight of the last nine, so he heads to the Marlies to get some playing time. In his most recent AHL stint, Petan had 52 points (15G / 37A) in 52 games with the Manitoba Moose back in 2018.
Both Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nic Dowd are dealing with injuries and questionable for Friday's game, so O'Brien comes up and could make his season debut vs. Buffalo. The 25-year-old centre has just two points (1G / 1A) in 17 career NHL games and has registered three goals in his first nine AHL games this season.
