Kotkaniemi will not play Saturday vs. the Red Wings but will travel to Western Canada with the team next week, suggesting he could play before the Christmas break. The Habs have gone 4-2-0 without Kotkaniemi.
Byron appeared to be close to returning to the lineup when he was a full participant in Friday's practice, but he'll remain in Montreal while the team travels to Western Canada next week. Ryan Poehling will remain in Montreal's lineup with Byron out.
Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Lightning's win over the Bruins on Thursday. Vasilevskiy has won three in a row while posting a 1.33 GAA and .958 SV%. The 25-year-old is heating up but draws a tough matchup with the Capitals in town--Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 35 shots in a 4-3 OT loss in his first start against Washington.
Hall was on the ice for warmups last night but was a late-scratch in Colorado. Hall will sit out for a second straight game with New Jersey nearing a deal to trade the pending UFA. It looks like Hall has played his final game as a New Jersey Devil.
Englund has no points in 11 AHL games this season and no points in nine career NHL games. He comes up to serve as the Senators No. 7 defenseman while Dylan DeMelo is sidelined with a broken finger.
Petan has been a yo-yo for the Maple Leafs this season, coming up to the NHL when they need him to fill-in for an injured forward. With Trevor Moore expected to play on Saturday, Petan goes back to the Marlies, where he has seven points (2G / 5A) in three games this season.
Primeau has played extremely well in his first two NHL starts, allowing just five goals on 72 shots (.931 SV%) but heads back to Laval to get more playing time. The Canadiens do not have a back-to-back before the Christmas break, so Carey Price will likely start every single game, so they want Primeau to play in Laval.
The Canadiens do not have a back-to-back before the Christmas break, so Cayden Primeau will go to Laval to get some playing time and Lindgren comes up to backup Carey Price. Lindgren has gone 7-6-2 with a 2.67 GAA and .893 SV% in 16 AHL games.
Myers missed Wednesday's game in Colorado but is expected to replace Robert Hagg in the lineup in Minnesota. Myers has had a really nice year so far, recording nine points (3G / 6A) and a plus-14 rating in 17 games.
Athanasiou missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury but will play in Montreal. Athanasiou has had a difficult season, posting just 15 points (5G / 10A) in 29 games and has a league-worst minus-33 rating.
Chatfield sat-out of every game during his call-up, so he heads back to Utica to get some games in with Guillaume Brisebois coming up from Utica. Chatfield has one assist in 19 AHL games this season.
Brisebois comes up to replace Jalen Chatfield as the Canucks No.6/No.7 defenseman. Brisebois has no points in eight career NHL games but has posted 11 points (3G / 8A) in 26 games with Utica this season.
Andersen allowed four goals on 24 shots in the Maple Leafs 4-2 loss to the Flames on Thursday. He had a good night going before everything fell apart in the third period and snapping his brief two-game winning streak. On the season, Andersen is 8-4-0 with a 2.43 GAA, .922 SV% and one shutout on the road this year and gets set to face an Oilers team that has lost three in a row and six of their last eight.
Lundqvist allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Rangers loss in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Alexandar Georgiev started Thursday but they'll come back to Lundqvist today in Anaheim. King Henrik has lost three in a row while posting a 3.04 GAA and .893 SV%, but today he faces a Ducks team that has lost eight of their last 11 while scoring just 2.36 goals per game.
Price stopped 33 of 34 shots in the Canadiens' win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Cayden Primeau started the following night, so Price is well-rested coming into this superb matchup with the Red Wings. He has won three straight while stopping 83 of the 87 shots (.954 SV%) that he has faced. He is a must-start and arguably the best option on a busy Saturday slate.
