Lafferty did not play in Buffalo's previous game but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old forward is averaging 9:43 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 50 games this season.
The Devils have lost three straight (0-2-1) and will turn to Markstrom between the pipes on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Markstrom allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The 35-year-old goalie has a 2.50 GAA and .900 SV%. He has struggled immensely since returning from an injury at the beginning of March, posting an ugly 4.00 GAA and .842 SV% in seven games (1-5-1). Still, the Devils enter Wednesday's contest as sizable -202 road favorites against a Blackhawks squad coming off a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Marchand has not played since suffering an upper-body injury with the Bruins on March 1st, and could make his Panthers' debut on Friday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 36-year-old Marchand averaged 18:26 time-on-ice and scored 47 points (21G / 26A) in 61 games with the Bruins this season.
The Devils have lost three straight (0-2-1) and will likely turn to Markstrom between the pipes on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Markstrom allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The 35-year-old goalie has a 2.50 GAA and .900 SV%. He has struggled immensely since returning from an injury at the beginning of March, posting an ugly 4.00 GAA and .842 SV% in seven games (1-5-1). Still, the Devils enter Wednesday's contest as sizable -202 road favorites against a Blackhawks squad coming off a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Devils have lost three of their last four and will hope for a better result, with Markstrom tending the twine on Monday against his former team, the Vancouver Canucks. The 35-year-old Markstrom has struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in four of his last five games (1-4-0), posting an ugly .816 SV%. He has a 2.49 GAA and .900 SV% in 42 games this season (22-14-5). The Devils enter Monday's contest as -137 home favorites against a Canucks squad that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1).
The Devils have been liberal with their goalie rotation lately, regularly alternating starts, with Jake Allen outplaying Jacob Markstrom. Still, Markstrom will tend the twine on Thursday against his former club, the Calgary Flames. The 35-year-old Markstrom has allowed six goals in two of his last three outings (1-2-0), posting an ugly .805 SV%. He has a 2.45 GAA and .902 SV% in 41 games this season (22-13-5).
Kulikov played only 6:00 time-on-ice in Florida's previous game before exiting the contest due to an upper-body injury and will be sidelined week-to-week but will likely be back before the end of the regular season. The 34-year-old Kulikov is averaging 19:17 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (4G / 9A), 70 blocks, and 110 hits in 68 games this season. The Panthers recalled Tobias Bjornfot from Charlotte (AHL) on Tuesday as a temporary replacement on the blue line.
Bjornfot played eight games with the Panthers earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old defenseman has 16 points (2G / 14A) in 43 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) this season.
Brett Howden (undisclosed) will draw back into the Vegas lineup on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, sending Schwindt to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Schwindt is averaging 9:13 time-on-ice and has seven points (0G / 7A) in 40 games this season.
Schwindt will slot in for Ivan Barbashev, who is a late scratch due to an undisclosed injury. Schwindt has zero goals and seven assists in 39 games this season.
With Aaron Ekblad serving the first game of his twenty-game suspension, Balinskis will re-enter the lineup for the first time since March 1st. The 28-year-old Balinskis is averaging 14:51 time-on-ice and has 15 points (4G / 11A) in 58 games this season.
Marchand participated at practice, not wearing a non-contact jersey, but will likely still be sidelined week-to-week. The 36-year-old Marchand was acquired in a trade from the Boston Bruins last week and is awaiting his Panthers' debut. He scored 47 points (21G / 26A) in 61 games with the Bruins this season.
The Devils turned to Jake Allen in their previous game and snapped a three-game losing skid, but will return to Markstrom between the pipes on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Markstrom has struggled since returning from an injury earlier this month, posting an ugly 4.01 GAA and .850 SV% in three games (0-3-0). He has a 2.34 GAA and .907 SV% in 39 appearances this season (21-12-5). The Devils enter Tuesday's contest as -159 home favorites against a Blue Jackets squad coming off a 7-3 win over the New York Rangers.
The Devils turned to Jake Allen in their previous game and snapped a three-game losing skid, but will return to Markstrom between the pipes on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Markstrom has struggled since returning from an injury earlier this month, posting an ugly 4.01 GAA and .850 SV% in three games (0-3-0). He has a 2.34 GAA and .907 SV% in 39 appearances this season (21-12-5). The Devils enter Tuesday's contest as -159 home favorites against a Blue Jackets squad coming off a 7-3 win over the New York Rangers.
