Armia hasn't played in over three weeks due to an upper-body injury, but anticipates returning to the lineup on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 32-year-old Finn has ten goals and ten assists in 53 games this season.
Mason McTavish will return from a two-game absence, replacing Vatrano on Friday against the Utah Mammoth. The 32-year-old Vatrano is having a miserably season after scoring over 20 goals in his previous three campaigns with the Ducks. He only has eight points (4G / 4A) in 44 games this season.
McTavish has been sidelined for two straight games, but will re-enter the lineup on Friday, replacing Frank Vatrano. The 23-year-old McTavish has seen a decline in 2025-26, with only 32 points (13G / 19A) through 61 games after he seemed poised to improve on his career-high 2024-25 season, where he scored 52 points in 76 games. McTavish's struggles have intensified in recent weeks, with only 2 assists in his last 12 games.
Dostal was serviceable in Anaheim's previous game, saving 25 of 28 shots (.893 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has had some difficulties since returning from the Olympic break, allowing three or more goals in seven of nine games, but still boasts an impressive 6-2-1 record despite a less-than-stellar 3.59 GAA and .866 SV%. The Ducks enter Friday's contest as +118 road underdogs against a Mammoth team that played last night in an impressive 4-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Stenlund missed Monday's game against the Dallas Stars, but was back in the lineup on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, he continues battling an undisclosed injury, making his status uncertain for Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. The 29-year-old Stenlund has 16 points (4G / 12A) in 67 games this season.
Kaprizov was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Wild only announcing his absence minutes before warmups. His injury is not expected to keep him out long-term, but he will be sidelined again on Saturday against the Dallas Stars. Minnesota's offense struggled on Thursday without Kaprizov, losing 2-1 to the Chicago Blackhawks.
In a heated battle against their Central Divison rival, the Dallas Stars, Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson. The 27-year-old Swedish goalie has struggled in his last two games (1-1-0), posting a 3.59 GAA and .833 SV%. That said, he has a solid 1.88 GAA and .932 SV% in seven games (5-2-) since returning from the Olympic Break.
Blackwood has struggled immensely in recent games, but he will get a chance to redeem himself on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old goalie allowed four goals on 15 shots (.733 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has an ugly 4.58 GAA and .791 SV% in his last four games (1-3-0). That said, Colorado enters Friday's contest as enormous -321 road favourites against a Blackhawks team that played last night and defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1.
Toffoli exited Thursday's 5-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in the first period after only 3:41 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury and did not return. The 33-year-old Toffoli has been effective offensively lately, scoring five points (2G / 3A) in his last six games. The team should provide an update on Toffoli's status before they return to action on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Not to take away from a tremendous rookie season for the 27-year-old Bussi, but he has fallen off from a tremendous start to his NHL career. After posting a 2.16 GAA and .906 SV% in 27 games before the Olympic break (23-3-1), Bussi has returned with an abysmal 4.05 GAA and .835 SV% in his last five games (2-3-0). That said, the Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as significant -218 road favourites against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that has scored two or fewer goals in five of their last seven games (2-4-1).
Garand was a fourth-round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, but has yet to play an NHL game. The 23-year-old goalie has a 2.83 GAA and .896 SV% in 36 games (16-15-2) with Hartford (AHL) this season. It's unclear whether the Rangers are dealing with an injury in their crease that prompted Garand's recall.
Wolf's disappointing 2025-26 season continued in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 24 shots (.833 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The 24-year-old Wolf, last season's Calder Trophy runner-up, has just five wins in 18 games since the beginning of January (5-12-1), posting subpar numbers of 3.36 GAA and .889 SV%. The Flames enter Friday's contest with -105 odds at home against a Florida Panthers team coming off an impressive 4-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers last night.
Carcone has had an excellent season in Utah, primarily in a bottom-six role, and has earned himself a two-year contract extension. The 29-year-old forward is averaging 12:25 time-on-ice through 66 games and has 26 points (14G / 12A), just three points short of the career-high 29 points he scored in 74 games two seasons ago.
Saros did not dress in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. That said, he was back at practice on Friday, but did not stay for the entirety of it. Predators' Head Coach Andrew Brunette indicated he was unsure who will be tending the twine when the team returns to the ice on Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights.
After almost exclusively relying on Jacob Markstrom in the past few weeks, including both ends of back-to-backs, Allen will likely tend the twine on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 35-year-old Allen snapped a four-game losing skid in his most recent outing, saving 27 of 31 shots (.871 SV%) in a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings. He has an ugly 3.08 GAA and .886 SV% in nine games since the beginning of January (2-7-0). The Devils enter Friday's contest as +120 road underdogs against a Washington Capitals team coming off a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators to snap a three-game losing streak (0-2-1).
Girard has missed that last five games due to an upper-body injury, but a return appears imminent after being a full participant at practice on Friday. The 27-year-old Girard is averaging 18:25 time-on-ice and is still searching for his first point through seven games with the Penguins. His next chance to play will be on Saturday afternoon against the Winnipeg Jets.
Philippe Myers will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Benoit to return from a one-game absence. The 27-year-old Benoit is averaging 17:07 time-on-ice and has four assists in 60 games this season.
Simon Benoit will return from a one-game absence on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes, sending Myers back to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Myers is averaging 14:09 time-on-ice and has two assists in 34 games this season.
On the tail end of back-to-back, the Blackhawks have recalled Toninato from Rockford (AHL) to give them some extra options. The 32-year-old forward has 43 points (16G / 27A) in 52 games with Rockford this season.
Hedman did not play the final two periods of Thursday's 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks due to an illness. Tampa Bay Head Coach Jon Cooper said the team should provide an update on Hedman's status on Friday. The 35-year-old Hedman has just five points (1G / 4A) in 15 games since returning from an injury at the beginning of February.
