Joseph has missed St. Louis' previous seven games due to an elbow infection but has been activated off IR and will return to the Blues' lineup vs. Dallas on Friday. The 28-year-old has two goals, 10 points and 28 SOG in 35 GP this season.
Despite picking up 34 hits in his previous eight games played, Nathan Walker will be the odd man out of the lineup with Mathieu Joseph returning from an elbow injury on Friday. The 31-year-old will hope to return to the lineup soon as he continues to chase his career high in points from last season (16) with his 11 points in 32 games this year.
Binnington will get his 2nd start in the last five games when St. Louis heads to Dallas on Friday. The 32-year-old is slowly losing St. Louis' crease to Joel Hofer but will have another chance for redemption vs. a tough Stars team that ranks 12th in the NHL in goals this season (3.25). In 28 appearances in 2025-26, he ranks 4th worst among starters with more than 4 appearances in SV% (.869) and has an ugly 8-13-6 record to show for it.
Chytil will return to Vancouver's lineup for the first time since October 19th due to a concussion and is expected to lineup on the Canucks 2nd line with Brock Boeser and Drew O'Connor. The 26-year-old started the season out hot with three goals and 15 SOG in six games prior to his injury. He will look to stay healthy after only playing 21 games with Vancouver across the last season and a half since being acquired from New York last season.
With Frank Nazar returning from injury on Friday, Colton Dach finds himself the odd man out of Chicago's lineup vs. Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old has hit everything that moves this season, ranking seventh in the NHL with 172 hits and also has picked up career highs in goals (3), points (9) and PIMs (45) across 49 games played.
For the first time in four games, Hunter Brzustewicz finds himself a healthy scratch vs. Washington as Brayden Pachal rejoins Calgary's lineup. Brzustewicz is in his rookie season and has only one assist, 16 SOG and a -2 plus/minus through 16 games played this season.
Pachal has been a healthy scratch for Calgary's last four games but will draw back into their lineup for Hunter Brzustewicz on Friday vs. Washington. Pachal is in his third season with the Flames and is unfortunately on pace to post his lowest point totals since joining the team with three assists and 35 PIMs in 24 games played.
Despite Dustin Wolf occupying the starter's crease earlier during morning skate, Devin Cooley was the first goalie off the ice and will start vs. Washington on Friday. It is the 5th straight time that Cooley and Wolf have swapped starts as a trend seems to be appearing in the Flames' crease. The 28-year-old has earned his extended minutes, posting a ridiculous .922 SV% and 2.18 GAA to go alongside his 6-4-3 record. He will host the Washington Capitals on Friday, who are in the midst of a rare four game losing streak.
Holloway is considered day-to-day despite heading back to St. Louis to have an MRI on his high ankle sprain. It is an unfortunate injury for the 24-year-old who had just returned from a 15-game absence on Sunday before leaving with his injury. In 34 games played this season, Holloway has eight goals and 17 points while being a -13 plus/minus.
With Dan Vladar (lower-body) still injured for at least one more game, Samuel Ersson draws the tough task of taking on the Colorado Avalanche in Colorado on Friday. Ersson's nightmare season will hopefully take a break on Friday as he looks to post a save percentage above .900 for just the second time in his last 8 starts. His .858 SV% ranks among the lowest in the NHL through 21 appearances this season. He will take on the surprisingly cold Colorado Avalanche on Friday, who, despite having the NHL's best record, have lost three of their last four games.
Colton left Colorado's game vs. Anaheim on Wednesday with a lower-body injury and will remain out vs. Philadelphia on Friday. The 29-year-old is considered day-to-day for the time being and will have to wait to add to his five goals and 20 points in 48 games played on the season until Sunday, when Colorado takes on Toronto.
Blackwood is coming off of just his second regulation loss of the season, a forgetful night for the typically reliable goaltender, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 7-3 loss to the Nashville Predators one week ago. The 29-year-old Blackwood will look to return to the form he was in before the loss, when he was riding a seven-game winning streak while posting a superb 1.64 GAA and .929 SV%. The Avalanche enter Friday's contest as sizable -293 home favorites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has lost seven of their last eight games (1-5-2).
The Kraken will stick with the hot-hand on Friday night and hand Grubauer his 17th start of the season when they host the Ducks. Grubauer was outstanding in his last start, allowing just a single goal on 25 shots in a 4-1 win over the Islanders on Wednesday. The 34-year-old carries a 10-4-3 record and .919 SV% into Friday night's matchup, where the Kraken enter action at -120 on the money line.
Blackwood is coming off of just his second regulation loss of the season, a forgetful night for the typically reliable goaltender, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 7-3 loss to the Nashville Predators one week ago. The 29-year-old Blackwood will look to return to the form he was in before the loss, when he was riding a seven-game winning streak while posting a superb 1.64 GAA and .929 SV%. The Avalanche enter Friday's contest as sizable -293 home favorites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has lost seven of their last eight games (1-5-2).
Horvat has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on January 1st, but was a full participant at practice on Friday, and will likely play on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 30-year-old forward has 33 points (21G / 12A) in 36 games this season.
Bussi has remained the more reliable option between the pipes for the Hurricanes, and will likely return there on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators. The 27-year-old Bussi continues to impress in his first NHL season and is coming off a terrific effort in Monday's 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres, saving 17 of 18 shots (.944 SV%). He has a 1.01 GAA and .941 SV% in his last two games (2-0-0).
