Miller missed some time earlier this season due to an injury and was banged up in Carolina's previous game, but he is expected to play on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Miller is averaging a career-high 22:52 time-on-ice and has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 16 games this season.

Kochetkov missed the opening month of the season due to a lower-body injury that he has seemingly re-aggravated. It's unclear whether the injury will keep him out of this lineup, but it is a concerning development after he was unable to practice on Tuesday. The 26-year-old Kochetkov has been outstanding between the pipes since making his season debut earlier this month for the Hurricanes, posting a 1.70 GAA and .926 SV% in five appearances (4-0-0). If Kochetkov misses any time, expect Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen to share the crease for the Hurricanes.

Staal did not play in Carolina's most recent game, but will likely return to the lineup on Wednesday. The 37-year-old Staal is coming off his best outing of the season, a two-goal performance in a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Staal is averaging 15:17 time-on-ice and has nine points (7G / 2A) in 21 games this season.

Patera was assigned to Abbotsford (AHL) yesterday to get some extra playing time, but was quickly recalled on Tuesday in correspondence to Kevin Lankinen not traveling with Vancouver due to personal reasons. The 26-year-old Patera has a 3.10 GAA and .894 SV% in five games (1-2-1) with the Abbotsford Canucks this season.

Lankinen has been Vancouver's de facto starting netminder with Thatcher Demko (lower body) sidelined, but he will not be an option for the team on their upcoming road trip. Demko is travelling with the team but it's unclear when he will be ready to return to the lineup, potentially leaving the Canucks' crease to Jiri Patera and Nikita Tolopilo.

Quick has been excellent in a supporting role this season, posting an absurd 1.69 GAA and .944 SV% in six games (3-3-0). The veteran 39-year-old goalie saved 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He was absent from practice on Monday and was subsequently placed on Injured Reserve. We await further news from the Rangers on the severity of his injury, or lack thereof, but he will be sidelined for at least one week before he is eligible to be activated from IR.

Smith has been playing with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL this season and signed a two-way contract with the Blue Jackets earlier this week, adding some depth to their blueline. The 36-year-old defenseman spent the 2024-25 season as the seventh defenseman for the Dallas Stars, scoring six points (1G / 5A) in 32 games.

Norris has not played since suffering an injury in Buffalo's season opener, but has skated with the team over the last week, and was a full participant at practice on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Norris has missed significant time over the previous few seasons due to shoulder injuries but it's unclear if his current injury is related.

Salamonsson was drafted in the second-round, 55th overall, by the Jets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old Swedish defenseman has yet to play an NHL game. He made his North American professional debut last season in the AHL, scoring 27 points (5G / 22A) in 53 games with the Manitoba Moose.

Mayo played one game for the Blue Jackets earlier this month, but he will return to a familiar place in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 29-year-old Mayo has four points (0G / 4A) in five games with Cleveland this season.

Werenski did not play in the third period of Monday's 5-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, exiting the game after 17:36 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old Werenski played in all but one game last season, but has battled injury concerns in recent years. That said, the team seems to have avoided a serious injury and are in the clear with their star blueliner, who has 21 points (7G / 14A) in 23 games this season.

Olivier only played six shifts in Monday's 5-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, exiting the game with an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old Olivier had 71 hits, 44 penalty minutes, and nine points (3G / 6A) in 23 games this season. The Blue Jackets should provide an update on Olivier before they return to action on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Werenski did not play in the third period of Monday's 5-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, exiting the game after 17:36 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The team has yet to provide an update on the status of their star blueliner, who has 21 points (7G / 14A) in 23 games this season. The 28-year-old Werenski played in all but one game last season, but has battled injury concerns in recent years.

After Akira Schmid and the Golden Knights fell short in overtime to the Ducks on Saturday, it will be Carl Lindbom who gets the nod between the pipes when Vegas travels to Utah on Monday. Lindbom came close to securing his first career victory in his last start, allowing three goals on 28 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss in Minnesota on November 16th. The 22-year-old netminder carries an 0-3-2 record and .874 SV% into Monday night's game with the Mammoth, where the Golden Knights enter action at -115 on the money line.

Utah snapped a four-game losing skid in its most recent game (0-1-3) and will turn to Vejmelka to tend the twine on Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 29-year-old Vejmelka has had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, posting a 2.87 GAA and .882 SV% in 16 games (9-5-2). The Mammoth enter the action on Monday as +102 home underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has points in six straight games (3-0-3).

Nashville sits at the bottom of the NHL with 16 points through 21 games (6-11-4) and likely needs Saros to be spectacular given their league-worst offence (2.33 GF/GP). Saros was excellent in his most recent game, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%), but his team was unable to score in a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie has a 2.85 GAA and .896 SV% in 17 games this season (6-8-3). The Predators enter Monday's contest as +116 road underdogs against a Panthers team coming off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

Dowd will miss a fourth consecutive game on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 35-year-old Dowd is averaging 15:08 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 19 games this season.

The Capitals have struggled defensively lately, allowing 13 goals in their last three games (2-1-0), and hope Thompson returns to early-season form when he returns to the crease on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old Thompson has a solid 2.24 GAA and .910 SV% in 15 games this season (8-6-1), but he has allowed four or more goals in three of his last four outings (1-2-1). The Capitals enter Monday's contest as -157 home favorites against a Blue Jackets team that is 1-1-1 in its last three games.

Trocheck has already missed 14 games this season due to an upper-body injury, but thankfully, it appears he will be in the lineup for Monday's game against the St. Louis Blues. The 32-year-old Trocheck has been solid in limited action this season, recording seven points (3G / 4A) and 35 hits, but he only has 11 shots through nine games.

The Devils' offense has struggled with Jack Hughes (hand) out of the lineup, being outscored 12-4 in their last three games (0-3-0), and will turn to Markstrom to tend the twine on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 27-year-old Markstrom has allowed three or more goals in five straight (2-1-1), and has a troubling 3.83 GAA and .864 SV% in nine games this season (5-3-1). The Devils enter Monday's contest as -135 home favorites against a Red Wings team with points in five of their last six games (4-1-1).