Ersson has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on October 28th, but returned to practice on Wednesday and could be back between the pipes on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators. Before his injury, Ersson was splitting time with Dan Vladar, who had been terrific and greatly outplayed Ersson. That said, Vladar has faced adversity in Ersson's absence, which should allow Ersson to continue his push for more playing time. The 26-year-old Erson has a 3.08 GAA and .876 SV% in four games this season (2-1-1).

Woll had been away from the team for nearly the first four weeks of the season, but has been skating with the group over the last two weeks, and fully returned to practice on Friday. He started in exactly half of Toronto's games last season, posting a 2.73 GAA and .909 SV%, and could be poised for similar deployment once he makes his debut.

Zuccarello was originally scheduled to be out of the lineup until late November, but finds himself a couple of weeks ahead of schedule, drawing into the lineup for his season debut on Friday against the New York Islanders. The 38-year-old Zuccarello has remained productive for Minnesota over the years, playing primarily alongside Kirill Kaprizov, including scoring 54 points (19G / 35A) in 69 games last season.

Kane has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on October 17th, missing nine games, but will return to the lineup on Friday against the New York Rangers. The 36-year-old Kane was off to a hot start this season, scoring five points (2G / 3A) in five games. He is expected to return to the top powerplay unit and suit up at even strength on a line with Alex Debrincat and Marco Kasper.

The Red Wings remain in second-place in the Atlantic Division with a 9-5-0 record, but have lost two of their last three (1-2-0), and hope to return to their winning ways on Friday with Talbot tending the twine against the New York Rangers. Talbot has had an up-and-down start to the 2025-26 season, posting a 2.76 GAA and .897 SV%, but is showcasing an impressive 5-1-0 record. The Red Wings enter Friday's contest as slight -108 home favorites against a Rangers team that has been struggling offensively, having been shut out in four of their first 14 games (6-6-2).

On Friday, the Penguins announced that Filip Hallander has a blood clot in his left leg and will sidelined for at least three month. The 25-year-old Hallander has already played a career-high 13 games this season and has four points (1G / 3A) this season.

The Red Wings remain in second-place in the Atlantic Division with a 9-5-0 record, but have lost two of their last three (1-2-0), and hope to return to their winning ways on Friday with Talbot tending the twine against the New York Rangers. Talbot has had an up-and-down start to the 2025-26 season, posting a 2.76 GAA and .897 SV%, but is showcasing an impressive 5-1-0 record. The Red Wings enter Friday's contest as slight -108 home favorites against a Rangers team that has been struggling offensively, having been shut out in four of their first 14 games (6-6-2).

Cirelli exited Thursday's 6-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in the second period due to an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old Cirelli is off to a hot start in the 2025-26 season, playing mostly alongside Brandon Hagel, scoring 11 points (7G / 4A) in 14 games. The team has yet to provide an update on Cirelli's status.

Crozier will slot out of the Lightning lineup on Thursday in favour of Darren Raddysh. Crozier has appeared in five games this season, registering zero goals and three assists.

Raddysh has appeared in seven games so far this season, logging one goal and two assists. Maxwell Crozier will sit in his place.

After a poor start to the season, failing to record a win in his first five games (0-3-2), posting a dreadful 3.40 GAA and .885 SV%, Vasilevskiy has returned to the form that makes him a perennial Vezina trophy candidate. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has won three of his last four games, posting a tremendous 1.80 GAA and .925 SV% in his last four games (3-1-). He will attempt to continue his strong play on Thursday in a game against a Vegas Golden Knights team that he saved 18 of 19 shots (.947 SV%) against two weeks ago in a 2-1 overtime win. Tampa Bay enters Thursday's game as slight +103 road underdogs.

Bobrovsky will make his 11th start of the season when the Panthers travel to Los Angeles on Thursday. Bobrovsky will be looking to rebound from a disappointing outing in his last start, when he gave up seven goals on 32 shots enroute to a 7-3 loss in Anaheim on Tuesday. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner brings a 6-4-0 record into Thursday night's game in Los Angeles, where the Panthers enter action at -105 on the money line.

Abols will take the place of Jacob Gaucher, who was reassigned to Lehigh Valley (AHL) on Thursday. Abols is yet to register a point through eight games this season.

Capobianco will take a seat on Thursday as the Stars return to dressing just six defencemen. Roope Hintz (upper-body) will return to the lineup in his place.

Faksa showed no signed of an ailment in the Stars' 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday, playing 11:55 time-on-ice, but did not play on Tuesday in the team's 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. The 31-year-old Faksa is averaging 12:18 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 12 games this season.

Hintz has not played since receiving an open-ice hit from Carolina's Taylor Hall on October 25th, missing five straight games. He was a game-time decision for Thursday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. The 28-year-old Hintz has eight points (1G / 7A) in eight games this season.

The Predators will turn to Saros between the pipes for the 13th time this season when they host the Flyers on Thursday. Saros struggled in his last start, allowing five goals on 36 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Canucks on Monday. Nashville's franchise netminder brings a 5-4-3 record into Thursday night's matchup with the Flyers, where the Predators enter action at -125 on the money line.

Gaucher was sent down to create room on the roster for Samuel Ersson, who was activated off injured reserve in a corresponding move. Gaucher is yet to register his first career NHL point through seven games with the Flyers.

Ersson has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on October 28th, but returned to practice on Wednesday and could be back between the pipes on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators. Before his injury, Ersson was splitting time with Dan Vladar, who had been terrific and greatly outplayed Ersson. That said, Vladar has struggled in Ersson's absence, which should allow Ersson to continue his push for more playing time. The 26-year-old Erson has a 3.08 GAA and .876 SV% in four games this season (2-1-1).

Kessel will play in place of Logan Mailloux, who is a healthy scratch for Thursday's game in Buffalo. Kessel is yet to register a point through five games this season.