Max Domi will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Washington Capitals, allowing Maccelli to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Maccelli was signed in the offseason to lessen the blow of losing Mitch Marner, but Maccelli has not been able to contribute anywhere near Marner's elite rate. Maccelli has nine points (4G / 5A) in 21 games this season.

For the first time this season, veteran Max Domi will be a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old forward has only six points (3G / 3A) in 23 games this season and has only two assists in his last 12 outings. Matias Maccelli draws into the lineup as Domi’s replacement.

Ryan Poehling will return from a two-week absence due to an upper-body injury on Friday, resulting in Harkins being the odd-man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Harkins has two goals in 13 games this season.

Kyle MacLean will draw back into New York's lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers, resulting in Tsyplakov watching the game from the press box as a healthy scratch. After a solid rookie season, scoring 35 points (10G / 25A) in 77 games, the 27-year-old Tsyplakov has struggled finding his footing in 2025-26, with only one point (1G / 0A) through 15 games.

MacLean has not played since November 7th, but will draw into the lineup on Friday, replacing Maxim Tsyplakov. The 26-year-old MacLean has one assist while averaging 9:35 time-on-ice through 10 games this season.

Arber Xhekaj will return to Montreal's lineup on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, sending Engstrom to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Engstrom made his NHL debut on Wednesday, playing 10:42 time-on-ice.

Alexandre Texier will make his Canadiens' debut on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, resulting in Davidson being a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Davidson is averaging 8:17 time-on-ice and has zero points through five games this season.

Texier has not played since November 6th, and was finally placed on waivers last week by the St. Louis Blues. The 26-year-old Texier has one assist while averaging 10:15 time-on-ice through eight games this season. Jared Davidson will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Texier's Canadiens' debut.

Adam Engstrom will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, allowing Xhekaj to return from a one-game absence. The 24-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 11:40 time-on-ice and has one assist and 40 penalty minutes in 20 games. The usually hard-hitting defenseman has seen a massive dip in his hit production this season, averaging only 1.5 hits per game, after averaging 2.8 in his previous three seasons.

With Jordan Greenway drawing back into Buffalo's lineup on Friday against the New Jersey Devils, Dunne heads to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Dunne is averaging 9:05 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 16 games this season.

Mitchell is an undrafted 26-year-old defenseman that has spent the previous three seasons playing exclusively in the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders. The 25-year-old Mitchell has three points (0G / 3A) in 12 games with Bridgeport this season. He has never played an NHL game.

Matthew Kessel will draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Ottawa Senators, sending Tucker to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Tucker is has four points (1G / 3A) and a -5 plus/minus through 23 games this season.