Malenstyn was a game-time decision due to a personal issue. He has four goals and six assists in 42 games this season.

Lyon will start for the ninth time in the last 10 games as he has been a driving force in the Red Wings' push for the playoffs. In his last contest, Lyon saved 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 3-2 win over his former team, the Florida Panthers. Lyon has been a calming presence between the pipes for the Red Wings, providing stability while allowing three or fewer goals in each of his last six games (5-0-1), boasting a stellar .927 SV%. That said, the Red Wings are +180 road underdogs on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes, coming off a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

In a game originally scheduled for last night, Luukkonen will star for the Sabres on Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. Luukkonen has been tremendous lately, winning four of his last five starts, allowing two or fewer goals four times, including a stellar 28-save shutout in his last outing, a 3-0 win over the San Jose Sharks. Luukkonen and the Sabres have a favourable matchup as -255 home favourites against the Blackhawks, who have scored two or fewer goals in each of their last four games (1-3-0).

Samuelsson played only 7:25 time on ice before exiting Saturday's game against the Vancouver Canucks with an upper-body injury, subsequently missing Monday's game against the San Jose Sharks as well. Henri Jokiharju replaced Samuelsson on Monday and will likely stay in the lineup until he returns.

Timmins will exit the lineup on Tuesday, allowing Mark Giordano to return from being a healthy scratch in the Maple Leafs' previous contest. Timmins played 13:31 time-on-ice and recorded two shots and two hits in his first game in three weeks.

Lyon will tend the twine on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers, the team that he gained his notoriety with last season, leading them on a late-season push into the playoffs. Lyon is doing the same with the Red Wings this season despite starting the season as their third-string goaltender. He has unquestionably become their most reliable option between the pipes and has helped the Red Wings record at least a point in five straight (4-0-1), posting a stellar .924 SV%.

Luukkonen was terrific on Saturday, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%), but received no goal support in a 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Luukkonen has been terrific lately, allowing three or fewer goals in each of his last four starts (3-1-0), posting a .938 SV%, and has a favourable matchup on Monday against the low-scoring San Jose Sharks.

Samuelsson played only 7:25 time on ice before exiting Saturday's game against the Vancouver Canucks with an upper-body injury. Henri Jokiharju will enter the Sabres' lineup on Monday as his replacement.

Timmins will likely see his first game action since December 21st as he was absent from the team's optional morning skate on Sunday. Mark Giordano, who was skating with the Leafs' regular scratches Sunday morning, will likely sit to make room for Timmins.

Thompson managed to score two points (2G / 0A) in an eventual 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators but exited the contest after playing only 12:27 time-on-ice with an undisclosed injury. Thompson already missed a significant portion of the season earlier with an upper-body injury and was finally starting to get his game in order with 12 points (7G / 5A) in his last nine games after scoring six (2G / 4A) in his previous 13. Thompson's potential absence from the lineup would be a crushing blow for a Sabres offence already without Jeff Skinner (upper-body).

Norris did not play on Thursday due to an upper-body injury and has been ruled out of Saturday's contest against the San Jose Sharks as he is day-to-day. The 24-year-old Norris is amid a seven-game pointless skid but was having a decent season before then with 20 points (8G / 12A) in his first 26 games.

Jones was a late addition to Thursday's lineup after Mika Zibanejad left warmups with an undisclosed injury. Jones will draw in as the Rangers will opt to dress seven defensemen in Zibanejad's absence.