Kotkaniemi will draw right back into the Hurricanes lineup on Friday after sitting out Thursday's game against the Bruins. He will fill in for Andrei Svechnikov, who is a late scratch due to an illness.

Svechnikov was a late scratch on Friday, with the team only announcing his absence at the start of warmups. Jesperi Kotkaniemi will likely draw back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch on Thursday.

Kochetkov will appear in his team-leading 40th game this season as he starts and takes on the Washington Capitals in Raleigh on Friday. The 24-year-old sophomore picked up his 20th win of the season in his last appearance and holds an impressive 20-13-4 record with a 2.38 GAA and .911 SV% on the season. He will host Washington on Friday, who despite being in the middle of a heated playoff race have lost their last four games.

Fast has missed the Hurricanes' previous six games due to an upper-body injury but will suit up on Thursday vs. Boston as he takes Jesperi Kotkaniemi's place in the lineup. The 32-year-old has six goals, 18 points, 14 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in 66 games played before his injury.

Kotkaniemi will be the odd man out on Thursday as Jesper Fast returns to the Hurricanes' lineup after a six-game absence. Kotkaniemi has struggled to replicate his success from 2022-23 this season, as he only has 11 goals and 25 points in 75 games played before this scratch.

Carolina's goaltending carousel continues on Thursday as it is Frederik Andersen's turn at the Hurricanes' crease as he looks for his eighth straight victory and second straight shutout. The 34-year-old's last loss came on November 2nd after he missed time due to blood clots and has played sensational since returning with his 11-1-0 record, 1.86 GAA and .930 SV%. He will host the Boston Bruins on Thursday, who have won their last two games and are third in the NHL in points with 103 on the season.

Morrow, who was selected in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, is one of the Hurricanes' top prospects. The 21-year-old defenseman had 30 points (6G / 24A) in 37 games at UMass-Amherst in 2023-24.

Tyson Jost will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Robinson to re-enter the lineup. The 28-year-old Robinson has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 44 games with the Sabres this season.

Eric Robinson will draw into the Sabres' lineup in favour of Jost on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. Jost played the last two games, scoring zero points while recording two shots and four hits.

Carrier has missed Vegas' previous two games and will remain out on Tuesday vs. Vancouver as he is still considered day-to-day. The 29-year-old's production has been down this season as he only has six goals and eight points in 39 games played after posting a career-high with 25 points in 56 games a season ago.

Walker was limited to only 11:15 time-on-ice in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators before exiting the game with an upper-body injury but will likely return to the lineup on Monday. In 10 games with Colorado, Walker has four points (3G / 1A).

Robinson will take a seat on Friday in order to make way for the return of Tyson Jost (knee). Robinson has three goals and seven assists in 44 games this season.

Jost will return to the Sabres lineup after missing just over a week due to the injury. He has two goals and two assists in 36 games this season. Eric Robinson will draw out of the lineup to make room for Jost's return.

Fast has missed the Hurricanes' previous five games due to injury but is "probable" to suit up on Saturday vs. Montreal according to head coach Rod Brind'Amour. The 32-year-old has been enjoying a solid season in his usual bottom-six role with six goals, 18 points, 70 SOG and 14 PIMs in 66 GP and 12:46 TOI per game.