Parise was most recently with the Islanders in 2022-23, when he tallied 21 goals and 13 assists (34 points) in 82 games. The 18-year veteran has 879 career points (429G / 450A) in 1224 regular season games with the Wild, Devils and Islanders. Parise could be a replacement for Valeri Nichushkin, who is in the NHL's Player Assistance Program and is out indefinitely.

Malinski has played in eight straight games and has scored four points (1G / 3A) in his last four, but will be a healthy scratch on Friday to allow Jack Johnson to draw back into the lineup. Malinski has been effective in limited time this season, scoring 10 points (3G / 7A) in 22 games while averaging only 14:19 time-on-ice.

Lehkonen has been a full participant at practice for the last two weeks and will return to the lineup for the first time since suffering a neck injury on November 9th. Before his injury, Lehkonen had eight points (3G / 5A) in 12 games, averaging 18:30 time-on-ice, playing predominantly alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, including a spot on the top powerplay. With Valeri Nichushkin out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, Lehkonen should benefit immediately from favourable offensive deployment.

The move frees up a roster spot for the Sabres to activate Jeff Skinner off injured reserve. Johnson missed Saturday's game due to the upper-body injury, and a timeline for his return remains unclear.

Blackwood served as the backup last night and will tend the twine on Tuesday in the back end of a back-to-back. The Sharks are riding a rare two-game winning streak, but are sizeable +291 home underdogs against a New York Rangers team that defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 in their last contest. Blackwood has saved 55 of the last 59 shots he faced (.932 SV%) over his last two games (1-0-1).

Wedgewood started Saturday and won after stopping 29 of 31 shots against (.935 SV%) and will surprisingly retake the Stars' crease Sunday for a second straight start. Tonight he will take on an Islanders team that has lost four in a row and eight of their last 10, but have a new head coach, after hiring Patrick Roy on Saturday.

Necas has been out since January 2nd due to an upper-body injury but will return to the Hurricanes' lineup Friday vs. Detroit. The 25-year-old broke out with a 71 point campaign in 2022-23 but has failed to take another step forward this season with just nine goals and 26 points in 38 games prior to the injury.

Johnson left Thursday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks with an upper-body injury after playing only 11:18 time-on-ice. The veteran Johnson has been held off the scoresheet in seven straight games.

Necas has been sidelined for the last five games due to an upper-body injury, but was a full participant at practice on Wednesday, skating alongside Jack Drury and Stefan Noesen. Before his injury, Necas was amid a dry spell, scoring only three points (0G / 3A) in his last eight games.

Wood will make his first appearance since January 4th after missing Colorado's last five games as he battled the flu. Wood was very effective in a top-six role in his last outing, scoring one point (0G / 1A) and firing three shots on goal in 15:31 time-on-ice.

Blackwood helped the Sharks snap a 12-game losing skid last week when he saved 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens but followed that up by allowing five goals on 41 shots (.878 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators. The Sharks, on a fresh two-game losing streak, are +131 road underdogs against a Chicago Blackhawks club that has lost three straight, being outscored 7-3.