Erik Johnson is averaging a career-low 14:19 time-on-ice in his first season with the Sabres and will be a healthy scratch on Friday as Ryan Johnson will enter the lineup. Erik Johnson has two points (2G / 0A), 33 hits, and 42 blocks in 29 games this season.

With Evgeny Kuznetsov set to miss Thursday's game with an illness, Phillips will retake his spot in the lineup after sitting out each of the last two games. Phillips has just one goal to go along with four assists in 18 games with the Capitals this season. He'll start the game alongside Joe Snively and T.J. Oshie on Washington's third line.

Manson was once again listed as a game-time decision for Wednesday's game vs. the Sabres but he's good to go for the 13th straight game. Manson has picked up seven points (2G / 5A) in 25 games this season but has been especially hot as of late, with two goals and four assists (six points) in his last six games.

Manson was a game-time decision for Colorado's previous game but still suited up and will be one yet again Wednesday vs. Buffalo due to an undisclosed ailment. The 32-year-old bruising defensemen is off to one of his strongest offsensive seasons to date, with two goals, five assists, 37 SOG, 32 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 25 games played. If he is unable to go Wednesday, he will be replaced by Caleb Jones.

MacDonald well sit on Tuesday as Luke Kunin (upper-body) is set to return to the lineup. MacDonald has four goals and one assist in 13 games this season.

Blackwood has struggled his last two games, allowing 10 goals on 56 shots (.821 SV%), as the Sharks have opted to rotate between him and Kaapo Kahkonen lately. That said, Blackwood will return to the Sharks' net on Tuesday as they are +191 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets team that will be without their leading scorer, Kyle Connor. In addition, Blackwood has been significantly better on home ice this season, posting a 3.32 GAA and .908 SV% in nine games (3-3-2).

Blackwood has struggled his last two games, allowing 10 goals on 56 shots (.821 SV%), as the Sharks have opted to rotate between him and Kaapo Kahkonen lately. That said, Blackwood will likely return to the Sharks' net on Tuesday as they are +191 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets team that will be without their leading scorer, Kyle Connor. In addition, Blackwood has been significantly better on home ice this season, posting a 3.32 GAA and .908 SV% in nine games (3-3-2).

Kiviranta has primarily played this season on the fourth line, most recently alongside Kurtis MacDermid and Andrew Cogliano, scoring five points (2G / 3A) in 14 games, averaging 10:57 time-on-ice. He is currently battling an illness and was a game-time decision on Monday against the Calgary Flames.

Manson scored two points (1G / 1A) on Saturday but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point and was a game-time decision on Monday against the Calgary Flames. Most recently, Manson has skated on the second defensive pairing with Bowen Byram and has five points (2G / 3A), 12 hits, and 12 shots in his last five games.

Kiviranta has primarily played this season on the fourth line, most recently alongside Kurtis MacDermid and Andrew Cogliano, scoring five points (2G / 3A) in 14 games, averaging 10:57 time-on-ice. He is currently battling an illness and will be a game-time decision on Monday against the Calgary Flames.

Manson scored two points (1G / 1A) on Saturday but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point and will be a game-time decision on Monday against the Calgary Flames. Most recently, Manson has skated on the second defensive pairing with Bowen Byram and has five points (2G / 3A), 12 hits, and 12 shots in his last five games.

Wedgewood will get the nod on Thursday after Jake Oettinger started the front half of the Stars' back-to-back on Wednesday. It will be Wedgewood's first appearance since allowing four goals on 36 shots in a 4-3 overtime defeat at the hands of the Flames on November 30th. Dallas' backup owns a 4-1-1 record and a .911 SV% on the season. He draws a favourable matchup on Thursday with the Stars being -140 road favourites in Washington.

Makar did not play on Sunday after exiting Saturday's contest late in the third period with a lower-body injury and missed a second game on Tuesday. He was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and has been cleared to return to the lineup on Thursday when the Avs play host to the Jets. Makar has been otherworldly from the Avalanche blueline this season, scoring 34 points (7G / 27A) and a +18 plus/minus through 23 games.

Blackwood allowed six goals on 36 shots (.833 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 6-5 loss to the New York Rangers, an outlier in a mostly positive stretch of play for the Sharks Netminder. In his three games before (1-1-1), Blackwood allowed only six total goals and posted a .937 SV%. That said, the Sharks are considerable +251 road underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings team that ranks third-best in the league offensively (3.79 GF / GP) and will welcome Patrick Kane to the lineup for his debut with the team.