After missing two games with a knee injury, Barkov was a full participant at practice and should return to the lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Barkov is expected to return to his familiar place on the Panthers' top line with Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues. Before his injury, Barkov was lighting it up with 11 points (5G / 6A) in his last 10 games.

The Devils will turn to Vanecek in Detroit on Wednesday for the third consecutive game. Vanecek allowed four goals on 34 shots enroute to a 5-3 defeat to the Rangers on Saturday. Vanecek has been inconsistent at best this season, but backup Akira Schmid's struggles have allowed Vanecek to retain a firm grip on the starting job. The 28-year-old netminder owns a 7-4-0 record on the season along with an .889 SV% and a 3.38 GAA. He draws a favourable matchup on Wednesday with the Devils being -160 road favourites over the Red Wings.

Kahkonen is coming off his first victory of the season, a heroic 44-save effort (.978 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Despite a horrendous 3.86 GAA, Kahkonen has an impressive 50% quality start rate through seven appearances this season (1-5-0). Expect another busy night for Kahkonen as the Sharks allow a league-worst 38.3 shots on goal per game and are +246 road favourites against a Seattle Kraken team that has points in four straight contests (2-0-2).

A busy schedule for the Panthers has limited Bobrovsky to only two starts in their past four outings, but the team will hope the extra rest will have him at his best on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins. Bobrovsky was heroic in the first round of the playoffs last season and was the main reason the Panthers defeated the Bruins in seven games. Bobrovsky has only lost once in his last seven contests (6-1-0), saving 167 of 184 shots faced (.908 SV%), but was unsuccessful in his only matchup against the Bruins this season, allowing three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss on October 30th.

Barkov did not practice on Wednesday, indicating he will likely miss his second consecutive game due to a knee injury. Barkov has been terrific this season, tallying 17 points (6G / 11A) in 16 games playing predominantly alongside Sam Reinhart on the Panthers' top line. Anton Lundell will move up to the top line, centring Eetu Luostarinen and the previously mentioned Reinhart.

Bobrovsky played well in a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in his last contest, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%), but will look to get back into the win column when he starts against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. Bobrovsky is in the midst of a strong stretch of hockey, helping his team record at least a point in seven of his last eight games (6-1-1) while saving 196 of 215 shots faced (.912 SV%). The red-hot Panthers are only slight -107 home favourites as they welcome an Oilers team that, despite snapping a season-best three-game winning streak on Saturday, seems to have refound their scoring touch, scoring four goals in each of their last four contests (1-3-0).

Barkov left Friday's game in Anaheim following a knee-on-knee hit and did not return. He was not on the ice for Sunday's practice and will not play Monday, but head coach Paul Maurice said they "got lucky with it" and that he's only day-to-day. Anton Lundell moved up to the top line in Sunday's practice session.

Schmidt had played 11 straight games for the Jets, tallying only one point (0G / 1A), seven hits, and five shots, before being a healthy scratch on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. Logan Stanley will sit in place of Schmidt.

The Devils will turn to Vanecek for the second straight game after he allowed just two goals on 23 shots in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Penguins. Given the struggles of Akira Schmid, Vanecek has been just solid enough to maintain a firm grasp on the Devils' starting job. He owns an impressive 7-3-0 record on the season despite an .889 SV% and a 3.30 GAA. Vanecek and the Devils are very slight home favourites (-120) to secure a victory over the Rangers on Saturday.

Sturm let the Sharks' know Tuesday that he would be stepping away from the team for personal matters and will miss their upcoming games vs. Vancouver and Seattle. The 28-year-old centre has struggled much like his San Jose counterparts in 2023-24, with his two assists, 16 SOG, eight PIMs, and a -12 plus/minus in 17 games.

Ekblad, initially expected to be out until mid-December, could return to action as soon as tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. The injured reserve has become far too familiar of a place for Ekblad over the past few seasons as the talented defenceman will hope for a better fate upon his return for the remainder of the season. Despite his recent inability to play an entire season, Ekblad scored more than 10 goals in each of his past three campaigns.

Gadjovich was sent to Charlotte (AHL) on a rehab assignment due to an upper-body injury but has been recalled to Florida on Friday. The 25-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract with Florida in the offseason after putting up three goals, four assists, 57 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 35 games played with San Jose in 2022-23.

Schmidt has played 11 straight games for the Jets, tallying only one point (0G / 1A), seven hits, and five shots and will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. The Jets dressed seven defencemen in their last contest but will opt for the more traditional six-defenceman formation as Logan Stanley, who entered the lineup in their previous game, will remain dressed in favour of Schmidt.

Vanecek received the night off on Tuesday but will return to the starter's crease on Thursday against the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins. Vanecek and the Devils have been shadows of themselves, with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier out of the lineup tending to injuries. The Devils have lost four of their last five (1-4-0), scoring more than three goals only once in that span. In addition, Vanecek hasn't been able to shut the door consistently, highlighted by his two most recent performances (0-2-0), allowing seven goals on a combined 36 shots (.806 SV%). Making things worse, the Devils are +127 road underdogs against a Penguins team that has outscored their opposition 25-8 during a five-game winning streak.

Bobrovsky had the night off on Tuesday but will return to the crease on Thursday when the Panthers visit the Los Angeles Kings. The Panthers are in the midst of the best stretch of the season (6-1-0), highlighted by Bobrovsky's five-game winning streak, in which he has saved 117 of 129 shots (.907 SV%), including a shutout. Despite their strong play, the Panthers are still +111 road underdogs against a very strong Kings team that ranks second in the league offensively (4.00 GF / GP).

Bobrovsky had the night off on Tuesday but will likely return to the crease on Thursday when the Panthers visit the Los Angeles Kings. The Panthers are in the midst of the best stretch of the season (6-1-0), highlighted by Bobrovsky's five-game winning streak, in which he has saved 117 of 129 shots (.907 SV%), including a shutout. Despite their strong play, the Panthers are still +111 road underdogs against a very strong Kings team that ranks second in the league offensively (4.00 GF / GP).

Bjornfot was injured in the Kings opening game on October 11th and will join the Ontario Reign on a conditioning assignment after finally being cleared to return to play. Bjornfot was the 22nd overall pick of the Kings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He has 15 points (1G / 14A) in 117 career NHL games.