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.

Kahkonen will start for the seventh time this season as he searches for his first victory. Paralleling most of the season from the San Jose Sharks, Kahkonen's play has not been NHL-caliber, posting an unsightly 4.44 GAA and .875 SV%. Expectations remain low for Kahkonen and the Sharks as they are +188 home underdogs against a St. Louis Blues team that is suddenly firing on all cylinders, winning five of their last six (5-1-0), outscoring their opposition 27-12.

Vanecek received the night off on Tuesday but will likely 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.

Greer is expected to skate alongside Dillon Dube and Yegor Sharangovich on the Flames' fourth line in Tuesday's game in Montreal. Greer has two goals and two assists in 13 games with the Flames this season.

Ekblad has yet to play in 2023-24 due to offseason shoulder surgery but is eyeing Friday vs. Anaheim as a possible return to make his season debut. The 27-year-old heavy shooting defensemen has scored double digit goals in eight of his nine career seasons and had 14 goals, 38 points, and 68 PIMs in 71 games played in 2022-23.

Lockwood has failed to pick up a point through seven games so far in 2023-24 with averaging 7:26 TOI with eight SOG and has been loaned to Charlotte (AHL) Monday. The 25-year-old right-winger returns to the Checkers, where he excelled early in the season with two goals, three points and four PIMs in two games.

Bennett's impending return is welcome news for him and the Panthers after he was injured after playing just 7:54 in his season debut. Bennett had 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.

Bobrovsky will get the nod against Chicago on Sunday in what shapes up to be an excellent matchup for the two-time Vezina Trophy winner. Bobrovsky has won his last four appearances, and he and the Panthers are favoured at -260 to keep that streak alive on Sunday. The 14-year veteran most recently allowed just two goals on 30 shots enroute to Florida's 5-2 victory over the Hurricanes on Friday. Bobrovsky leads the NHL with seven wins on the season while boasting a .907 SV% and a 2.65 GAA.

Nosek missed the Devils' previous 10 games due to a lower-body injury but has been activated from the injured reserve and was a game-time decision Friday vs. Washington. The 31-year-old failed to pick up a point in his two games played so far in 2023-24 but had 18 points (11G/7A) last season with Boston.

Vanecek allowed five goals on 31 shots on Tuesday in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche but will look to rebound on Friday. Before that most recent loss, Vanecek had won four consecutive games, saving 108 of 120 shots faced (.900 SV%). Lindy Ruff's high-tempo offensive structure isn't particularly conducive to low-scoring affairs, but Vanecek should continue to garner a healthy amount of victories throughout the season. On Friday, the Devils are -170 home favourites against a Washington Capitals team that ranks second-worst in the league offensively (2.00 GF / GP).

Nosek missed the Devils' previous 10 games due to a lower-body injury but has been activated from the injured reserve and is expected to play Friday vs. Washington. The 31-year-old failed to pick up a point in his two games played so far in 2023-24 but had 18 points (11G/7A) last season with Boston.

Kahkonen has become the clear second-choice in San Jose, slated to start for only the second time in the teams' last seven games. Without a win (0-4-0) and a ghastly 4.30 GAA and .876 SV%, Kahkonen's outlook is not promising as the San Jose Sharks, playing the back end of a back-to-back, visit the Western-Conference leading Vegas Golden Knights. The last-place Sharks are currently on a two-game winning streak but, even so, are ginormous +426 road underdogs against the Golden Knights.

Bennett's availability for Sunday's game is still to be determined but his impending return is welcome news for him and the Panthers after he was injured, playing just 7:54 in his season debut. Bennett had 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.

Nosek has missed the last 10 games with a lower-body injury and is slated to make his return on Friday. In two games this season, Nosek was held without a point, averaging 12:10 time-on-ice. He is expected to play on a line with Erik Haula and Curtis Lazar.

As has been the case most of the season, Bobrovsky has had difficulty with consistency between the pipes. That said, his Panthers teammates have done a formidable job of generating offence and providing him with goal support of late. Despite three sub-.900 SV% efforts, Bobrovsky has not lost in regulation in his last five games (4-0-1), saving 120 of 132 shots in the process (.909 SV%). On Friday, Bobrovsky and the Panthers are +119 home underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes squad that has won five of their last six (5-1-0).

Vanecek allowed five goals on 31 shots on Tuesday in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche but will look to rebound as the likely starter on Friday. Before that most recent loss, Vanecek had won four consecutive games, saving 108 of 120 shots faced (.900 SV%). Lindy Ruff's high-tempo offensive structure isn't particularly conducive to low-scoring affairs, but Vanecek should continue to garner a healthy amount of victories throughout the season. On Friday, the Devils are -170 home favourites against a Washington Capitals team that ranks second-worst in the league offensively (2.00 GF / GP).

Balinskis has played 10 games for the Panthers but has been scratched in their two most recent contests in favour of Mike Reilly. Balinskis, who has zero points while averaging 14:07 time-on-ice, will return to the third defensive pair with Josh Mahura.

The 27-year-old rookie has registered zero points, seven blocked shots, and 13 hits across ten games with the Panthers this season. Mike Reilly will draw into the lineup in his place.

Bobrovsky has followed up on each of his four sub-.900 SV% appearances this season with strong performances and will look to do the same in his 10th start of the season on Wednesday. On Monday, Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 22 shots in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, preceded by a 22-save shutout the previous Thursday. Bobrovsky has had an up-and-down season, but all signs point to a promising performance on Wednesday as the Panthers visit a Washington Capitals team that ranks 31st in the league offensively (1.90 GF / GP). The Panthers are -130 road favourites and will look to build on their current 4-1-1 run.

Vanecek has seemingly secured the Devils' starting gig as he will be the starter for the fifth time in their last six games. Vanecek has been far from perfect but has done enough to give the high-scoring Devils (3.91 GF / GP) a chance to win on most nights, posting a 3.05 GAA and .900 SV% through eight games (6-2-0). The Devils, without Jack Hughes, are +160 road underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche, who will be desperate for a victory after being shut out in three of their last four contests (1-3-0).