Schmidt left Thursday's contest vs. Nashville after just seven shifts and 5:30 TOI due to an upper-body injury and will head to the injured reserve Friday. Schmidt will be forced to miss action for the first time this season after collecting three goals, six points, 37 SOG and a +6 plus/minus through 29 games prior to the injury.

Tkachuk has 14 goals, 25 assists, 107 SOG, 45 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 28 games to start his Florida Panthers' tenure so if he is forced to miss anytime due to illness it will be a massive loss for Florida. He will be a game-time decision and should know by warmups if he is good to go for their game vs. Pittsburgh.

Verhaeghe missed Tuesday's contest due to an undisclosed injury and is expected to return to the Panthers' lineup Thursday after feeling better during practice. The 27-year-old will be a welcome addition back as he leads the Panthers in goals (15) and has 24 points in 29 games played.

Rodrigues has missed Colorado's previous 10 games due to an ankle injury but will return to the line Thursday as they take on the Buffalo Sabres. The 29-year-old will be a welcome return to the injured Avalanche lineup, as he has six goals, nine points, 84 SOG and averages 18:07 TOI.

Verhaeghe missed Tuesday's contest due to an undisclosed injury and is expected to return to the Panthers' lineup Thursday after feeling better during practice. The 27-year-old will be a welcome addition back as he leads the Panthers in goals (15) and has 24 points in 29 games played.

Tkachuk has 14 goals, 25 assists, 107 SOG, 45 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 28 games to start his Florida Panthers' tenure so if he is forced to miss anytime due to illness it will be a massive loss for Florida. He will be a game-time decision and should know by warmups if he is good to go for their game vs. Pittsburgh.

Bobrovsky was perfect in his previous start vs. Columbus, stopping all 22 shots for his first shutout of the season. The 34-year-old has fought the puck all season but will hope this recent run of good fortune will continue as he has a 6-8-1 record, 3.35 GAA and a .889 SV%. He faces the surging Pittsburgh Penguins, who have won six straight games averaging just under four goals a game during the streak.

Vanecek allowed four goals on 23 shots (.826 SV%) as he picked up his second overtime loss in three starts with a 5-4 defeat to the New York Rangers. Vanecek has been nearly unbeatable this season, shown by his 12-2-2 record, .912 SV% and 2.39 GAA. He faces the struggling Philadelphia Flyers, who have won only one of their last seven contests.

Verhaeghe missed Tuesday's contest due to an undisclosed injury and will be a game-time decision Thursday after feeling better during practice. The 27-year-old will be a welcome addition back as he leads the Panthers in goals (15) and has 24 points in 29 games played.

Lundell has not played since Dec. 1st due to an upper-body injury and illness and it seemed as though he was close to returning but is now considered more than day-to-day. The 21-year-old has four goals, 13 points, 56 SOG and a +9 plus/minus in 24 games prior to missing time.

Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%) as he picked up his second straight loss in a defeat to Seattle his last time out. The 34-year-old has been having a horrific season, posting a .884 SV%, 3.58 GAA and a 5-8-1 record. He takes on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have won their last two games but are 27th in the NHL in shots per game (29.6)

Vanecek was pulled in his previous start after allowing four goals on 17 shots (.765 SV%) as he took the no-decision in his worst start of the season vs. the Islanders. The 26-year-old has been exceptional for the Devils in his first season, with a 12-2-1 record, 2.30 GAA and .916 SV%. He will take on the New York Rangers, who have won their last three contests after beating Colorado 2-1 in a shootout in their last game.

Vanecek was pulled in his previous start after allowing four goals on 17 shots (.765 SV%) as he took the no-decision in his worst start of the season vs. the Islanders. The 26-year-old has been exceptional for the Devils in his first season, with a 12-2-1 record, 2.30 GAA and .916 SV%. He will take on the New York Rangers, who have won their last three contests after beating Colorado 2-1 in a shootout in their last game.