Lazar left Friday's game vs. the Blue Jackets with an undisclosed injury and did not return. Head coach Lindy Ruff called Lazar questionable for Saturday's contest vs. Buffalo. Expect Max Willman to draw back into the lineup to replace Lazar if neither Nico Hischier or Timo Meier are ready to return.

Markstrom will be the starting goalie for the Flames for the front end of their back-to-back on Friday. Markstrom has allowed four goals in consecutive games, both losses. He was also unspectacular against Friday's opponent, the Dallas Stars, on November 1st when he allowed four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%) in a 4-3 loss. The Flames are +159 road underdogs against a Stars team that has scored three or more goals in six of their last seven outings (5-1-1).

Dillon was a game-time decision for Friday's game in Florida due to the lower-body injury. The 33-year-old blue-liner has four goals, three assists, and 50 hits in 18 games for the Jets this season.

Willman has appeared in two of the Devils' last three games but will head to the press box Friday as a healthy scratch for Chris Tierney vs. Columbus. The 28-year-old has a goal, and five SOG while averaging 11:23 TOI through four games so far this season.

Markstrom appears to be the starting goalie for the Flames for the front end of their back-to-back on Friday. Markstrom has allowed four goals in consecutive games, both losses. He was also unspectacular against Friday's opponent, the Dallas Stars, on November 1st when he allowed four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%) in a 4-3 loss. The Flames are +159 road underdogs against a Stars team that has scored three or more goals in six of their last seven outings (5-1-1).

Despite an up-and-down season for the season for the Flames, Markstrom has quietly improved on a poor 2022-23 campaign. Markstrom has helped the Flames record at least a point in each of his last four starts (3-0-1), saving 99 of 108 shots in the process (.917 SV%). The Flames are slight -109 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team that won two straight but lost 4-2 to the Flames on November 7th when Markstrom saved 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%), leading his team to a 4-2 victory.

Despite an up-and-down season for the season for the Flames, Markstrom has quietly improved on a poor 2022-23 campaign. Markstrom has helped the Flames record at least a point in each of his last four starts (3-0-1), saving 99 of 108 shots in the process (.917 SV%). The Flames are slight -109 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team that won two straight but lost 4-2 to the Flames on November 7th when Markstrom saved 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%), leading his team to a 4-2 victory.

Hischier skated for his second full practice on Tuesday but will not play Wednesday as New Jersey heads to Detroit. The 24-year-old center has missed the Devils' previous nine games but is expected to practice again Wednesday. He has two goals, 14 SOG, four PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in seven games prior to his injury last month.

Hischier, who has missed nine games since suffering an upper-body injury on October 27th, seems to be nearing his return to the Devils' lineup. Before his injury, he was off to a slow start this season, scoring only two points (2G / 0A) in seven games, playing most commonly alongside Ondrej Palat on Jesper Bratt.

Markstrom will be back in net for the Flames on Saturday in search of his fourth straight victory. He stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced enroute to a 5-2 victory over the red-hot Canucks on Thursday. The 33-year-old netminder is slowly rounding into form. He owns a .906 SV%, a 2.66 GAA, and a 4-6-1 record across 11 appearances. Markstrom and the Flames are slight favourites (-140) to secure a victory over the Islanders on Saturday.

Hughes last played on November 3rd when he fell awkwardly into the boards but appears ready to return to action on Saturday after being a full participant at practice on Friday. This would mark approximately two weeks since Hughes last played, the low end of his initial two-to-four-week timeline. Before his injury, Hughes led the league with 20 points (5G / 15A) in 10 games and is expected to retake his place on the Devils' top line and top powerplay unit.

Allen has backed up the last three games for Montreal but will take the crease Saturday in Boston. The 33-year-old veteran netminder has been solid when called upon this season, with his 3-3-1 record, .911 SV% and 3.30 GAA. He draws the touch task of facing Boston on the road Saturday, who has won three of their last four games and are 13th in the NHL in goals per game (3.33).

Hughes last played on November 3rd when he fell awkwardly into the boards but appears ready to return to action on Saturday after being a full participant at practice on Friday. This would mark approximately two weeks since Hughes last played, the low end of his initial two-to-four-week timeline. Before his injury, Hughes led the league with 20 points (5G / 15A) in 10 games and is expected to retake his place on the Devils' top line and top powerplay unit.

Meier was "banged up" in Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets and was a game-time decision on Thursday. Meier's absence would be a huge blow for a New Jersey Devils team that has lost three straight (0-3-0) and is already without Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. After a slow start to the season, Meier has 11 points (5G / 6A) and has fired 38 shots on goal in his last 11 games.

Markstrom was brilliant after returning from a two-game absence due to an upper-body injury, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Markstrom has won consecutive starts for the first time this season and will hope to keep his hot streak rolling after having lost his seven previous outings (0-6-1), posting a .892 SV%. The Flames are -137 home favourites on Thursday and will try to take advantage of a Vancouver Canucks team that, albeit has won seven of their last eight (7-1-0), played an extra frame last night in a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders.

Meier was "banged up" in Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets and will be a game-time decision on Thursday. Meier's absence would be a huge blow for a New Jersey Devils team that has lost three straight (0-3-0) and is already without Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. After a slow start to the season, Meier has 11 points (5G / 6A) and has fired 38 shots on goal in his last 11 games.

Markstrom will return to the Flames crease on Tuesday after being unavailable to dress in the team's previous two games due to an upper-body injury. In his most recent outing, a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators, Markstrom saved 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%), the first time he has recorded a victory when allowing two or fewer goals in a game (1-2-1). The Flames have lost their last two games but are -165 road favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team that ranks in the bottom half of the league defensively (3.40 GF / GP).