Cotter has been out since Dec. 15th due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return Thursday vs. Pittsburgh. The 23-year-old had four goals, two assists, 29 SOG and eight PIMs in 22 games prior to the injury.

Hischier has 16 goals, 18 assists, 114 SOG, eight PPP and a +12 plus/minus through 36 games so far this season but will be a game-time decision after half participating in Wednesday's morning skate due to an undisclosed injury.

Tatar has been enjoying a resurgent season, with nine goals, 13 assists, 71 SOG and a +20 plus/minus through 37 games played but will be a game-time decision Wednesday vs. Detroit after it was announced he is dealing with an undisclosed injury.

Markstrom stopped 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) for his fourth win in five starts as he beat Vancouver his last time out. The 32-year-old has been better as of late but still has an ugly stat line on the year with his 12-9-4 record, .895 SV% and 2.78 GAA. He will face the Winnipeg Jets, who are winners of their last two games after a 2-1 victory over Edmonton their previous time out.

Kovacevic has a goal, four assists, 40 SOG and 18 PIMs through 34 games this season but will be a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Nashville. David Savard (injury) will take his position in the Canadien's defensive pairings.

Dadonov was a healthy scratch for the Canadiens' previous game but will draw back into the lineup Thursday. The 33-year-old Russian, has two goals, five assists, 33 SOG and is a -8 plus/minus in 28 games before being held out of the lineup last game.

Allen allowed three goals on 35 shots (.914 SV%) as he picked up his fourth straight loss in a defeat to Dallas his last time out. The 32-year-old has struggled for most of the season but still holds his starter's spot, with his 9-13-1 record, 3.26 GAA and .900 SV%. He will face the Tampa Bay Lightning, who lost their last game 7-4 to the Detroit Red Wings but are third in the NHL in goals per game (3.59).

Markstrom stopped 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) for his third straight win in a victory over Anaheim in his previous start. The 32-year-old has been struggling through the first half of the season, with his 11-8-4 record, .894 SV% and 2.84 GAA. He will face the Edmonton Oilers, who have lost four of their last five contests after a 5-2 loss to Vancouver last game.

Dadonov will head to the press box Friday as a healthy scratch vs. Dallas. The 33-year-old Russian, has two goals, five assists, 33 SOG and is a -8 plus/minus in 28 games before being held out of the lineup Friday.

Cotter did not play in the Golden Knights game Wednesday and will head to the injured reserve due to an upper-body injury. Cotter had been playing well in his first full NHL season, with four goals, two assists, 29 SOG and eight PIMs through 22 games prior to the injury.

Allen stopped 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) as he picked up his third straight loss in a 2-1 overtime defeat to the Colorado Avalanche in his last game. The Canadiens starter has struggled at times this season, with his 9-12-1 record, .900 SV% and 3.27 GAA. He takes on the Dallas Stars, who are first in the Central Division but have lost two of their last three games after a 6-3 loss to Edmonton in their previous game.

Allen allowed five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) for his second straight loss as he was defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in his previous start. Allen has fought the puck most nights this season, with his 9-12-0 record, .897 SV% and 3.33 GAA. He will take on the Colorado Avalanche, who have won four of their last five games despite being fairly injured after a 1-0 victory over the Islanders in their last game.

Markstrom allowed two goals on 26 shots (.923 SV%) to snap a six-game losing streak with a win over San Jose in his last start. He has struggled mightily this season, with his 9-8-4 record, 2.88 GAA and .893 SV%. He faces the San Jose Sharks again after beating them 5-2 the last time they met on Sunday.

MacDermid has been out since Nov. 12th due to a lower-body injury but will return to Colorado's lineup Monday. Prior to the injury, the bruising defensemen had one assist, 14 PIMs and just three SOG through eight games played.