Hill participated in his first full practice since suffering an undisclosed injury on December 17th, suggesting his return to the lineup is on the immediate horizon. Hill returned to action on December 17th after a two-week absence from an injury but was not able to finish that contest and has been out of the lineup since.

Olofsson is expected to skate alongside Peyton Krebs and Zemgus Girgensons on the Sabres' fourth line. He has four goals and eight assists in 30 games this season.

The Golden Knights recalled Denisenko on Thursday and he skated on a line with Michael Amadio and Brett Howden at practice, signalling he could make his season debut on Thursday. in 31 games with the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL, Denisenko has 30 points (12G / 18A) and 26 penalty minutes.

Karlsson will miss at least the next two games as he tends to a lower-body injury. He played 18:36 time-on-ice in the Golden Knights 3-0 loss at the hands of the Seattle Kraken at the Winter Classic on Monday. Karlsson was previously occupying the center-ice position on the third line between Paul Cotter and Michael Amadio.

Mayo had three goals, five assists, 18 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in 30 games to start the season with Henderson (AHL) but has earned his first call-up of the season Monday to Vegas. The 27-year-old appeared in 15 games with Arizona in 2022-23 but failed to pick up a point while collecting eight PIMs in a lowly 11:41 TOI/GP.

Samsonov cleared waivers and has been loaned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) as he tries to recover his game. The 26-year-old who carries a $3.5 million cap hit heads to the AHL for the first time since 2020-21 where he appeared in four games with the Hershey Bears. Samsonov was waived originally by Toronto due to his poor 5-2-6 record, 3.94 GAA and .862 SV%.

Aston-Reese has spent most of the season in Grand Rapids, posting five goals and six assists (11 points) in 26 AHL games. He could play his second game for the Red Wings on Tuesday.

Olofsson has played 22 consecutive games for the Sabres but is expected to be a healthy scratch on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Olofsson is averaging 11:58 time-on-ice this season but has seen that total dip as low as 6:43 during a nine-game stretch where he has only recorded a single point (0G / 1A).

Samsonov has served as the backup to the Maple Leafs' third-string goaltender, Martin Jones, in four of the last games but will get the opportunity to reassert himself in a favourable matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday. Samsonov has been abysmal when called upon lately, allowing four or more goals in each of his last three contests (0-1-2), posting an ugly .819 SV%. Samsonov allowed six goals on 35 shots (.829 SV%) in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets two weeks ago.

Kolesar will return to the lineup after missing the Golden Knights' previous two games due to an undisclosed injury. He has two goals and three assists in 32 games this season.

Hutton is nearing 500 games played (496) in his ninth NHL season and has signed a two-year, $1.95 million contract ($975,000) with Vegas Friday. The 30-year-old defenceman has almost surpassed his games played from last season at the quarter point of the 2023-24 season and has a goal, seven assists, 45 SOG, 15 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus in 28 games played.

Schmid has started three of the last five games for the Devils and will start again on Thursday after spending the first portion of the season as the clear backup to Vitek Vanecek. Since taking on a larger role in late November, Schmid has a 4-4-0 record while posting a .905 SV%, a vast improvement over the .885 SV% he sported in the six games leading up to it (1-3-1). The Devils have a challenging matchup on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers but are still -111 home favourites despite losing to them 4-1 less than two weeks ago.