Kozak suffered an undisclosed injury on Saturday and did not play on Monday. He remains day-to-day ahead of Buffalo's next contest on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 22-year-old Kozak has four points (2G / 2A) in nine games this season.
An illness seems to be circulating through Colorado's dressing room, leaving several players absent from practice on Monday, including captain Gabriel Landeskog. That said, he will be ready to suit up on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 33-year-old Landeskog, playing his first season in several years, has been excellent lately for the Avalanche, with eight points (5G / 3A) in his last nine games.
An illness seems to be circulating through Colorado's dressing room, leaving several players absent from practice on Monday, including Parker Kelly. That said, he will be ready to suit up on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 26-year-old Kelly has 11 points (5G / 6A) while predominantly playing on the fourth line.
The NHL-best Avalanche have been led by MacKinnon's league-leading 44 points (20G / 24A) through 25 games. He was battling an illness earlier in the week but will be ready to play on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks.
Nichushkin has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 17 games this season and was heating up before his injury, with nine points (3G / 6A) in his last 10 games. The 30-year-old forward has been an offensive threat for Colorado, scoring 198 points (96G / 102A) in 229 games since the 2021-22 season, but has unfortunately become just as well known for his injuries as for his scoring prowess. Nichushkin has played fewer than 55 games in each of the previous four seasons and could be headed down that same path in 2025-26. He returns to the lineup on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks.
The Flames were expected to heavily rely on Dustin Wolf after last year's impressive rookie season, but he has faltered out of the gates, resulting in the team leaning on Devin Cooley in recent weeks. The 28-year-old Cooley was excellent in his most recent game, but received no goal support, saving 16 of 17 shots (.941 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Cooley has a sparkling 1.88 GAA and .930 SV% in 10 appearances this season (3-2-2). The Flames enter Tuesday's contest as slight +104 road underdogs against the league-worst Nashville Predators (8-13-4).
Suter did not play in the Blues' last two games due to a lower-body injury, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday. The 29-year-old Suter, in his first season with the Blues, started the 2025-26 campaign scoring at a reasonable pace with nine points (5G / 4A) in his first 14 games, but has been held to just three points (1G / 2A) in his subsequent 11 outings.
The Avalanche continue their league dominance, with only one regulation loss through 25 games (18-1-6), led largely by an exceptional tandem goaltending duo of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood. The 33-year-old Wedgewood is coming off a tough 3-2 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild despite an exceptional 35-save performance (.946 SV%). He has a terrific 2.08 GAA and .920 SV% in 18 games this season (13-1-3). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as massive -310 home favorites against a Vancouver Canucks team that has lost eight of their last 10 (2-5-3).
Marchessault has been sidelined for a week due to a lower-body injury, but he could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. The 34-year-old Marchessault is off to his worst start since becoming a full-time NHLer, with only seven points (4G / 3A) in 20 games this season.
The Flames were expected to heavily rely on Dustin Wolf after last year's impressive rookie season, but he has faltered out of the gates, resulting in the team leaning on Devin Cooley in recent weeks. The 28-year-old Cooley was excellent in his most recent game, but received no goal support, saving 16 of 17 shots (.941 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Cooley has a sparkling 1.88 GAA and .930 SV% in 10 appearances this season (3-2-2). The Flames enter Tuesday's contest as slight +104 road underdogs against the league-worst Nashville Predators (8-13-4).
The Oilers have allowed a league-worst 95 goals (3.65 GA/GP), but are coming off a 4-0 win over the Seattle Kraken, courtesy of a 26-save shutout from Stuart Skinner, his second of the season. The 27-year-old Skinner returns to the crease on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, looking to improve his 3.00 GAA and .885 SV% through 19 games (9-7-3). The Oilers enter the action as -143 home favorites against a Wild team that is amongst the hottest in the NHL, with an 8-0-2 record in their last 10 games.
The Stars announced on Tuesday that Lian Bichsel (lower body) will be sidelined for six to eight weeks. As such, Kolyachonok will draw back into the lineup on Tuesday and likely remain a lineup regular until Thomas Harley returns, likely in a few weeks.
Oettinger is battling an illness, but will still serve as the backup to Casey DeSmith on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. The 27-year-old Oettinger could be ready to return to the crease tomorrow against the New Jersey Devils.
Helenius was a second-round pick, 59th-overall, of the Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old forward made his NHL debut last season, scoring seven points (4G / 3A) in 50 games, but has been limited to only three NHL outings in 2025-26. He has six points (2G / 4A) in 20 games with the Ontario Reign (AHL) this season.
Ullmark had a decent month of November, posting a 2.50 GAA and .902 SV% in eight games (4-1-3), before being lit up for six goals on 26 shots (.769 SV%) in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 32-year-old Ullmark has a 3.10 GAA and .874 SV% in 19 games this season (9-6-4) and hopes to rebound when he returns to the crease on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens. Ottawa enters the contest as slight -111 road favorites against a Montreal team coming off a 7-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Bichsel was in agonizing pain after an awkward collision in Sunday's 6-1 win over the Ottawa Senators and needed to be helped off the ice. The 21-year-old Bichsel was off to a strong start in his first full NHL season, with 85 hits and three points (1G / 2A) in a shutdown role through 26 games.
On the front end of a back-to-back, the Stars will turn to DeSmith to tend the twine on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. DeSmith has been outstanding in a supporting role for the Stars this season. The 34-year-old goalie has a dazzling 1.80 GAA and .934 SV% in his last eight games (6-0-2). The Stars are riding a four-game winning streak and enter Tuesday's contest as -126 home favorites against a Rangers team coming off a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
MacDermid has not played since November 13th, but will return to the lineup on Tuesday, adding a physical presence against the Montreal Canadiens. The 31-year-old MacDermid is averaging 4:25 time-on-ice and has zero points in eight games this season.
With several injuries on Toronto's blueline, Benoit has been thrust into a larger role lately. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:02 time-on-ice and has two assists in 23 games this season. Dakota Mermis will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Benoit's return from a one-game absence.
Simon Benoit (personal) will return to the lineup on Tuesday, resulting in Mermis being a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Mermis is averaging 13:16 time-on-ice and has one goal in 10 games this season.
