NHL Hockey Player News

Hayton was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the Predators not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Kevin Rooney will draw into the lineup in his place.

The last-place Nashville Predators (7-12-4) are coming off a 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings and will turn to Saros to tend the twine on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Saros is winless in his last three games (0-3-0), posting a 3.00 GAA and .852 SV%. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie has a 3.08 GAA and .889 SV% in 18 games this season (6-9-3). The Predators enter Friday's contest as slight -107 road favorites against a Blackhawks team that has scored only eight goals in its last four games (0-3-1).

Marchessault was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the Predators not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Tyson Jost will draw into the lineup in his place.

Max Domi will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Washington Capitals, allowing Maccelli to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Maccelli was signed in the offseason to lessen the blow of losing Mitch Marner, but Maccelli has not been able to contribute anywhere near Marner's elite rate. Maccelli has nine points (4G / 5A) in 21 games this season.

For the first time this season, veteran Max Domi will be a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old forward has only six points (3G / 3A) in 23 games this season and has only two assists in his last 12 outings. Matias Maccelli draws into the lineup as Domi’s replacement.

With Connor Hellebuyck out for 4-6 weeks after undergoing a minor Arthroscopic knee procedure, the Jets recalled Milic from the Manitoba Moose (AHL) with the intention of him serving as Eric Comrie’s backup. That said, Comrie has struggled in three games since taking over the starting role (0-3-0), giving Milic the opportunity to earn some playing time with a strong performance in his NHL debut on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 22-year-old Milic has a 2.14 GAA and .921 SV% in nine games (5-2-2) with Manitoba this season.

Ryan Poehling will return from a two-week absence due to an upper-body injury on Friday, resulting in Harkins being the odd-man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Harkins has two goals in 13 games this season.

Poehling has not played since November 11th, recovering from an upper-body injury, but he will return to the lineup on Friday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old has five points (1G / 5A) in 16 games this season. Jansen Harkins will serve as a healthy scratch to accommodate Poehlin's return.

Kyle MacLean will draw back into New York's lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers, resulting in Tsyplakov watching the game from the press box as a healthy scratch. After a solid rookie season, scoring 35 points (10G / 25A) in 77 games, the 27-year-old Tsyplakov has struggled finding his footing in 2025-26, with only one point (1G / 0A) through 15 games.

MacLean has not played since November 7th, but will draw into the lineup on Friday, replacing Maxim Tsyplakov. The 26-year-old MacLean has one assist while averaging 9:35 time-on-ice through 10 games this season.

Arber Xhekaj will return to Montreal's lineup on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, sending Engstrom to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Engstrom made his NHL debut on Wednesday, playing 10:42 time-on-ice.

Alexandre Texier will make his Canadiens' debut on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, resulting in Davidson being a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Davidson is averaging 8:17 time-on-ice and has zero points through five games this season.

Texier has not played since November 6th, and was finally placed on waivers last week by the St. Louis Blues. The 26-year-old Texier has one assist while averaging 10:15 time-on-ice through eight games this season. Jared Davidson will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Texier's Canadiens' debut.

Adam Engstrom will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, allowing Xhekaj to return from a one-game absence. The 24-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 11:40 time-on-ice and has one assist and 40 penalty minutes in 20 games. The usually hard-hitting defenseman has seen a massive dip in his hit production this season, averaging only 1.5 hits per game, after averaging 2.8 in his previous three seasons.

With Jordan Greenway drawing back into Buffalo's lineup on Friday against the New Jersey Devils, Dunne heads to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Dunne is averaging 9:05 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 16 games this season.

Dostal is battling an upper-body injury and will be sidelined for two to three weeks, leaving Petr Mrazek and Ville Husso to battle for time in the Ducks' crease. The 25-year-old Dostal has a serviceable 2.81 GAA and .904 SV% in 17 games this season (11-5-1).

Wolf has been outdone by his counterpart, allowing Cooley to see increased action in recent weeks, a trend that will continue on Friday against the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old Cooley has a dazzling 1.86 GAA and .930 SV% in eight appearances this season (2-2-1). He has allowed more than two goals in a game only once this season.

Mitchell is an undrafted 26-year-old defenseman that has spent the previous three seasons playing exclusively in the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders. He has three points (0G / 3A) in 12 games with Bridgeport this season. He has never played an NHL game.

The Kings have struggled offensively lately, scoring only eight goals in their last five games, but have salvaged a serviceable 2-1-2 record thanks to strong goaltending. Kuemper saved 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 35-year-old netminder returns to the crease on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks, looking to build on a solid 2.30 GAA and .910 SV% through 16 games (8-4-4).