Michael Kesselring (load management) will not play on Monday, allowing Bryson to re-enter the lineup. The 28-year-old Bryson is averaging 10:26 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 30 games this season.
Kesslering returned from a three-week absence due to an injury on Saturday and will head to the sidelines as he continues to acclimate to game speed. Jacob Bryson will draw into the lineup as Kesselring's replacement. Lindy Ruff stated after the game taht Kesselring had tweaked something and is a possibility to play on Tuesday.
With William Carrier returning from a lower-body injury, Kotkaniemi will be the odd-man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Kotkaniemi has seen limited action this season, primarily on the fourth line, scoring seven points (2G / 5A) in 29 games.
Luukkonen has been solid for the Sabres lately, but is coming off a performance where he struggled, allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. That said, the 26-year-old Finnish goalie has helped his team record a point in seven of his last eight outings (6-1-1) while posting an impressive 2.51 GAA and .918 SV%. The Sabres enter Monday's contest as +166 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes team that has outscored opponents 13-2 in its last two games (2-0-0).
Helenius was drafted 14th overall by Buffalo in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old Finnish forward is in his second professional season and is set to make his NHL debut on Monday. He's had a solid season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans, scoring 30 points (9G / 21A) in 34 games.
Desharnais has been sidelined for over a month due to an upper-body injury, but he will return to the lineup on Monday against the Florida Panthers. The 29-year-old defenseman has two assists in 20 games this season.
Sourdif has missed the past few games because of an upper-body injury suffered on January 11th, but he could return to the lineup on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 23-year-old Sourdif was on an impressive run before his injury, scoring 10 points (6G / 4A) in six games.
Hellebuyck allowed three unanswered goals, four total on 37 shots (.892 SV%), on route to a 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in his most recent game. That said, by helping the Jets collect a point, he improved to 3-0-1 in his last four games, a noteworthy turnaround after going 0-6-4 in his previous 10. The 32-year-old Hellebucyk has not been his usual dominant self lately, posting a 3.12 GAA and .883 SV% in his last 14 games (3-6-5). The Jets enter Monday's contest as -132 home road favorites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has been outscored 12-4 in their last three games (0-3-0).
Whitecloud spent the first eight years of his career with the Vegas Golden Knights, but will make his Calgary debut on Monday after a major trade over the weekend, where Rasmus Andersson was the major piece. The 29-year-old Whitecloud played exclusively as a bottom-four defenseman with Vegas. He recorded seven points (2G / 5A), 63 blocks, and 73 hits in 47 games this season.
Hellebuyck allowed three unanswered goals, four total on 37 shots (.892 SV%), on route to a 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in his most recent game. That said, by helping the Jets collect a point, he improved to 3-0-1 in his last four games, a noteworthy turnaround after going 0-6-4 in his previous 10. The 32-year-old Hellebucyk has not been his usual dominant self lately, posting a 3.12 GAA and .883 SV% in his last 14 games (3-6-5). The Jets enter Monday's contest as -132 home road favorites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has been outscored 12-4 in their last three games (0-3-0).
Burakovsky has been absent from practice and could be at risk of missing Monday's game against the Winnipeg Jets due to an illness. The 30-year-old Burakovsky snapped a four-game scoreless skid with an assist in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. He has 30 points (10G / 20A) in 43 games this season.
Minnesota's success earlier this season was largely aided by elite goaltending, which they have struggled to find in recent games. That said, Gustavsson helped his team record a 5-4 victory in their most recent game despite allowing four goals on 24 shots (.833 SV%). The 27-year-old Gustavsson has a 2.84 GAA and .880 SV% in his last four games (1-2-1). Minnesota enters Monday's contest as slight -102 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games.
Minnesota's success earlier this season was largely aided by elite goaltending, which they have struggled to find in recent games. That said, Gustavsson helped his team record a 5-4 victory in their most recent game despite allowing four goals on 24 shots (.833 SV%). The 27-year-old Gustavsson has a 2.84 GAA and .880 SV% in his last four games (1-2-1). Minnesota enters Monday's contest as slight -102 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games.
Before Rick Bowness assumed head coaching duties in Columbus, Merzlikins had been an afterthought between the pipes, starting only three games in over a month. The 31-year-old Latvian goalie seems to have, at least temporarily, gained the trust of the new coaching staff, as he is poised to start for a third straight game. He has won two straight and saved 59 of 63 shots (.937 SV%) in the process.
Lyon was a full participant at practice on Sunday and was activated from Injured Reserve on Monday. Sabres' Head Coach Lindy Ruff insisted that Lyon would return to the crease at some point this week. The 33-year-old goalie was on a marvelous run before his injury, winning seven straight while posting a 2.14 GAA and .919 SV%.
Knight has lost two straight (0-2-0), but given his team a chance to win in both outings, as he has most of the season, saving 53 of 58 combined shots (.914 SV%). The 24-year-old Knight has excelled in his first full season with a Blackhawks team that struggled defensively at times. He has a 2.53 GAA and .911 SV% in his last six games (3-2-1). The Blackhawks enter Monday's contest as +119 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets team that has points in five straight games (4-0-1).
Dach has not played in over two months, recovering from a fractured foot, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old Dach has struggled to live up to his third-overall selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, a struggle compounded by recurring injuries over the past few seasons. He has seven points (5G / 2A) in 15 games this season.
Carrier has missed the last three games due to an undisclosed injury, but will draw back into the lineup on Monday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres. The 31-year-old Carrier scored a goal in his most recent game, giving him 10 points (5G / 5A) in 38 games this season.
Since the injury of Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body), likely ruling him out for the season, the Hurricanes have alternated between Frederik Andersen and Brandon Bussi. The 27-year-old Bussi, in his first NHL season, remains a surprising bright spot for a team with intentions of finishing in first place in the Eastern Conference. Bussi saved 15 of 16 shots (.938 SV%) in a blowout 9-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Friday, improving to 4-1-0 with a 2.04 GAA and .910 SV% in his last five games. The Hurricanes enter Monday's action as -182 home favorites against a rolling Buffalo Sabres team coming off a 5-4 overtime defeat to the Minnesota Wild for just their third loss in their last 16 games (13-2-1).
Knies has been battling through an undisclosed injury for parts of the season, causing him to miss some games and practices. The 23-year-old will be a game-time decision for Monday's game against the Minnesota Wild. He has struggled a little offensively lately, scoring only four points (1G / 3A) in his last eight games, but is still having a tremendous season, with 40 points (12G / 28A) in 45 games.
