Artem Zub (concussion) will make his return from a nine-game absence on Thursday against the New York Islanders, resulting in Bernard-Docker being a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Bernard-Docker averaged 14:17 time-on-ice and scored two points (0G / 2A) in nine games.
As was the case on Sunday, Johansson will remain in the Red Wings lineup in favor of Erik Gustafsson. Johansson played 15:06 time-on-ice in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, recording a -1 plus/minus and two hits.
Tarasov allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Blue Jackets win over the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. It was an outstanding game for Tarasov, who will start his fourth straight game on Saturday. Tarasov has gone 3-1-0 with a 3.29 GAA and .888 SV% in four starts this season.
Compher did not play in Thursday's 5-3 win over the New Jersey Devils but could be an option on Saturday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres. The 29-year-old Compher has four points (2G / 2A) and a +2 plus/minus through six games this season.
Compher was a surprise scratch for Thursday's game, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. The Red Wings will opt to dress seven defensemen as a result of Compher's absence.
Elvis Merzlikins (upper body) is back with the Blue Jackets, but the team will turn to Tarasov between the pipes for a third straight game on Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite a pedestrian 3.70 GAA and .875 SV%, Tarasov has been serviceable between the pipes for the Blue Jackets, helping them post a 2-1-0 record when he has been in goal. That said, the Blue Jackets enter action as sizeable +194 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs club that defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 last night.
Elvis Merzlikins (upper body) is back with the Blue Jackets, but the team will turn to Tarasov between the pipes for a third straight game on Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite a pedestrian 3.70 GAA and .875 SV%, Tarasov has been serviceable between the pipes for the Blue Jackets, helping them post a 2-1-0 record when he has been in goal. That said, the Blue Jackets enter action as sizeable +194 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs club that defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 last night.
Gibson underwent an emergency appendectomy on September 25th and is about four weeks into his original 3-6 week timeline. The American netminder has failed to produce a save percentage above .900 in each of the last two seasons and beginning 2024-25 on the Injured Reserve is a tough way to ensure a bounce-back campaign after only 13 wins in 2023-24. In addition, Lukas Dostal has been tremendous filling in for Gibson in his absence, posting a 2.48 GAA and .931 SV% in four games (2-1-1).
Kasper was the eighth overall pick of the Red Wings in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old has played one NHL game, back in the 2022-23 season, but has spent the majority of his professional career in the AHL. He has 37 points (15G / 22A) in 73 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).m
Erik Gustafsson will draw back into the Red Wings lineup on Thursday, sending Johansson to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Johansson made his NHL debut this season and has tallied two block and five hits while averaging 11:42 time-on-ice.
With Elvis Merzlikins being given some time to rest and regroup, the Blue Jackets will turn to Trasov between the pipes on Thursday for his second start of the young season. Tarasov was unspectacular in his first start, allowing four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%), but salvaged a 6-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets enter action on Thursday as +112 home underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres club that was defeated 6-5 in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.
Elvis Merzlikins started the Blue Jackets' season opener but Tarasov will start Saturday in Colorado. The Blue Jackets are massive underdogs (+275) tonight and Tarasov was a 4-5-2 with a 3.13 GAA and .902 SV% on the road last year. However, he was unbelievable in his only start against the Avalanche last year, stopping 45 of 46 shots in a win.
Johansson was a second-round pick (No.60 overall) in 2019 and will replace Jeff Petry (upper-body) to make his season debut on Saturday. The 23-year-old blueliner spent the 2023-24 season in Grand Rapids (AHL), where he had 21 points (6G / 15A) in 66 games.
