This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Besides a load of injuries for the St. Louis Blues (and the potential for others when Vladimir Tarasenko fought Ryan Kesler), the big moment in Friday's games was the debut of Ryan Johansen with the Nashville Predators.
The Preds eventually lost to the Colorado Avalanche, but there was a feeling of relief for Nashville fans when Johansen took the ice. They may have finally found that top line center they've been searching for.
Johansen potted his first goal as a Predator just 2:35 into the match. He was on the ice for all three Predator tallies and finished the game with a goal and an assist, two shots and a plus-2 rating.
Johansen goal pic.twitter.com/GvFv40JJzo
— Stephanie (@myregularface) January 9, 2016For anyone lucky enough to have rostered him through the lean times of the season, there was a lot to smile about. He was getting top line minutes, playing the half wall on the top power play unit and generally looking comfortable.
In the long run, both teams should be happy with the Johansen for Seth Jones swap. This season, the Predators will reap rewards instantly.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
Capitals (Braden Holtby) at Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist), 1:00 PM
Islanders (Jaroslav Halak) at Flyers (Steve Mason), 1:00 PM
Penguins (Marc-Andre Fleury) at Canadiens (Mike Condon), 7:00 PM
Bruins (Tuukka Rask) at Senators (Craig Anderson), 7:00 PM
Hurricanes (Eddie Lack) at Blue Jackets (Anton Forsberg), 7:00 PM
Maple Leafs (Jonathan Bernier) at Sharks (Martin Jones), 7:00 PM
Wild (Devan Dubnyk) at Stars (Antti Niemi), 8:00 PM
Predators (Carter Hutton) at Coyotes (Louis Domingue), 9:00 PM
Lightning (Andrei Vasilevskiy) at Canucks (Ryan Miller), 10:00 PM
Blues (Brian Elliott) at Kings (Jonathan Quick), 10:30 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Saturday
Washington Capitals
Marcus Johansson, LW (suspension) - was suspended two games on Friday
Zach Sill, RW (suspension) - will serve the second of a two-game suspension
Brooks Orpik, D (lower body) - isn't expected to play on the current road trip
John Carlson, D (undisclosed) - is unlikely to play this weekend
Jay Beagle, C (hand) - will miss another five weeks before he's ready to get back out there
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider, LW (hand) - has been ruled out Saturday
New York Islanders
Eric Boulton, LW (undisclosed) - was placed on injured reserve Friday
Johnny Boychuk, D (shoulder) - is expected to miss four-to-six weeks
Kyle Okposo, RW (illness) - did not practice Friday
Philadelphia Flyers
Shayne Gostisbehere, D (lower body) - will not play Saturday
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pascal Dupuis, RW (blood clots) - will not play hockey again
Beau Bennett, RW (upper body) - remains out
Montreal Canadiens
Carey Price, G (leg) - will not return until after the All-Star break
Jeff Petry, D (undisclosed) - has been ruled out of Saturday's game
Tom Gilbert, D (lower body) - remains out
Dale Weise, RW (upper body) - has been on IR since being injured in the Winter Classic
Boston Bruins
Chris Kelly, RW (fractured femur) - is expected to miss the rest of the season
David Krejci, C (upper body) - isn't traveling with the team on their current road trip
Adam McQuaid, D (upper body) - is on IR
Ottawa Senators
Clarke MacArthur, LW (concussion) - has returned to the ice, but isn't ready for games
Chris Phillips, D (back) - isn't making progress toward a return from offseason surgery
Carolina Hurricanes
James Wisniewski, D (ACL) - remains sidelined until close to the end of the season
Victor Rask, C (undisclosed) - didn't play Friday
Nathan Gerbe, LW (lower body) - has skated, but didn't play Friday
Columbus Blue Jackets
Matt Calvert, LW (knee) - should miss another three weeks
Sergei Bobrovsky, G (groin) - skated on Friday
Markus Hannikainen, RW (shoulder) - participated in morning skate Thursday, but didn't play Friday
David Clarkson, RW (upper body) - is on IR
Curtis McElhinney, G (ankle) - was placed on IR Monday
Toronto Maple Leafs
Stephane Robidas, D (knee) - still has no timeline to play this season
Nick Spaling, C (upper body) - is out
Byron Froese, C (lower body) - is out
Garret Sparks, G (lower body) - remains out and it's not clear that he is back in the NHL lineup when he's healthy
San Jose Sharks
Dainius Zubrus, RW (undisclosed) - is day-to-day with a minor injury
Raffi Torres, LW (suspension) - will be eligible to return on Jan. 12
Minnesota Wild
Nate Prosser, D (hand) - didn't play Thursday and with the recall of Mike Reilly, it looks like he's out Saturday as well
Darcy Kuemper, G (concussion) - has skated but will not start Saturday
Dallas Stars
Jordie Benn, D (lower body) - was ruled out of Saturday's game
Ales Hemsky, RW (undisclosed) - is out Saturday
Nashville Predators
Gabriel Bourque, LW - didn't play Friday
Arizona Coyotes
Zbynek Michalek, D (upper body) - was out of Thursday's game and is questionable at best for Saturday
Mike Smith, G (core muscle) - will not be back soon
Joe Vitale, C (fractured orbital bone) - is still out, though it's well past his initial timeline
Tampa Bay Lightning
Joel Vermin, RW (hand) - is out
Vancouver Canucks
Dan Hamhuis, D (face) - will be out for another month at least
Ryan Miller, G (undisclosed) - practiced Friday
Jannik Hansen, RW (upper body) - is on IR
Brandon Sutter, C (abdomen) - could be back soon, but not Saturday
Luca Sbisa, D (hand) - was expected to be ready by now, but isn't ready for a return yet
St. Louis Blues
Jake Allen, G (undisclosed) - was injured in Friday's game
Jay Bouwmeester, D (upper body) - was injured in Friday's game
Steve Ott, C (hamstring) - will miss months
Paul Stastny, C (upper body) - was injured in Friday's game
Los Angeles Kings
Kyle Clifford, LW (upper body) - participated in morning skate on Friday
Matt Greene, D (shoulder) - is out for the rest of the season
Hot
Jonathan Toews, C, CHI — Captain Serious just had a five-game point streak snapped, but he bounced back on Friday by scoring a goal and contributing six shots. Over his last 11 games he's pitched in six goals and 11 points. He's doing everything you hope he'll do.
Brandon Dubinsky, C, CBJ — In a difficult season for the Jackets, Dubinsky hasn't been great. However, he's on a nice run right now, posting a goal and four assists in his last four games. He's also got an even plus/minus, seven penalty minutes, 10 shots and a power play goal in that span.
Cold
Colton Parayko, D, STL — After a flashy start to the season, Parayko has cooled off a whole lot. The rookie exploded into the NHL, scoring five goals and 12 points in his first 18 games. Over the last nine games he has just one assist. That hot stretch feels so long ago now.
Ondrej Palat, LW, TBL — After a fantastic season where he was a key piece of driving the Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final, this season has been derailed by injury. Palat hasn't done much when he has been in the lineup, but it's hard to find your groove when you're out as often as he has been. He's been back for three games now and has no points. In the broader scope of things, this has been a trend, with no goals and four assists over his last 13 games, which encompasses two stretches missed due to injury.
Recommended Pickup
Ryan Spooner, C, BOS — He's on a tear, posting a goal and five assists on his current four-game point streak. That includes a game-winner on Friday, as well as a plus-1 rating, two penalty minutes and 11 shots in those four games. Unfortunately, his utility doesn't span all formats. You generally aren't getting many hits or blocked shots from Spooner. Yet, with 26 points in 38 games, Spooner has cemented his spot with the team and as a viable fantasy option in many leagues.
