Eklund (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision Saturday against Buffalo, according to Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.

Eklund has four goals, 16 points, 35 shots on net, 13 blocked shots and 14 hits over 21 appearances this season. Will Smith will return to the lineup versus the Sabres, but it's unclear who will be scratched if Eklund is fit to play.

Vanecek (upper body) will be the backup goaltender versus Buffalo on Saturday, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.

Vanecek did not dress Thursday in St. Louis due to the injury, which led to Yaroslav Askarov making his San Jose debut. Vanecek is 2-5-1 with a 3.36 GAA and an .899 save percentage. Mackenzie Blackwood will get the start against the Sabres, and Askarov is projected to be a healthy scratch.

Blackwood will start Saturday at home against the Sabres, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Blackwood has dropped three of his last four outings, despite posting a respectable .900 save percentage with a 2.98 GAA in that span. Overall, Blackwood is 4-6-3 with a .907 save percentage and a 3.07 GAA this season.

Hague (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision in Montreal on Saturday, according to SinBin.vegas.

Hague has missed the last eight games and 11 of the last 12. Coach Bruce Cassidy said "if he's good to go after warmups, he's in." Hague has a goal in nine games this season. If Hague is able to play, look for Kaedan Korczak to be a healthy scratch.

Pietrangelo (upper body) won't play Saturday versus Montreal, SinBin.vegas reports.

Pietrangelo will miss his second straight game, but he hasn't been ruled out yet for Monday's matchup against Philadelphia. He has accounted for two goals, 12 assists, 39 shots on net, 34 blocked shots and 16 hits across 19 appearances this season. If Nicolas Hague (undisclosed) remains out, Robert Hagg will fill in again for Pietrangelo versus the Canadiens.

Jones will miss Saturday's tilt in Edmonton due to an upper-body injury, Colin Stephenson of Newsday reports.

Jones will be replaced in the lineup by Victor Mancini. Jones has a goal and five points in 13 games this season. Consider jones day-to-day at this time, and he could return to action as early as Monday against St. Louis.

Chytil (upper body) isn't expected to play Saturday versus Edmonton, according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post.

Chytil will skate with the extras following the Rangers' morning skate, indicating he will miss his fourth straight game. He has generated four goals and nine points in 15 outings this season. Chytil's next chance to play will come Monday against the Blues.

Bouchard (undisclosed) is a game-time decision Saturday against the Rangers, Tony Brar of Oilers TV reports.

Bouchard is "50-50" according to Brar after he missed the morning skate. Bouchard has five goals and 13 points in 21 games this season, including a pair of three-point games in his last six contests. If Bouchard is unavailable, look for Josh Brown to play.

Nurse (upper body) will play Saturday against the Rangers, Tony Brar of Oilers TV reports.

Nurse will rejoin the Edmonton lineup after missing the Oilers' previous three contests. The 29-year-old blueliner has two goals, nine points and a plus-2 rating in 18 games this season.

Binnington will start Saturday's road matchup with the Islanders, Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Binnington will be back between the pipes following a 3-2 shootout victory over San Jose on Thursday. The 31-year-old Binnington is 6-8-1 this year with an .888 save percentage and a 3.10 GAA.