Washington Capitals center Nic Dowd (upper body) will miss Saturday's clash against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The veteran took part in an optional skate on Saturday morning but is forced to sit out a third straight game with an upper-body injury. Dowd has picked up five points (one goal, four assists) in 19 outings this season, handing out 33 hits. His next opportunity to return will be in Monday's matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sonny Milano has stepped into the lineup as Dowd's replacement and will carry some momentum into Saturday's contest after scoring twice in Thursday's 8-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (undisclosed) will play on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. His status for the contest was initially uncertain after Evans made an early exit on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. Against Toronto, Evans will center the third line, flanked by Josh Anderson and debutant Florian Xhekaj. With Kirby Dach (foot), Alex Newhook (ankle), and Patrik Laine (lower body) all on the shelf, Evans' playing time has been on the rise lately. However, he hasn't provided consistent offensive production, amassing six points (three goals, three assists) in 20 games.

Colorado Avalanche forward Gavin Brindley (lower body) is currently not with the team and will miss this weekend's back-to-back on the road against Nashville and Chicago, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports. Brindley suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday's win over the New York Rangers and will be sidelined for at least two games. The 21-year-old has scored four goals and seven points in 18 appearances during his rookie campaign. The Avalanche have brought up Jason Polin from the minors to fill the gap in the lineup. Meanwhile, Gabriel Landeskog will move to the second line on Saturday night and will also join the first power-play unit. During his comeback season, Gabriel Landeskog has been limited to six points (two goals, four assists) in 20 games, but a move to a scoring line and the top power-play unit significantly increases his fantasy value.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot (upper body) has been activated from Injured Reserve and is set to play on Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks. The former All-Star recently suffered an upper-body injury, and initial reports suggested that he would be unavailable for two weeks. Yet, Chabot ended up sitting out only three games. Once again, Chabot is carrying a heavy load in the Senators defense this season, averaging close to 22 minutes of ice time. He has recorded 10 points (two goals, eight assists), 19 shots, 35 blocks, and 11 hits in 17 outings. Chabot will likely fill his usual duties on the second defensive pairing and the second power-play unit against the Sharks.