McAvoy, the team's top defenseman, remains sidelined with an upper-body injury, last reported as day-to-day, having not played since December 7th. Zacha, a key center, has been out since December 9th with an upper-body injury, also labeled day-to-day.
In response to Zacha's absence, the team called up veteran forward Patrick Brown, known for his versatility and a strong faceoff record. Additionally, defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, with over 300 AHL games under his belt, has been recalled to bolster the defensive lineup.