NHL Hockey Player News

Gross will slot in for Ryan Strome, who was a surprise scratch on Thursday. Gross has appeared in two games since making his NHL debut in March and is yet to register a point.

It's unclear whether Strome is dealing with an undisclosed injury or if he's simply a healthy scratch. Tyson Gross will draw into the lineup in his place.

Vejmelka struggled in Utah's previous game, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%), but his team battled to salvage him a 6-5 overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has been wildly inconsistent since the beginning of March, despite a solid 8-4-1 record, posting a less-than-stellar 3.26 GAA and .879 SV%. The Mammoth enter Thursday's contest as -161 home favourites against a desperate Nashville Predators team that likely needs a win to stay in the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

The Hurricanes are resting a handful of players on Thursday night, which will force Kotkaniemi back into the lineup. Kotkaniemi has two goals and seven assists in 38 games this season.

The Hurricanes are resting a handful of players on Thursday, giving Slavin the opportunity to make his Hurricanes debut. Slavin played 15 games in the NHL in the 2021-22 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, but has otherwise spent his entire career in the AHL. The seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has 25 points (6G / 19A) in 66 games this season with the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Carolina's playoff position is firmly secured, so Martinook will be one of a handful of Hurricanes to get the night off on Thursday. Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Staal, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov will all join Martinook in the press box.

Carolina's playoff position is firmly secured, so Staal will be one of a handful of Hurricanes to get the night off on Thursday. Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Martinook, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov will all join Staal in the press box.

Carolina's playoff position is firmly secured, so Slavin will be one of a handful of Hurricanes to get the night off on Thursday. Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov will all join Slavin in the press box.

Bernard-Docker will immediately re-enter the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game against the Blue Jackets. Axel Sandin-Pellikka will sit in his place.

Sandin-Pellikka will take a seat on Thursday in favour of Jacob Bernard-Docker. Sandin-Pellikka has seven goals and 14 assists in 66 games this season.

Hayes was a surprise addition to Thursday's lineup as he'll fill in for Connor Dewar (lower-body). Hayes will skate with Noel Acciari and Elmer Soderblom on Pittsburgh's fourth line.

Dewar was a surprise scratch on Thursday as the Penguins did not announce his absence prior to warmups. Avery Hayes will dress in his place.

Greenway will immediately re-enter the lineup after serving as a healthy scratch on Wednesday. Tanner Pearson will sit in his place.

Pearson will immediately draw back out of the Sabres lineup after slotting in on Wednesday. Jordan Greenway will re-enter the lineup in his place.

Perry is battling an undisclosed injury and his status for Thursday's game against the Montreal Canadiens was uncertain. The 40-year-old Perry is averaging 12:02 time-on-ice and has eight points (5G / 3A) in 18 games since joining Tampa Bay at the trade deadline.

Cirelli has not played in Tampa Bay's past two games due to an undisclosed injury, but will return on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 28-year-old Cirelli had a career-high 59 points (27G / 32A) in 80 games in the 2024-25 season, and is producing at a similar rate this season, with 52 points (23G / 29A) through 68 games.

Dobes has been excellent in recent weeks and has made his case to be the team's go-to option to start the postseason. The 24-year-old Czech goalie saved 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in Montreal's previous game, a 4-3 shootout win over the Florida Panthers. Over the last month, Dobes has allowed three or fewer goals in 11 consecutive games (9-2-0), posting an outstanding 1.97 GAA and .936 SV%. The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as slight +107 home underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that likely needs to win to keep their hopes of finishing atop the Atlantic Division alive.

Tampa Bay is in a zero-margin-for-error battle with the Buffalo Sabres for the top seed in the Atlantic Division, and will turn to Vasilevskiy on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 4-2 losing effort to the Buffalo Sabres in his previous outing. In his last 10 games (7-2-1), Vasilevskiy has a 2.42 GAA and .897 SV%. Tampa Bay enters the action on Thursday as -114 road favourites against a Montreal team that defeated them 4-1 less than two weeks ago.

With their playoff position firmly secured, the Hurricanes will give a handful of players the night off on Thursday. Brind'Amour, Bradly Nadeau, and Legault will all slot in after being recalled on Wednesday.

With their playoff position firmly secured, the Hurricanes will give a handful of players the night off on Thursday. Skyler Brind'Amour, Nadeau, and Charles-Alexis Legault will all slot in after being recalled on Wednesday.