Jost will get the opportunity to centre the Sabres' first line on Wednesday as he fills in for Tage Thompson, who is out due to personal reasons. Jost has two goals and two assists in 28 games this season.
Thompson was a late scratch for Wednesday's game, with the team only announcing his absence just over 30 minutes before puck drop. Thompson has nine goals and ten assists in 26 games this season. Tyson Jost will draw into the Sabres' lineup and centre the first line in Thompson's absence.
Korpisalo did not play in the Senators' last game, their first win in seven attempts, but will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Korpisalo has struggled lately, losing five straight, allowing four or more goals in each, and posting an ugly .861 SV% in the process. The Senators lost 4-3 to the Maple Leafs earlier this month, with Anton Forsberg between the pipes, and are +137 road underdogs against them on Wednesday evening.
Vanecek has started the last three games for the Devils (1-1-1) and will start again on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Vanecek has allowed three goals or fewer in four of his last game games (3-1-1), his best stretch of play this season, posting a .908 SV% in the process. The Devils are significant -254 home favourites against a Blue Jackets squad that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1), including a 6-3 loss to the Devils on December 16th.
Merzlikins will take the crease for the second time in three games as he takes on New Jersey Wednesday fresh off a win over Washington in his previous start (32 saves - .906 SV%). The 29-year-old has bounced back nicely after a pair of rough seasons with his 7-8-5 record, 3.17 GAA and .909 SV%. He will head to New Jersey Wednesday to take on the Devils, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a win last game and are eight in the NHL in goals per game (3.41).
Primeau played well in the Canadiens' final game before the Christmas break, saving 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, and will play in their first game back from the break on Thursday. Primeau has won three of his last four contests (3-1-0), allowing two goals or fewer in three, posting a .916 SV%, but will be hard-pressed to continue his strong play in an unfavourable matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes played last night, a commanding 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators, but are still sizeable -253 home favourites against the Canadiens.
Thompson will draw the Golden Knights' crease for the first time in three games after backing up their previous two losses but will start Wednesday on the road in Anaheim. The 26-year-old has struggled compared to his previous two season in 2023-24, with his 10-5-3 record, 2.71 GAA and .905 SV%. He will look to get Vegas out of their current three-game slump as they take on Anaheim, who has lost their last two games and are 29th in the NHL in goals per game (2.58 GAA).
Magnus Chrona was recalled Wednesday from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) which implies Mackenzie Blackwood will be out vs. Los Angeles after it was announced he was under the weather Wednesday. The 27-year-old netminder is not expected to be out long as he did travel with the team. He has struggled in his first season in San Jose, with his 4-14-2 record, 3.92 GAA and .889 SV%.
Addison has missed the Sharks' previous three games due to a lower-body injury and is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old puck-moving defensemen was acquired by San Jose earlier in the season and has a goal, 10 assists, 40 SOG, 18 PIMs and a -13 plus/minus through 31games with both San Jose and Minnesota this season.
With Mackenzie Blackwood out of the lineup due to illness, the Sharks will turn to Kahkonen on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. Despite failing to record a victory, Kahkonen has played very well in his last two outings, allowing only four goals on 62 combined shots (.935 SV%). That said, the Sharks are significant +294 road underdogs against the Kings, who will turn back to David Rittich, who limited the Sharks to one goal in a 4-1 loss last week.
Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to miss Wednesday vs. Los Angeles due to illness so Magnus Chrona has been recalled from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) to backup. The 23-year-old has appeared once in relief this season for San Jose during a previous call up, posting a .765 SV% and 7.87 GAA in a rough but short appearance.
MacDonald scored a goal in his last game but exited with a lower-body injury after playing only 7:03 time-on-ice. In 17 games this season, MacDonald has seven points (6G / 1A) and 14 hits while averaging 11:54 time-on-ice.
On Saturday, Ross Johnston replaced McGinn in the lineup, who will be out again on Monday to attend to the birth of his child. McGinn has one goal and one assist in 15 games this season.
Wedgewood will likely start for the fifth straight game on Wednesday as he continues to be a mainstay between the pipes for the Stars with Jake Oettinger still week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Wedgewood has been unspectacular this season but reliable in nearly every appearance, posting a 9-1-2 record with a 3.08 GAA and .903 SV%. Specifically since taking over for Oettinger, Wedgewood has been solid, posting a .900 SV% in five appearances (4-0-1). The Stars are -170 road favourites against a St. Louis Blues team that defeated Wedgewood and the Stars 4-3 in overtime less than two weeks ago.
Gibson has not played since exiting a 5-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils in the second period on December 17th but will return to the crease on Wednesday. In his last five games (2-3-0), Gibson has allowed 14 total goals, posting a .907 SV%. Gibson was in the crease on November 5th, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, their first regulation loss of the season. The Ducks are sizeable +206 home underdogs against a Golden Knights club that has lost three straight contests.
Gavrikov was considered week-to-week when he was placed on the injured reserve on December 15th but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old defenseman was having one of the strongest offensive seasons of his seven-year career, with three goals, six assists, 29 SOG, six PIMs and a +8 plus/minus in 25 games before his injury.
Mrazek did not play in the Blackhawks' last game, a 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues, but will return to the crease on Wednesday for his fourth straight in their last five games. Mrazek only has one win in his last five appearances for the bottom-dwelling Blackhawks (1-3-0), posting a .888 SV% in the process. The Blackhawks are significant +195 home underdogs against the Winnipeg Jets, who have points in five straight games (4-0-1).
On the front end of a back-to-back, the Kings will likely turn to David Rittich for the second time in the last four games. In his Kings debut last week, Rittich saved 15 of 16 shots (.938 SV%) against the San Jose Sharks and will look to repeat his performance in a rematch against the Sharks on Wednesday. The Kings have won three of their last four (3-1-0) and are huge -344 home favourites against a Sharks team that has lost five straight (0-5-0), scoring only nine goals in that span.
Saros allowed two goals in the last 15 seconds in the Predators' last game before the Christmas break, a heart-breaking 3-2 regulation loss to the Dallas Stars. That said, Saros has played well over the last month and will return to the crease on Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. Saros has won 11 of his last 14 games (11-3-0), allowing two goals or fewer in nine, posting an impressive .923 SV%. The Predators are +124 home underdogs against the Hurricanes, who have lost four of their last five (1-1-3).
