Bastian has a goal, two assists, 26 SOG, four PIMs and a -9 plus/minus through 22 games played but will be the odd man out of the lineup Thursday vs. Seattle. The 26-year-old right-winger will be replaced due to Brendan Smith's return from a two-game suspension.
Smith was suspended two games for an aggressive slash to Philadelphia's Travis Konecny but will return to the Devils' lineup Thursday vs. Seattle. The 34-year-old veteran defensemen has not scored in 81 games since joining New Jersey in 2022-23 but has two assists, 21 SOG, 32 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 21 games this season.
DeSmith will start for only the second time since November 16th as the Canucks take on the red-hot Minnesota Wild. DeSmith has allowed four goals in each of his last two starts (0-2-0), posting a .867 SV%. The Canucks have failed to string together consecutive victories in over three weeks but are still slight -109 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that has not lost since John Hynes took over as head coach (4-0-0), outscoring their opposition 18-5.
Saros will search for his third straight victory as the likely starter for the third consecutive game on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Saros has been excellent lately, winning six of his last seven contests (6-1-0), posting a .914 SV% in the process. The Predators' resurgent play lately has them listed as -129 home favourites on Thursday against a Lightning team that has won two straight, outscoring their opposition 7-1, but played last night and will presumably turn to Jonas Johansson between the pipes.
Dahlin missed the Sabres morning skate Wednesday and was announced a game-time decision Thursday vs. Boston. The 23-year-old superstar has been enjoying yet another strong start to his 2023-24 season, with six goals, 21 points, 66 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -10 plus/minus over 26 games prior to his recent injury.
Rust left the Penguins' previous game vs. Tampa in the third period after just 12:03 TOI due to a lower-body injury and was not at practice Thursday. If he is forced to miss time it will be a massive loss for the Penguins as the 31-year-old is having the best statistical season of his 10 year career with 10 goals, 10 assists, 71 SOG, four PIMs and a +13 plus/minus in 22 games prior to this latest injury.
Smith missed the Predators' previous game due to illness but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Tampa Bay as Tyson Barrie returns to being a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old left-winger is having the best season of his young career thus far with four goals, five assists, 29 SOG, 28 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus in 24 games played.
Grubauer will likely start for Seattle on Thursday, continuing a mostly forgettable season for the German netminder. Grubauer has recorded a sub-.890 SV% in eight consecutive appearances (3-3-1), posting a cumulative, ugly .859 SV%. His .200 quality start rate through 15 games is among the worst in the entire league. The Kraken are +126 home underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that ranks fourth-best in the league offensively (3.70 GF / GP).
Schmidt will be a healthy scratch as the Jets return to the more traditional 12-forward, six-defenseman setup on Thursday. In 20 games this season, Schmidt has only one point (0G / 1A) but has 23 blocks while averaging 16:51 time-on-ice.
Chisholm will be a healthy scratch as the Jets return to the more traditional 12-forward, six-defenseman setup on Thursday. Chisholm has played two games this season, scoring one point (0G / 1A), averaging 11:33 time-on-ice.
Previously skating with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman setup, the Jets will return to the more traditional formation as Nate Schmidt and Declan Chisholm will both be healthy scratches on Thursday, allowing Jonsson-Fjallby to re-enter the lineup. Jonsson-Fjallby has been held without a point in eight games this season, averaging 7:16 time-on-ice.
Bellemare will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Andre Burakovsky (upper-body) to return to the lineup after a 20-game absence. Bellemare has been held without a point in nine straight games, firing only five shots on goal in the process.
Schultz is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Ryker Evans to make his NHL debut. Schultz has struggled lately, with only one point in his last five games (0G / 1A), posting a -6 plus/minus while averaging 16:50 time-on-ice.
Burakovsky has not played since October 21st, missing 20 games with an upper-body injury, but is expected to make his long-awaited return to the lineup on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. Burakovsky had two points (0G / 2A) in six games before his injury and will likely slot in on the second line with Jared McCann and Alexander Wennberg.
Justin Schultz is expected to be a healthy scratch, allowing Evans to make his NHL debut on Thursday. The 21-year-old Evans was the 35th overall pick of the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the last two seasons with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, scoring 52 points (8G / 44A) in 89 combined games. He is expected to play with Brian Dumoulin on the third defensive pair.
Hellebuyck has been sensational lately and will likely return to the crease on Thursday after having the night off in the Jets' previous game on Monday. Posting a 5-2-0 record in his last seven games, Hellebuyck has one shutout and a stellar .942 SV%, allowing more than two goals in only one contest. The Jets are +119 road underdogs against their division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche, who will welcome Cale Makar back into the lineup.
Jones will be a healthy scratch for the Avalanche as defensemen Bowen Byram and Cale Makar, both previously game-time decisions, will suit up for Thursday night's contest against the Winnipeg Jets. Jones has two points (0G / 2A), averaging 12:45 time-on-ice in 12 games with the Avalanche this season.
Byram only played 14:52 in the last game for the Avalanche, exiting with an upper-body injury, but has been deemed fit to play on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. Byram had an elevated role in the last two games with Makar out of the lineup but will return to his usual spot alongside Josh Manson on the second defensive pair for the Avalanche.
Makar did not play on Sunday after exiting Saturday's contest late in the third period with a lower-body injury and missed a second game on Tuesday. He was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and has been cleared to return to the lineup on Thursday when the Avs play host to the Jets. Makar has been otherworldly from the Avalanche blueline this season, scoring 34 points (7G / 27A) and a +18 plus/minus through 23 games.
