Sturm suffered a mid-body injury on Tuesday that limited him to only 8:44 time-on-ice. The 28-year-old German has only registered on the score sheet once in the last nine games, a two-goal performance on December 7th against the Detroit Red Wings.
Kahkonen has seen a steady dose of action lately and will start for the fourth time in the last eight games for the Sharks. The Sharks have points in four straight games (3-0-1), and Kahkonen has won four of his last five games (4-0-1), highlighted by a .904 SV%. The Sharks remain the league-worst in terms of shot suppression (36.7 SA / GP) but are still +171 road underdogs against the Arizona Coyotes, who have lost four straight (0-4-0).
Laine was seemingly turning the corner on what had already been a disappointing season, scoring five points (3G / 2A) in his last six games, but will instead be sidelined for the next six weeks with a clavicle fracture. Laine had already missed 12 games this season due to injuries, which is becoming a regularity for the Finnish forward. He has only played more than 60 games in a season once since the 2019-20 season.
McTavish has missed the last five games for the Ducks but appears to be nearing a return, but it will not be Friday after he was seen skating earlier in the day. Before his injury, McTavish was held without a point in four straight games, recording a -7 plus/minus and six shots on goal.
Montembeault played well in his last game, saving 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%), but ultimately came up short in a 4-3, 12-round shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. Montembeault will return to the crease on Saturday against the New York Islanders for his second consecutive start, the second time he has started consecutive games in December, as the Canadiens appear to be favouring the 27-year-old netminder.
Oettinger has allowed three or more goals in his last four games (1-3-0) and will start for the third consecutive game on Friday. After a sensational start to the season, posting a .938 SV% in his first seven games (5-1-1), Oettinger has seen a rapid decline in his play, posting an ugly .884 SV% in his 13 games since (6-1-1). Despite his struggles, the Stars have remained near the top of the Central Division standings and are -197 home favourites against an Ottawa Senators team that played last night and lost 4-2 in St. Louis.
The Bruins coaching staff is implementing some load management tactics for 19-year-old rookie Poitras as he is expected to sit for the second time in the last four games. After posting seven points (4G / 3A) in his first 11 games, Poitras' game has fallen off slightly, posting only five (1G / 4A) in his last 15 games.
Dostal played well in his last contest, a 24-save (.960 SV%) performance in a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on December 7th, his only start since November 26th. Dostal was seeing a heavy workload to start the season, but a three-game stretch where he allowed at least five goals (0-3-0), posting a .787 SV%, limited him to strictly backup duties. Another strong performance from Dostal could lead to him seeing more action again, but he will be hard-pressed to do so on Friday as the Ducks are +268 road underdogs against the New York Rangers.
Sorokin has won two straight games and will return to the crease on Friday after serving as the backup in their previous game on Wednesday. Sorokin has won consecutive games only one other time this season and has yet to record three straight victories. The Islanders as a whole are playing their best hockey of the season, riding a season-best four-game winning streak. That said, they are slight +102 home underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has scored more than three goals only once in their last four games (2-1-1).
Aston-Reese made his Red Wings debut earlier this week, playing 6:21 time-on-ice and registering two hits. He will return to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL where he has seven points (4G / 3A) in 20 games.
Sorokin has won two straight games and will likely return to the crease on Friday after serving as the backup in their previous game on Wednesday. Sorokin has won consecutive games only one other time this season and has yet to record three straight victories. The Islanders as a whole are playing their best hockey of the season, riding a season-best four-game winning streak. That said, they are slight +102 home underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has scored more than three goals only once in their last four games (2-1-1).
Vejmelka will play the back end of a back-to-back for the Coyotes on Saturday when they face off against the Buffalo Sabres. Vejmelka has played only once since November 25th, a matchup also against the Sabres, when he allowed four goals on 37 shots (.892 SV%) in a 5-2 loss earlier this week. The Czech netminder is now winless in his last nine appearances, dating back to a 2-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks on October 21st, which also marks the last time he has allowed less than two goals in a game.
Ingram has started eight of the last nine games for the Coyotes and will start again on Friday against the San Jose Sharks. The Coyotes have lost four straight but are sizeable -184 home favourites against a Sharks team that has won three of their last four games (3-1-0). After an otherworldly stretch in late November, Ingram has allowed 12 goals on 96 shots (.878 SV%) during his current three-game skid. That said, he was terrific in a losing effort on Tuesday, saving 40 of 43 shots (.930 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Daccord is coming off his first career shutout, a 24-save performance, in a 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Daccord has become the de facto starting goalie for the Kraken with Philipp Grubauer out of the lineup but has been better than him between the pipes all season. Over his past three starts, Daccord has saved 73 of 77 shots (.949 SV%) but only managed a 1-2-0 record due to the Kraken's inability to score consistently. That said, Seattle has a favourable matchup on Thursday as -236 home favourites against the Chicago Blackhawks, who have lost two straight and rank second-worst in the league offensively (2.36 GF / GP).
Johnson will take the place of MacKenzie Entwistle (illness) on Thursday. Johnson has two goals and zero assists in 17 games this season.
Entwistle was not present at the Blackhawks' morning skate and was a game-time decision Thursday vs. Seattle due to illness. The 24-year-old right-winger has made the most of his bottom-six minutes this season, with two goals, three assists, 10 PIMs, 25 SOG and a -6 plus/minus in 21 games played.
Demko is fresh off his league-leading 14th win of the season, putting on a dominant display in a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He allowed just one goal on 29 shots in the contest, boosting his SV% to .918 on the season. The 28-year-old netminder has been in outstanding form this season, firmly bouncing back from his injury-riddled 2022-23 campaign. He will have his hands full again on Thursday as the Canucks play host to the Panthers and their high-powered attack.
Laine appeared to grab his shoulder after an awkward collision in the first period. It's another tough blow in what has been a dreadful season for the former 40-goal scorer. Laine has just six goals and three assists in 18 games this season.
Skinner will start for the second straight game as he searches for his eighth consecutive victory. Skinner has been tremendous lately allowing fewer than three goals in five of his last seven games (7-0-0), boasting a stellar .935 SV%. The Oilers will look for their ninth straight win as sizeable -173 home favourites against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that has lost two of their last three (1-2-0), being outscored 12-6, and will be without Victor Hedman for a second straight game.
Sheary has missed the Oilers previous 17 games due to an upper body injury but was activated off the Injured Reserve Thursday and will draw back into the lineup for Tampa Bay in Edmonton. The 31-year-old had struggled offensively prior to his injury with a goal, two assists, 14 SOG, four PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 13 games played.
