Hayton has not played since mid-November and will make his long-awaited return to the lineup on Thursday. Before his injury, Hayton had four points (2G / 2A) in his last five games after being held without a single point in his previous 11.
Acciari was limited to only 5:35 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets before exiting the game with a concussion. Acciari has played 11 of the past 12 games for the Penguins but failed to register a point in that time while averaging 12:58 time-on-ice.
Turcotte was reassigned to the Ontario Reign of the AHL in correspondence with the All-Star and, after being recalled on Thursday, will likely draw back into the lineup in the Kings' first game back. In his last outing, Turcotte scored two points (1G / 1A) while playing 10:02 time-on-ice.
Clarke played three games in a row towards the end of January, his longest stretch of the season, but has been out of the lineup since January 26th. In six games this season, Clarke has one point (0G / 1A) while averaging 16:15 time-on-ice.
Kane has not played since January 14th but appears ready to return to the Red Wings lineup on Saturday. The 35-year-old Kane has been a major contributor in the Red Wings offence, scoring 16 points (7G / 9A) and tallying 63 shots in 19 games.
Lyon has emerged as the go-to guy between the pipes for the Red Wings and will start on Saturday when the team returns to the ice for their first game since the All-Star break. Lyon has a 2.51 GAA and .922 SV% in 21 games (13-6-2) but will be hard-pressed for a victory against the high-scoring Vancouver Canucks.
Demko returns to the crease on Thursday as he attempts to extend his nine-game winning streak. On Tuesday, Demko was excellent, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. The California-born netminder is putting together a Vezina-calibre season with a 2.43 GAA, .920 SV%, and five shutouts through 36 games (27-8-1). The Canucks enter Thursday's matchup against the Boston Bruins as +120 road underdogs.
After getting the night off on the back end of a back-to-back on Tuesday, Georgiev will likely return to the crease for the sixth time in the last seven games. Georgiev has been excellent lately, posting a .938 SV% across his last three games (2-0-1) while allowing two or fewer goals in each contest, his first stretch of that calibre since the opening week of the season. That said, the Avalanche are +122 road underdogs on Thursday against a Carolina Hurricanes club that saw their three-game winning streak end with a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.
Brenden Dillon was suspended three games for an illegal check to the head of Noel Acciari on Tuesday, creating a lineup opening for Stanley. Stanley has not played since December 12th and has been limited to only seven games this season, averaging 12:19 time-on-ice.
Brossoit will tend the twine on Thursday in an attempt to snap a four-game losing streak for the Jets. Brossoit has been sensational when called upon this season, highlighted by a multi-week stretch where he has posted a 4-0-1 record, allowing fewer than three goals in each contest and posting a dazzling .951 SV%. The Jets look poised to get back into the win column as -136 road favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers club that snapped a five-game losing skid in their last outing.
Trevor van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Bear to re-enter the lineup after a two-game absence. In his last contest, Bear recorded an assist and a +1 plus/minus despite losing 6-2 to the Colorado Avalance.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Phillips to re-enter the lineup. Phillips has not played since January 3rd and has five points (1G / 4A) in 26 games this season.
Ethan Bear will re-enter the lineup on Thursday, prompting the Capitals to make van Riemsdyk a healthy scratch. Van Riemsdyk registered six shots on goal on Tuesday in 19:52 time-on-ice but had a -2 plus/minus rating.
Matthew Phillips will replace Aube-Kubel in the Capitals' lineup on Thursday. Aube-Kubel played only 8:09 time-on-ice Tuesday while recording a -1 plus/minus and five hits.
Charlie Lindgren started in the Capitals' return from the All-Star break on Tuesday but did not finish the contest. Kuemper entered the game in relief of Lindgren, saving 15 of 17 shots (.882 SV%) in an eventual 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Kuemper has been wildly inconsistent this season, highlighted by his performances in his last two starts, in which he allowed five goals in one contest and recorded a shutout in the other. As such, the Capitals are sizeable +237 road underdogs heading into action against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
Markstrom will return to the crease for the Flames on Thursday night, his fifth straight start. The 32-year-old Markstrom has been sensational lately, winning two straight games by saving 53 of the last 54 shots he's faced (.981 SV%). The Flames are +126 road underdogs against a Devils that is welcoming Jack Hughes back into the lineup and is coming off an impressive 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
Cizikas has been out of the lineup since January 9th due to a lower-body injury but will return to action on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 32-year-old is producing at a similar rate to his previous seasons, with 11 points (5G/6A) in 39 games played before his injury.
Despite registering his first goal and point of the season in Monday's 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, MacLean has been reassigned to Bridgeport (AHL). The move was made in correspondence to Casey Cizikas being activated from long-term injured reserve.
Acciari was limited to only 5:35 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets before exiting the game with an upper-body injury. Acciari has played 11 of the past 12 games for the Penguins but failed to register a point in that time while averaging 12:58 time-on-ice.
Parker Wotherspoon will replace Shattenkirk on Thursday night against the Vancouver Canucks. Shattenkirk played 18:51 time-on-ice on Tuesday, recording a -1 plus/minus and two hits.
