Glass will miss his ninth straight game, out of the lineup since November 20th, but appears to be nearing a return after returning to practice on Thursday. Glass, the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, has only one point (0G / 1A) in nine games this season, averaging 13:46 time-on-ice.
Carrier will miss his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury but appears to be nearing a return after participating at practice on Thursday. Before his injury, Carrier was a steadying presence on the Predators' blue line, averaging 18:08 time-on-ice and scoring eight points (1G / 7A) in 22 games.
Novak has not played since November 11th, battling an upper-body injury, but is expected to make his return on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Before his injury, Novak had 12 points (6G/ 6A), averaged 16:02 time-on-ice, and played predominantly on a line with Kiefer Sherwood and Luke Evangelista.
Barrie returned to the lineup Tuesday after being a healthy scratch for consecutive games but will return to the press box as a healthy scratch on Thursday. Reports have circulated that Barrie's time with the Predators could be coming to an end as he and his agent search for a suitable trade partner. The 32-year-old defenseman has 10 points (0G / 10A) in 23 assists with the Predators this season.
Blackwood allowed six goals on 36 shots (.833 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 6-5 loss to the New York Rangers, an outlier in a mostly positive stretch of play for the Sharks Netminder. In his three games before (1-1-1), Blackwood allowed only six total goals and posted a .937 SV%. That said, the Sharks are considerable +251 road underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings team that ranks third-best in the league offensively (3.79 GF / GP) and will welcome Patrick Kane to the lineup for his debut with the team.
Bussi is unlikely to see any action while he is with the Bruins but will likely serve as the backup on Thursday as Jeremy Swayman is dealing with an illness. Bussi has a 2.58 GAA and .917 SV% in 12 games with Providence (AHL), posting a 6-4-2 record.
Brandon Bussi will likely serve as the Bruins' backup on Thursday as Swayman is dealing with an illness. Swayman's absence from the lineup shouldn't linger much longer, which is great news for the Bruins since he has been tremendous lately, saving 50 of the last 51 shots he has faced (.980 SV%) during a two-game winning streak.
With Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen still out of the lineup with an illness, Levi will likely start against the Boston Bruins on Thursday after serving as the team's backup on Tuesday. This will mark Levi's first start at the NHL level since November 25th when he was subsequently sent down to the AHL, where he posted a 2.94 GAA and .921 SV% in two games (1-1-0) with the Rochester Americans. The Sabres are +239 road underdogs against a Bruins team that scored five goals on Levi (.722 SV%) on November 14th in a 5-2 victory.
Staal will be a healthy scratch after playing six of the last seven games, as Egor Zamula will draw back into the lineup. Staal has yet to score a point through 10 games this season and is averaging only 14:03 time-on-ice, the lowest total of his career by over three full minutes.
Zamula will draw back into the Flyers' lineup for the first time since November 30th, as Marc Staal will be a healthy scratch. Zamula has four points (1G / 3A) in 18 games, a +10 plus/minus, and is averaging 15:18 time-on-ice. He is expected to skate alongside Rasmus Ristolainen on the third defensive pair.
Mrazek has allowed nine goals on 63 shots (.857 SV%) over his past two games but will look to put together a stronger performance as the likely starter for the Blackhawks in one of their more favourable matchups this season. The Blackhawks, losers of four straight (0-3-1), are slight -102 home underdogs against an Anaheim Ducks team that has lost nine of their last 10 (1-9-0) and ranks fifth worst in the league offensively (2.72 GF / GP).
Compher has been a scarce participant at practice for the Red Wings lately and will not play on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Compher is having a tremendous season in his first year with the Red Wings, scoring 19 points (6G / 13A) in 24 games but averaging only 1.3 shots on goal per game. Joe Veleno is expected to replace Compher, centring a second line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane in his season debut.
Ullmark played very well in his last contest, saving 37 of 40 shots (.925 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Before that, Ullmark allowed nine goals on 60 shots (.850 SV%) in consecutive losing appearances but will look to string together strong performances as the Bruins are sizeable -275 home favourites against the Buffalo Sabres. In Ullmark's last contest against his former team, he saved 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 5-2 victory on November 14th.
Lindgren allowed three goals on 22 shots (.864 SV%) entering the game in relief of Darcy Kuemper in a 6-0 blowout loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday but will make his first start in four games for the Capitals on Thursday. Lindgren has easily been the more reliable of the two goaltenders this season for the Capitals, who leave their netminders very little room for error, ranking second-worst in the league offensively (2.27 GF / GP). The Capitals are +124 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that lost 5-4 to the hands of the Florida Panthers last night and have been outscored 9-4 over their last two games (0-2-0).
Laine was a late scratch on Tuesday due to illness and will not play again on Thursday as he did not travel with the team for the matchup against the New York Islanders. Laine is still playing well below his expectations but has started to right the ship with three points (2G / 1A) in his last four games. Kiril Marchenko and Adam Fantilli found themselves on the Blue Jackets' top powerplay unit in Laine's absence last game.
Armia is expected to exit the lineup and be a healthy scratch after playing four straight for the Canadiens, scoring two points (2G / 0A) and firing 11 shots on goal. Michael Pezzetta will draw back into the lineup to replace Armia.
Joel Armia is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Pezzetta to re-enter the Canadiens' lineup. Pezzetta has not played since November 25th and had only one point (0G / 1A) in his last eight games.
Milano has played in 14 consecutive games but has not provided enough of an offensive punch for a Capitals team that ranks second worst in the league offensively (2.27 GF / GP), scoring zero points and registering only six shots on goal in his last seven games. Most recently, Milano skated on a line with Matthew Phillips and Hendrix Lapierre.
With Derek Forbort on long-term injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, Lohrei has been recalled from the Providence Bruins of the AHL and will likely be with the team until Forbort returns which will not be until, at the earliest, December 31st. The 22-year-old Lohrei made his NHL debut earlier this season, playing well in 10 games with the Bruins, scoring four points (1G / 3A) and averaging 17:35 time-on-ice.
Forbort would first be eligible to return on December 31st when the Bruins visit the Detroit Red Wings as the veteran defenceman nurses an undisclosed injury. Forbort has primarily played this season skating alongside Kevin Shattenkirk. Mason Lohrei has been recalled from the Providence Bruins of the AHL in the interim.
