Athanasiou has missed the Blackhawks' last five games and was placed on the injured reserve Thursday with a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old center has struggled through injuries this season with four assists, 20 SOG, and a -5 plus/minus through 11 games played. Cole Guttman was recalled from Rockford (AHL) to replace Athanasiou.
Taylor Hall was acquired in the offseason for two players but has endured a season filled with injuries and will now be out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season as he undergoes right knee surgery. The 32-year-old left-winger ends his season with two goals, two assists, 20 SOG, four PIMs, and a -3 plus/minus in 10 games played.
Demko will unsurprisingly get the nod in Colorado for the Canucks on Wednesday. The 27-year-old netminder has been an integral part of the Canucks' early season success. He most recently turned away 27 of the 28 shots he faced in Monday's 3-1 victory over the Kraken. Demko owns an impressive 9-4-0 record on the season to go along with a .929 SV% and 2.12 GAA. He draws a tough assignment on Wednesday with the Canucks being +135 road underdogs to the Avalanche.
Georgiev entered the final minute of play with a 3-2 lead over the Nashville Predators on Monday but allowed two goals in 16 seconds en route to a 4-3 regulation loss. Georgiev's 3.08 GAA and .888 SV% through 15 games (10-5-0) leaves a lot to be desired, but the Bulgarian goaltender has consistently collected victories when called upon this season. The Avalanche are -163 home favourites against a Vancouver Canucks team that leads the league offensively, averaging 4.11 goals scored per game.
Dellandrea has been a healthy scratch for the Stars' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup for Craig Smith on Wednesday vs. Vegas. The 23-year-old has struggled this season with zero goals, one assist, 11 SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus while averaging 12:29 TOI.
Harley has not played since November 12, when he exited the game with an upper-body injury, and will be back in the Stars lineup on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knight. In 14 games, Harley has five points (3G / 2A) and will replace Joel Hanley in the lineup if he can play.
The Golden Knights have made a habit of rotating their two star goalies this season, but it will be Hill getting a second consecutive start in Dallas on Wednesday. Hill has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2023-24 season, registering a .929 SV% and a 2.07 GAA to go along with his 8-2-1 record. Hill was stellar against the Penguins in a losing effort on Sunday, stopping 30 of the 32 shots he faced in the 3-0 defeat. He draws a difficult assignment tonight with the Golden Knights being rare underdogs at +110 in Dallas.
Zary has been a pleasant surprise this season for the Flames as the 22-year-old 2020 first-round pick (24th overall) has three goals, eight points, and 14 SOG in nine games but will miss Wednesday as he deals with a lower-body injury.
Saros is coming off his first victory in November thanks to heroics from his Predators teammates, who scored two goals in the final minute to overcome a 3-2 deficit and win 4-3 over the Colorado Avalanche. Through 14 games this season, Saros remarkably only has two quality starts (.357) after registering at least a .618 quality start rate in his four previous seasons. This string of poor play is unfamiliar territory for the perennial Vezina-finalist. The Predators hope his most recent victory can help jump-start Saros back into the netminder he has proven himself to be over the past half-decade. Saros and the Predators are slight -103 home underdogs against a Calgary Flames team that has scored four or more goals in three straight (2-0-1).
Despite an up-and-down season for the season for the Flames, Markstrom has quietly improved on a poor 2022-23 campaign. Markstrom has helped the Flames record at least a point in each of his last four starts (3-0-1), saving 99 of 108 shots in the process (.917 SV%). The Flames are slight -109 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team that won two straight but lost 4-2 to the Flames on November 7th when Markstrom saved 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%), leading his team to a 4-2 victory.
The Jets have won six of their last seven (6-1-0) due largely to Hellebuyck elevating his game recently. Still a far cry from his career-average .916 SV%, Hellebuyck has a .906 SV% in his last five games (4-1-0) after posting only a .891 SV% in his first eight contests this season (4-3-1). The Jets are slight -109 road favourites on Wednesday against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that, despite winning three straight, has allowed four or more goals in six consecutive contests (3-3-0).
