Bjornfot was injured in the Kings opening game on October 11th and will join the Ontario Reign on a conditioning assignment after finally being cleared to return to play. Bjornfot was the 22nd overall pick of the Kings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He has 15 points (1G / 14A) in 117 career NHL games.
The Kings have recalled Moverare from the Ontario Reign of the AHL as Tobias Bjornfot has been sent down for a conditioning assignment. Moverare has played 12 games with the Reign this season, tallying three points (0G / 3A), six penalty minutes, and a +2 plus/minus rating.
Korpisalo has consecutive wins for the first time this season and will start for the seventh time in the last eight games for the Senators. After posting an ugly .865 SV% in his first three games (1-2-0), Korpisalo has quietly put together an impressive seven-game stretch (3-2-0), boasting a healthy .925 SV%. The Senators are slight -128 home favourites as they face off against the Detroit Red Wings in Sweden as part of the NHL Global Series. The Red Wings have lost three of their last five (2-2-1) but continue to rank in the top five of the league in terms of goal-scoring (3.67 GF / GP).
Kahkonen will start for the seventh time this season as he searches for his first victory. Paralleling most of the season from the San Jose Sharks, Kahkonen's play has not been NHL-caliber, posting an unsightly 4.44 GAA and .875 SV%. Expectations remain low for Kahkonen and the Sharks as they are +188 home underdogs against a St. Louis Blues team that is suddenly firing on all cylinders, winning five of their last six (5-1-0), outscoring their opposition 27-12.
Kuzmenko exited the game in the third period in obvious discomfort on Wednesday after taking a puck to the face against the New York Islanders. The second-year NHLer has picked up where he left off the 2022-23 campaign, being consistent all season, potting 14 points (3G / 11A) in 16 games.
Comrie has not played since October 27 after suffering a lower-body injury but will be available to play on Friday. Before his injury, Comrie played well, posting a 2.45 GAA and .914 SV% in three games (1-1-0). The Sabres have leaned heavily on the tandem of Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in his absence but it appears the Sabres will give Comrie the opportunity to immediately rediscover some of his early season pedigree as the starting goalie against the Winnipeg Jets.
As the Tampa Bay Lightning eagerly await the return of their All-Star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, Johansson will attempt to stop the bleeding on a miserable stretch for the team. Johansson has played very poorly in his last four outings (0-3-1), registering an ugly .846 SV% in the process. In addition to receiving less-than-ideal goaltending, the Lightning have been shut out in back-to-back games. That said, the Lightning are still -179 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that defeated them 5-3 exactly one week ago.
Hill is coming off a 20-save shutout, his second of the season, in a 5-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks on November 10th. The Western Conference-leading Golden Knights have faltered a little, losing three of their last four, but will look to get back into the win column on Thursday as -192 road favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team that has been outscored 7-3 in their last two contests (0-2-0). The 27-year-old Hill has been nothing short of spectacular this season, posting a remarkable 1.75 GAA and .939 SV% through nine contests (7-1-1).
Vanecek received the night off on Tuesday but will likely return to the starter's crease on Thursday against the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins. Vanecek and the Devils have been shadows of themselves, with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier out of the lineup tending to injuries. The Devils have lost four of their last five (1-4-0), scoring more than three goals only once in that span. In addition, Vanecek hasn't been able to shut the door consistently, highlighted by his two most recent performances (0-2-0), allowing seven goals on a combined 36 shots (.806 SV%). Making things worse, the Devils are +127 road underdogs against a Penguins team that has outscored their opposition 25-8 during a five-game winning streak.
With Nikita Zaitsev away from the team, tending to a personal matter, Phillips will draw back into the lineup for the Blackhawks. In his only game this season, Phillips played 17:25 time-on-ice, recorded one shot, four penalty minutes, and a -1 plus/minus.
Comrie has not played since October 27 after suffering a lower-body injury but will be available to play on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Before his injury, Comrie played well, posting a 2.45 GAA and .914 SV% in three games (1-1-0). Despite his availability to rejoin the team, it is unclear when the Sabres will opt to put him back in between the pipes as the team has leaned heavily on the tandem of Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in Comrie's absence.
Markstrom was brilliant after returning from a two-game absence due to an upper-body injury, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Markstrom has won consecutive starts for the first time this season and will hope to keep his hot streak rolling after having lost his seven previous outings (0-6-1), posting a .892 SV%. The Flames are -137 home favourites on Thursday and will try to take advantage of a Vancouver Canucks team that, albeit has won seven of their last eight (7-1-0), played an extra frame last night in a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders.
Meier was "banged up" in Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets and will be a game-time decision on Thursday. Meier's absence would be a huge blow for a New Jersey Devils team that has lost three straight (0-3-0) and is already without Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. After a slow start to the season, Meier has 11 points (5G / 6A) and has fired 38 shots on goal in his last 11 games.
Tuch has not played the last two games for the Sabres but will be available to return to the lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Before his injury, Tuch had been producing at an impressive rate, recording nine points (4G / 5A) in his last seven games.
Mrazek will look for his third consecutive victory on Thursday as the starting goalie against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blackhawks rank in the bottom third of the league defensively, allowing an average of 3.46 goals per game. That said, Mrazek has quietly put together an impressive 2023-24 campaign thus far, boasting a 2.84 GAA and .921 SV% through eight contests (4-3-0). The Blackhawks are +160 home underdogs but have an intriguing matchup against the Lightning, who have been shut out in back-to-back games, and lost three straight contests (0-3-0), including a 5-3 loss at the hands of Mrazek and the Blackhawks.
Malkin did not practice on Wednesday due to an illness but will be available for the Penguins on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 37-year-old has yet to lose a step, tallying 17 points (8G / 9A) while playing an average of 17:56 through 14 games this season, predominantly alongside Rickard Rakell and Reilly Smith.
Pezzetta will return to the lineup after not playing in the Canadiens' most recent game, drawing in for an injured Rafael Harvey-Pinard (lower body). Pezzetta has two points (1G / 1A) in 12 games, averaging 7:46 time-on-ice, and is expected to suit up on the fourth line with Jesse Ylonen and Jake Evans.
Harvey-Pinard appears to be inching closer to a return but will remain out of the Canadiens' lineup on Thursday. Harvey-Pinard will have missed four of the Canadiens' last seven games due to a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old has yet to score this season but has four assists, 11 SOG, and two PIMs in 13 games.
Primaeu will start his second game of the season when the Canadiens take on the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. On November 9th against the Detroit Red Wings, Primeau put together a terrific effort for his first victory, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%). Despite being serviceable in limited action this season, optimism is low for Primeau and the Canadiens on Thursday as they are +172 home underdogs against the defending Stanely Cup Champion Golden Knights. That said, Vegas has lost three of their last four games (1-3-0), held to two goals or fewer in three of them.
