Watson will enter the lineup in place of Alex Barre-Boulet, who is listed as a scratch for Thursday's game in Chicago. Watson has no points and seven shots on goal in five games this season.
Barre-Boulet will sit in favour of Austin Watson, who draws back into the Lightning lineup on Thursday. Barre-Boulet has four goals and three assists in 14 games on the season.
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.
Fix-Wolansky has 16 points (4G / 12A) in 11 games with the Cleveland Monsters this season and 87 points (33G / 54A) in 72 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign. The seventh-round pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has yet to make his mark at the NHL level, scoring only three points (2G / 1A) in 15 career games, but could make his Blue Jackets season debut on Thursday.
Miller has yet to play this season for New Jersey this season due to a lower-body injury. The 30-year-old was acquired in the offseason for a 2025 fifth-round pick from Dallas after he had six goals, 15 assists, 106 SOG, 37 PIMs and a +23 plus/minus through 79 games in 2022-23
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).
Cernak did not play on Tuesday due to an undisclosed injury that forced him to exit the team's November 11th matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes, a 4-0 loss, after playing only 9:57. The 6'4 Slovak defenceman has three points (0G / 3A), 18 blocks, and 33 hits while averaging 18:53 time-on-ice through 15 games this season.
Meier was "banged up" in Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets and was 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.
Vanecek received the night off on Tuesday but will 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.
Lyon signed a two-year, $1.8 million ($900,000 AAV) contract with Detroit in the offseason but has yet to make an appearance after 16 games. The 30-year-old veteran netminder had an inspirational run to the playoffs with Florida in 2022-23, where he put up a 9-4-2 record, .914 SV% and 2.89 GAA. He will take on the Maple Leafs as part of Detroit's second game of the Global Series, who has won their last two games and are ninth in the NHL in goals per game (3.53).
Hirose appeared in the Canucks' previous two games but has been assigned to Abbotsford (AHL) Thursday as Vancouver is in need of a forward after Andrei Kuzmenko (undisclosed) was pronounced out. The 24-year-old defensemen returns to the AHL, where he failed to pick up a point in 11 games prior to his promotion.
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 and will miss Thursday vs. Calgary. 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.
Karlsson was awarded the greatest birthday gift Thursday as he was recalled from Abbotsford (AHL) and is expected to make his NHL debut vs. Calgary. The 24-year-old winger will replace Andrei Kuzmenko (undisclosed) who will miss Thursday. He had two goals, 11 points and six PIMs in 13 games played with Abbotsford.
Hofer will be the starter on Thursday for a red-hot Blues team that has won five of their last six games (5-1-0), outscoring their opposition 26-12. In limited action this season, Hofer has been excellent when called upon, saving 76 of 80 shots faced (.950 SV%) over his last three contests (3-0-0). The Blues will look to continue their winning ways, as they are sizeable -215 road favourites against the league's worst team, the San Jose Sharks, who are averaging a nearly non-existent 1.31 goals per game.
Bobrovsky had the night off on Tuesday but will return to the crease on Thursday when the Panthers visit the Los Angeles Kings. The Panthers are in the midst of the best stretch of the season (6-1-0), highlighted by Bobrovsky's five-game winning streak, in which he has saved 117 of 129 shots (.907 SV%), including a shutout. Despite their strong play, the Panthers are still +111 road underdogs against a very strong Kings team that ranks second in the league offensively (4.00 GF / GP).
Labanc has struggled in 2023-24 with no goals, two assists, 17 SOG, six PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 12 games and will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. St. Louis. The 27-year-old right-winger will be replaced by Anthony Duclair (illness) who is returning after a three-game absence.
Vlasic has yet to pick up a point through 13 games this season while averaging just 13:54 TOI and will be the odd man out of San Jose's lineup as he is replaced by Kyle Burroughs. The 36-year-old veteran is in his 18th NHL season and has struggled to create any type of offence as he has a -8 plus/minus and only 10 SOG.
Del Gaizo had three assists, three SOG, two PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through five games this season to start his NHL career but has been reassigned to Milwaukee (AHL) Thursday. The 24-year-old returns to the Admirals, where he had an assist and two PIMs in five games prior to his promotion.
Hofer will likely be the starter on Thursday for a red-hot Blues team that has won five of their last six games (5-1-0), outscoring their opposition 26-12. In limited action this season, Hofer has been excellent when called upon, saving 76 of 80 shots faced (.950 SV%) over his last three contests (3-0-0). The Blues will look to continue their winning ways, as they are sizeable -215 road favourites against the league's worst team, the San Jose Sharks, who are averaging a nearly non-existent 1.31 goals per game.
