Zub has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury and initially appeared like might return on Thursday but has now officially been ruled out of the contest against the Los Angeles Kings. In four games this season, Zub has amassed three points (1G / 2A), eight hits, and nine blocks while averaging 17:57 time-on-ice.
Shesterkin appears to be the starter on Thursday as he looks for his fourth consecutive victory. Shesterkin has been lights-out during his current three-game winning streak, allowing only six goals total and posting a .932 SV%. The Rangers in general are off to a fabulous start to the 2023-24 campaign, posting a 7-2-0 record, but will be challenged tonight as they welcome the Carolina Hurricanes, who have outscored their opposition 9-4 over their last three games (3-0-0).
Hart left the Flyers' Wednesday night game against the Buffalo Sabres midway through the first period with an apparent mid-body injury and was unable to return. Hart's status hasn't been confirmed yet but any extended absence will be a huge loss for the Flyers as he has been off to a terrific start, posting a 2.52 GAA and .913 SV% through eight games (4-3-1). Look for Samuel Ersson and Felix Sandstrom to take on Hart's goaltending duties in his absence.
Tufte played 11:28 in his Avalanche debut on Wednesday, recording four shots, one hit, and a -1 plus/minus rating. He has now been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles where he has eight points (6G / 2A) in six games.
Jones was a precautionary call-up by the Avalanche on Wednesday but did not make it into the lineup as, game-time decisions Cale Makar and Bowen Byram were both deemed fit to play. Jones has now been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL where he has four points (0G / 4A) in eight games.
The Panthers have recalled Asplund from the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, where he has five points (2G / 3A) in seven games this season. Asplund spent last season split between the Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators, registering eight points (2G / 6A) in 46 games.
Byram was listed as a game-time decision for Wednesday's game but will suit up for his ninth game of the season. Byram enters the evening with one goal and one assist (two points) while firing 11 shots on goal and averaging 18:39 TOI/gm.
Makar briefly left the Avalanche game on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres after being pushed into the boards by Kyle Okposo but returned shortly after. He has nine points (3G / 6A) in eight games and was a game-time decision on Wednesday.
Binnington will be the starter for the Blues on Wednesday as they visit the Colorado Avalanche. The 30-year-old netminder is hoping to get back into the win column after losing consecutive games (0-2-0) and recording a .875 SV%. Before that, Binnington was off to a torrid start with a 2-0-1 record and .959 SV% but seems to have levelled off to more familiar territory in recent games. The Blues are +194 road underdogs on Wednesday even though the Avalanche have been shut out in consecutive contests.
Markstrom has been one of the few bright spots on a horrid start to the season for the Flames as he will suit up between the pipes for his eighth start. Despite a respectable 2.88 GAA and .901 SV% for Markstrom in seven games (1-5-1), the Flames rank fifth worst defensively, averaging 3.67 goals allowed per game. The Flames' complete inability to score (2.11 GF / GP) has culminated in a very frustrating start for a team that had high hopes of returning to the playoffs before the season started. The Flames will be welcoming a Dallas Stars team that is very stingy defensively (2.43 GA / GP) and is off to an impressive 5-1-1 start.
It's the first missed game of the young season for Zadorov. The 28-year-old blue-liner has no goals, two assists and 19 hits through his opening nine games. Jordan Oesterle will draw back into the lineup in place of Zadorov.
Hunt has been recalled from Iowa (AHL) for a second time this season after failing to put up a point in four games but has seven PIMs and a -3 plus/minus. He returns to Minnesota, where he made his NHL debut earlier this season in two games, playing only 4:52 TOI/GP.
Hutton has been a healthy scratch for Vegas' previous five games but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Winnipeg to replace Nicolas Hague (lower body). The 30-year-old defenseman has an assist, eight SOG, five PIMs, and a +3 plus/minus through five games played in 2023-24.
Hague has a goal, two assists, 14 PIMs, eight SOG, and a -1 plus/minus but will be out for at least this weekend's games as he deals with a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old will be replaced by Ben Hutton on Vegas' third defensive pairing.
Kahkonen stopped 37 of 40 shots against (.925 SV%) in his previous start vs. Carolina but picked up his third-straight loss of the season and will take the crease again Thursday vs. Vancouver. The 27-year-old has been decent despite no offensive help with his 0-3-0 record, .907 SV%, and 3.16 GAA. He will try to get San Jose into the win column for the first time this season (0-8-1) as they take on Vancouver, who is third in the NHL in goals per game (4.0).
Ekman-Larsson was forced to leave the Panthers' previous game after taking a high hit from Charlie McAvoy which led to a four-game suspension and will be a game-time decision Thursday vs. Detroit. The 32-year-old signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Panthers in the offseason and has a goal, two assists, 21 SOG and six PIMs in eight games this season.
Bennett saw his first action of the season on Monday after returning from an injury (lower-body) but played only 7:54 before being forced to leave the game with another lower-body injury. This injury isn't believed to be related to the previous one that kept him out of action but is still cause for concern as he has a week-to-week timeline for his next potential return. Bennett had 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.
