An illness to Jack Eichel allows Smith to return to the lineup after serving one game as a healthy scratch. The 34-year-old Smith is pacing for career-low offensive totals, with six points (3G / 3A) through 28 games.
Despite seeing limited powerplay time due to the Golden Knights running a five-forward top unit, Theodore has remained productive from the blueline this season, with 20 points (4G / 16A) in 31 games. He will miss his first game of the season, out with an upper-body injury, on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.
Eichel has been excellent this season and is pacing for career-best offensive totals, with 41 points (12G / 29A) in 31 games. He has nine points (1G / 8A) during a five-game point streak. The 29-year-old Eichel will not play on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils due to an illness, missing his first game of the season.
The Jets went 3-8-1 in 12 games with Hellebuyck sidelined due to a knee injury, but have collected at least a point in both games since his return (1-0-1). The 32-year-old Hellebuyck has been solid between the pipes, as per usual, posting a 2.44 GAA and .915 SV% in 16 games (9-6-1). The Jets enter the action on Wednesday as -132 road favorites against a St. Louis Blues team that has been outscored 19-9 in their last four games (1-3-0).
The Golden Knights have not worried about easing Hart back into action, as he likely returns to the crease for the fifth time in seven games on Wednesday when they face the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old Hart hasn't needed to be spectacular to pick up a 3-0-1 record since his return to the NHL, posting a 2.61 GAA and .901 SV%. The Golden Knights defeated the Devils 3-0 two weeks ago and enter the action on Wednesday as -170 home favorites.
The Red Wings have played well lately, with points in eight of their last nine (6-1-2), largely due to the improved play of John Gibson between the pipes. That said, they will turn to Talbot on Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth. The 38-year-old Talbot has a 3.01 GAA and .885 SV% in 17 games (9-5-2) and has lost five straight decisions (0-3-2). The Red Wings enter Wednesday’s contest as -118 home favorites against a Mammoth team that has lost four of their last six (2-4-0).
Jeannot has played every game this season, but could be at risk of missing Thursday's game against the Edmonton Oilers due to an illness. The 28-year-old Jeannot is producing at his best offensive rate since his rookie season. He has 14 points (3G / 11A) and 100 hits in 34 games.
With the Canucks acquiring several new players via trade, Bains has become the odd-man out and has been assigned to Abbotsford (AHL). The 24-year-old Bains had five points (1G / 4A) in 26 games with Vancouver this season.
Nick DeSimone will draw back into Utah's lineup on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings, sending Maatta to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Maatta is averaging a career-low 11:55 time-on-ice and has one assist in 19 games this season.
Olli Maatta will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings, allowing DeSimone to re-enter the lineup. The 31-year-old DeSimone is averaging 16:25 time-on-ice and has three points (2G / 1A) in 10 games this season.
Misa has battled some injuries earlier in his career and has been sidelined since November 1st. Injuries aside, the Sharks have been easing the 18-year-old Misa into gameplay this season, limited to only seven games, scoring three points (1G / 2A). The talented young forward will get a chance to more regularly showcase his talents and hopefully gain some confidence while playing for Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior Championship.
Byfield was out of the lineup in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars due to an illness, but is expected to return on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. The 23-year-old Byfield has 19 points (4G / 15A) in 31 games this season, but has recently been demoted from the top powerplay unit and has seen his production dip significantly. He has only two points (0G / 2A) in his last 12 games.
With Darcy Kuemper (upper body) on Injured Reserve, Forsberg will likely tend the twine for the Kings on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. The 33-year-old Forsberg allowed three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%) in relief of Kuemper in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Forsberg has a 2.82 GAA and .893 SV% in 10 games this season (4-3-3). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as +128 road underdogs against a Panthers team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (5-1-0).
The Rangers are shaking up their roster, sending Jaroslav Chmelar and Brett Berard to Hartford (AHL), with Brennan Othmann and Gabriel Perreault coming back the other way in corresponding moves. The 22-year-old Chmelar made his NHL debut this season and is searching for his first point through six games. He has 11 points (3G / 8A) in the AHL through 19 games with Hartford this season.
The Rangers are shaking up their roster, sending Jaroslav Chmelar and Brett Berard to Hartford (AHL), with Brennan Othmann and Gabriel Perreault coming back the other way in corresponding moves. Berard went scoreless in 11 games with the Rangers earlier this season. He has nine points (2G / 7A) in 17 games with Hartford in the AHL.
The Rangers are shaking up their roster, sending Jaroslav Chmelar and Brett Berard to Hartford (AHL), with Brennan Othmann and Gabriel Perreault coming back the other way in corresponding moves. The 20-year-old Perreault recorded one assists in three games with the Rangers earlier this season, but has spent most of the campaign in the AHL, where he has 17 points (10G / 7A) in 20 games with Hartford.
The Rangers are shaking up their roster, sending Jaroslav Chmelar and Brett Berard to Hartford (AHL), with Brennan Othmann and Gabriel Perreault coming back the other way in corresponding moves. The 23-year-old Othmann has only played one game with the Rangers this season. He has 10 points (4G / 6A) in 19 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Slavin returned from a two-month absence due to a lower-body injury in Sunday's 3-2 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers. He was eased into the lineup, playing only 14:31 time-on-ice on the Hurricanes' third defensive pair.
Ellis has not played since exiting a 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers late in the first period. The 25-year-old first-year NHL goalie is battling a concussion. He will remain out of the lineup on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers and be reevaluated on Friday. He has a 3.25 GAA and .895 SV% in eight appearances (4-3-0).
Krebs has nine assists, but is still searching for his first goal of the season through 32 games. The 24-year-old Krebs did not practice on Wednesday due to an illness, and it is unclear if he will be ready to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
