Tampa Bay's blueline has been decimated with injuries this season, but they will receive a reinforcement, with McDonagh set to return to the lineup on Thursday. The 36-year-old McDonagh has not played in six weeks. He has six points (3G / 3A) in 15 games this season.
Dan Vladar has unquestionably been the more reliable Flyers goalie this season, but they will turn to Ersson to tend the twine on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 26-year-old Ersson has lost two straight (0-1-1), posting a 3.05 GAA and .878 SV%. He has a 2.96 GAA and .870 SV% through 11 games this season (5-3-3). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +126 road underdogs against a Sabres team that sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference despite a decent .500 record (14-14-4).
Jeannot has played every game this season, a trend that will continue despite battling an illness the past couple days. 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.
Knight has received very little goal support between the pipes lately, with his team scoring two or fewer goals in four of his last five outings (2-3-0), despite posting a serviceable 2.60 GAA and .902 SV% in those games. The 24-year-old Knight has a solid 2.55 GAA and .914 SV% in 23 games this season, but his team has fallen down the standings in recent weeks. The Blackhawks enter the action on Thursday as +158 road underdogs against a Montreal Canadiens team coming off a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Joseph Woll played well in his return from a lower-body injury in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, but the Maple Leafs seem to be easing the often-injured netminder back into action, turning to Hildeby on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old Hildeby struggled in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 32 shots (.813 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. That said, the Swedish netminder had been excellent between the pipes, posting a 1.85 GAA and .933 SV% in 10 games (3-4-3) before his blip against the Oilers. The Maple Leafs enter the action on Thursday as +135 road underdogs against a Capitals team that has been outscored 10-1 in their last two games (0-2-0).
Timmins is battling an undisclosed injury and could be at risk of missing his first game of the season. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 19:20 time-on-ice, recording 69 blocks, 23 hits, and six assists in 32 games.
After a miserable 2024-25 season, posting a 3.11 GAA and .892 SV% in 58 games (22-29-7), Swayman has returned to the form of the goalie that Boston awarded an eight-year contract extension to, posting a 2.74 GAA and .909 SV% through 22 outings this season (14-8-0). The 27-year-old American goalie has allowed two or fewer goals in seven of his last nine games (6-3-0), posting a.920 SV%. The Bruins enter the action on Thursday as +117 home underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last seven games (5-1-1).
The Senators have lost four of their last six (2-4-0), but are coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets in which Ullmark impressed with a 23-save performance (.920 SV%). That said, the 32-year-old Ullmark has battled consistency issues this season, showcasing a concerning 3.00 GAA and .879 SV% through 24 games (12-8-4). Still, the Senators enter the action on Thursday as -166 home favorites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team on a miserable six-game losing skid, which includes several late-game collapses (0-2-4).
With Sam Montembeault on a conditioning assignment with the Laval Rocket (AHL), Montreal is seemingly rotating between Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler. Dobes will tend the twine on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 24-year-old Dobes has been wildly inconsistent this season, but is coming off a stellar performance, saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. He has a 3.03 GAA and .892 SV% in 18 games this season (11-5-2). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as -178 home favorites against a Blackhawks team that has struggled without Connor Bedard (upper body) and has been outscored 10-4 in their last three games (0-3-0).
Hunt's Tuesday night was cut short due to an undisclosed injury, exiting the game midway through the first period. He has been retroactively played on Injured Reserve due to an undisclosed injury and will be sidelined for, at minimum, one week. The 23-year-old Hunt has two assists in 12 games this season.
Spacek was drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and is awaiting his NHL debut. The 22-year-old defenseman has 11 points (0G / 11A) in 26 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season.
The Capitals were atop the Eastern Conference one week ago, but after losing three straight (0-2-1), they find themselves in a Wild Card spot in an ultra-tight standings race. That said, Thompson has been outstanding for Washington this season, posting a 2.09 GAA and .922 SV% in 23 games (13-7-3). Better yet, he has a 1.90 GAA and .940 SV% in his last eight outings (5-1-2). The Capitals enter the action on Thursday as -150 home favorites against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that narrowly defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in a 3-2 come-from-behind win on Tuesday to snap a two-game losing skid.
Brendan Gaunce (personal) will not play on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild, allowing Aston-Reese to re-enter the lineup for the first time in over two weeks. The 31-year-old Aston-Reese has three assists and 41 hits in 17 games this season.
Gaunce has been a lineup-regular for Columbus over the past couple of weeks, but he will exit the lineup on Thursday to tend to a personal matter. The 31-year-old Gaunce has four points (1G / 3A) in 12 games this season. Zach Aston-Reese will draw back into the Blue Jackets' lineup as Gaunce's replacement.
Greaves snapped a personal seven-game losing streak (0-4-3) in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Anaheim Ducks, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%). Despite the lack of results, Greaves has undoubtedly been the more reliable Blue Jackets' goalie this season and will return to the crease for a sixth straight game on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old Greaves has a solid 2.50 GAA and .911 SV% in his last 13 games (5-4-4). That said, the Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as slight +104 home underdogs against a red-hot Wild team that has outscored its opposition 23-7 during a five-game winning streak.
Eichel was absent from practice on Tuesday due to an illness, but was originally expected to be ready to play on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Eichel ultimately ended up missing his first game of the season and the Golden Knights' Head Coach Bruce Cassidy gave the impression that he may ending up missing more than just the one game. Vegas returns to action on Saturday against the Calgary Flames.
Warren made his NHL debut earlier this season and tallied two assists in two games with New York. The 24-year-old defenseman has spent most of the season in the AHL, where he has 12 points (3G / 9A) in 17 games with the Bridgeport Islanders.
The Sabres' three-goalie rotation is, at least temporarily, down to two with Colten Ellis (concussion) sidelined. As such, Lyon will return to the crease on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 33-year-old Lyon is on a hot run lately, winning three straight while posting a solid 2.05 GAA and .925 SV%. He has a 2.99 GAA and .905 SV5 through 17 appearances this season (6-6-3). The Sabres enter the action on Thursday as -137 home favourites against a Flyers team with points in five straight games (2-0-3).
