Cole Schwindt will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, allowing Howden to draw back into the lineup. The 26-year-old Howden is averaging 14:54 time-on-ice and has 30 points (17G / 13A) in 62 games this season.
Barbashev was a surprise scratch on Tuesday, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Barbashev is averaging 16:55 time-on-ice and has 41 points (19G / 22A) in 53 games this season. He has seven points (4G / 3A) in his last seven games.
Wilson exited Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks in the third period after 15:21 time-on-ice and did not return but is expected to play on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old Wilson is averaging 18:46 time-on-ice and has a career-high 54 points (29G / 25A) in 64 games this season. He has nine points (3G / 6A) during a five-game point streak.
The Capitals are riding a five-game winning streak and will turn to Lindgren between the pipes on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. Lindgren was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. The 31-year-old goalie has a 2.64 GAA and .898 SV% in 29 appearances this season (15-10-3). The Capitals enter Thursday's contest as +115 road underdogs against a Los Angles Kings squad with points in four straight games (3-0-1).
Johansson was a fourth-round pick, 105th overall, of the Red Wings in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old defenseman has spent the 2024-25 season with Leksands IF (SweHL), scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in 46 games.
Veleno made his debut with the Blackhawks on Saturday, after being acquired from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith. The 25-year-old Veleno is averaging 11:35 time-on-ice and has zero points through two games with the Blackhawks.
The Kings have points in four straight (3-0-1) and will turn to Kuemper between the pipes on Thursday against his former club, the Washington Capitals. The 34-year-old Kuemper has been excellent lately, posting a superb 1.30 GAA and .952 SV% in his last three games (2-0-1). He has a 2.29 GAA and .914 SV% in 36 games this season (20-8-7). The Kings enter Thursday's contest as -127 home favorites against a Capitals squad riding a five-game winning streak.
The Capitals are riding a five-game winning streak and will likely turn to Lindgren between the pipes on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. Lindgren was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. The 31-year-old goalie has a 2.64 GAA and .898 SV% in 29 appearances this season (15-10-3). The Capitals enter Thursday's contest as +115 road underdogs against a Los Angles Kings squad with points in four straight games (3-0-1).
The Blackhawks have points in five of their last six games (3-1-2) and will turn to Knight between the pipes on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Knight has been solid since joining the Blackhawks but is coming off his first loss with the club, a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, where he saved 18 of 20 shots (.900 SV%). He has a 1.98 GAA and .941 SV% in three games with the Blackhawks (2-1-0). The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +110 road underdogs against a Sharks team outscored 14-7 in their last three games (0-3-0).
Backlund exited the Flames' 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in the first period and remains under evaluation. The 35-year-old Backlund is averaging 18:48 time-on-ice and has 24 points (11G / 13A) in 64 games this season. It's unclear what Backlund's status will be for Calgary's next game on Friday against the Calgary Flames.
Carl Grundstrom will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks, accommodating Gregor's insertion into the Sharks' lineup for the first time since being acquired in a trade last week. The 26-year-old Gregor averaged 11:21 time-on-ice and had six points (4G / 2A) in 40 games with the Ottawa Senators this season.
Noah Gregor will make his San Jose season debut on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks, sending Grundstrom to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Grundstrom is averaging 9:21 time-on-ice and has eight points (2G / 6A) in 43 games this season.
Georgiev has appeared in five straight for the Sharks and will tend the twine again on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old Georgiev has allowed 14 goals on 79 shots (.823 SV%) across his last three games (0-3-0). He has a 3.64 GAA and .874 SV% in 39 appearances this season (12-22-1). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as -121 home favorites against a Blackhawks team with points in five of their last six games (3-1-2).
The Rangers have lost four straight (0-2-2) and will turn to Shesterkin between the pipes on Thursday as they desperately search for wins in a heated race for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 29-year-old Shesterkin played well in his previous outing but did not receive ample goal support, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. He has a 2.87 GAA and .905 SV% in 47 games this season (21-22-4). The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as slight -104 road underdogs against a Wild club that has scored two or fewer goals in seven of their last eight games (3-5-0).
Bichsel is battling an illness that could keep him out of the lineup on the Stars' upcoming two-game road trip. The 20-year-old rookie defenseman is averaging 14:57 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 22 games this season.
With Cam Fowler (personal) returning from a one-game absence, Kessel will be the odd man out of the lineup against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 24-year-old Kessel is averaging 13:04 time-on-ice and has three points (0G / 3A) in 28 games this season.
Matthew Kessel will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing Fowler to return from a one-game absence due to personal reasons. The 33-year-old Fowler is averaging 21:49 time-on-ice and has 25 points (7G / 18A) in 51 games this season.
The Blues have points in nine of their last 10 games (7-1-2) and will roll with Binnington between the pipes on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 31-year-old Binnington saved 21 of 24 shots (.875 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Binnington has been solid since returning from the 4-Nations Face-Off, posting a 2.12 GAA and .915 SV% in six games (5-1-0). The Blue enter Thursday's contest as -123 road favorites against a Penguins squad riding a two-game winning streak.
Mrazek was serviceable in his season debut with the Red Wings on Wednesday, saving 23 of 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 7-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres, helping them snap a six-game losing skid. The 33-year-old Mrazek will likely return to the crease on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes, looking to build on his 3.44 GAA and .890 SV% through 34 games this season (11-19-2).
The Devils are coming off an important 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets but will likely switch to Allen between the pipes on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. Allen was excellent against the Oilers in a matchup earlier this season, recording a 31-save shutout in a 3-0 victory. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as +128 home underdogs against an Oilers squad coming off a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
