Chaffee has not played since December 12th, when he registered two hits in 6:56 time-on-ice. He will likely line up on the fourth line with Luke Glendenning and Waltteri Merela.
Spencer Martin was stellar in his Hurricanes debut last night, a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins, but Raanta will likely tend the twine on Thursday, the back end of a back-to-back. After a forgettable start to the season that resulted in being placed on waivers with an atrocious .855 SV% in his first 15 games (7-5-1), Raanta has rebounded nicely, allowing three or fewer goals in six games (3-2-1), posting a still unimpressive but significantly improved .898 SV%. Despite playing last night, the Hurricanes are -155 home favourites against a struggling New Jersey Devils club.
Oettinger will start for the second straight game on Thursday in a favourable matchup against the low-scoring Anaheim Ducks, as the Stars are sizeable -326 home favourites. Oettinger has showcased a mixed bag of results all season, a trend that has continued since returning from a three-week absence due to a lower-body injury, allowing four or more goals in five games (3-2-0), posting a serviceable .910 SV%.
Ersson will start for the third straight game on Thursday and will likely continue to see the majority of action between the pipes for the Flyers, with Carter Hart away from the team on an indefinite leave of absence. Despite a solid season for the 24-year-old Ersson, he has allowed four goals in two straight (0-2-0), posting an ugly .846 SV%. The Flyers are +109 road underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings club with only two regulation losses in their last 10 games (7-2-1).
Chytil has been limited to 10 games this season, last playing on November 2nd when he exited the game with an upper-body injury. Before his injury, Chytil was playing almost exclusively on a line with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere.
Bonino is unlikely to play on Friday after missing practice on Thursday due to personal reasons. The 35-year-old Bonino is averaging 12:15 time-on-ice this season and has been held off the scoresheet in 14 straight games.
Montembault had the night off in the Canadiens' previous contest, getting a chance to regroup after a forgettable performance in his last outing. Montembault allowed eight goals on 30 shots (.733 SV%) in a 9-4 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday, far and away his worst performance in an otherwise serviceable 2023-24 campaign. The Canadiens have dropped three straight (0-3-0), being outscored 19-7, and are +132 home underdogs against the New York Islanders, who are 3-6-1 in their last 10.
Montembault had the night off in the Canadiens' previous contest, getting a chance to regroup after a forgettable performance in his last outing. Montembault allowed eight goals on 30 shots (.733 SV%) in a 9-4 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday, far and away his worst performance in an otherwise serviceable 2023-24 campaign. The Canadiens have dropped three straight (0-3-0), being outscored 19-7, and are +132 home underdogs against the New York Islanders, who are 3-6-1 in their last 10.
Vasilevskiy has won five of his last six contests and will return to the crease for the third straight game on Thursday night. Vasilevskiy has struggled since returning from off-season back surgery in November but is amid a favourable stretch of play, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (5-1-0), posting a serviceable .919 SV%. The Lightning has a favourable matchup as -206 home favourites against an Arizona Coyotes club that played last night, losing 6-2 to the Florida Panthers.
Palat last played on December 30th, missing the last 10 games, but will return to the lineup on Thursday after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. In 35 games this season, Palat has 14 points (5G / 9A), his lowest point-per-game pace since his rookie season in 2012-13.
Korpisalo will start for the third time in the last four games when the Senators host the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. The 29-year-old Korpisalo has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last three starts (2-0-1), posting a stellar .935 SV%. The Senators are +123 home underdogs against a Bruins club that suffered a dramatic 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes last night.
Despite Vitek Vanecek winning his last two starts, including a roller-coaster 6-5 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights in the Devils' last game, the Devils will likely return to Daws between the pipes on Thursday night. Daws has dropped three straight games (0-3-0), including his worst performance of the season in his last outing, allowing six goals on 36 shots (.833 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The struggling Devils, losers of five of seven (2-4-1), are +140 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes club that played last night, defeating the Boston Bruins 3-2.
On the back end of a back-to-back, the Coyotes will turn to Ingram between the pipes after Karel Vejmelka allowed six goals in a 6-2 loss to the Florida Panthers last night. Before Wednesday, Ingram started five straight games (3-1-1), allowing three or fewer goals in each, posting a stellar .941 SV%. The Coyotes are +173 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that has won six of their last seven contests (6-1-0).
The Devils have recalled Misyul from the Utica Comets of the AHL in correspondence to Cal Foote taking an indefinite leave of absence. In his first professional season in North America, Misyul has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 30 games with Utica.
The Devils have recalled Dowling from the Utica Comets of the AHL in correspondence to Michael McLeod taking an indefinite leave of absence. The 33-year-old Dowling has 19 points (8G / 11A) in 30 games with Utica this season.
Talbot will take the crease for the first time in four games after yielding it to David Rittich for the last week but is expected to start Wednesday vs. Buffalo. The 36-year-old finds himself in the midst of an eight-game losing streak but still holds a respectable 14-11-5 record, 2.43 GAA and .915 SV%. He'll take on the Buffalo Sabres, who are on the back end of a back-to-back and have lost their last two contests.
Saville will rejoin the AHL's Silver Knights now that Adin Hill and Logan Thompson are both finally back healthy for the Golden Knights. Saville has posted a respectable .913 SV% in eight games with Henderson this season, though he's yet to see any game action with the Golden Knights.
Hayden will sit on Wednesday as Kailer Yamamoto draws back into the lineup in his place. Hayden is yet to register a point in two games with the Kraken this season.
Yamamoto will draw in for John Hayden, who is a healthy scratch on Wednesday. Yamamoto has seven goals and five assists in 42 games this season.
After a come-from-behind 4-3 victory against the Calgary Flames last night, the Blues will switch to Hofer between the pipes on the back end of a back-to-back. Hofer has started about one of every three games for the Blues lately but has not been able to consistently lead them to victory. The 23-year-old Hofer is 0-3-0 in his last three starts, allowing three or more goals in each, posting a pedestrian .900 SV%. The Blues are sizeable +211 road underdogs against a red-hot Vancouver Canucks team that has won eight of their last nine contests (8-1-0).
