Dakota Mermis will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Bogosian to make his return from a three-game absence due to a concussion. Before his injury, Bogosian had one assist, 13 shots, 13 hits, and 19 penalty minutes in nine games.
Zach Bogosian will be returning from a concussion on Thursday, prompting Minnesota to make Mermis a healthy scratch. Mermis has a -3 plus/minus, three shots, four hits, and one goal in his last four games.
Gustavsson will return to the crease on Thursday in a matchup against the Nashville Predators, who are six points ahead of Minnesota in the standings. Gustavsson allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in his last outing and only has one win in his last four (1-2-1). Minnesota enters action with even -105 odds on Thursday.
Luukkonen will continue his reign over the Sabres' crease on Thursday, starting for the seventh straight time. He has allowed fewer than three goals in five of his last seven games while posting a dazzling .932 SV%. The Sabres are +135 road underdogs on Thursday against a Tampa Bay Lightning club that has struggled to keep the puck out of their net lately, allowing four or more goals in three of their last six games (2-4-0).
Halonen made his NHL debut over the weekend, playing 9:47 time-on-ice and registering one shot on goal in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 25-year-old left-winger has enjoyed a solid season in Utica, with 13 goals, 17 points, 10 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus in 21 games played before his call-up.
Despite losing his last three starts, Colorado has become more comfortable rolling with Annunen between the pipes. That said, he played well in his last outing, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Annunen draws a favourable matchup on Thursday as the Avalanche are sizeable -270 road favourites against the bottom-dwelling Chicago Blackhawks.
Keller was limited to only 8:16 time-on-ice in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets before exiting the contest with an upper-body injury. Keller's absence from the Coyotes' lineup is a troubling blow for a team amid a 13-game losing skid. Before his injury, Keller had produced three points (1G / 2A) in his last two games.
Hellebuyck did not play on Tuesday but will return to the crease on Thursday in a highly touted divisional matchup against the Dallas Stars. Hellebuyck has won two straight, including saving 29 of 32 shots (.906 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. The Jets are winless in two outings this season against a Stars club with only one win in their last seven games (1-3-3).
Mrazek will start for the third straight game for the Blackhawks on Thursday night. Despite only recording one win in his last 10 outings (1-6-3), Mrazek has played very well, recording a respectable .917 SV%. That said, the Blackhawks are poised for another loss as they enter Thursday's game as +255 home underdogs against a high-scoring Colorado Avalanche club that defeated the Dallas Stars 5-1 on Tuesday.
Forsberg did not participate at practice on Thursday but is hopeful to play in the evening against the Minnesota Wild. Forsberg has five points (2G / 3A), seven hits, and 14 shots in his last three games.
Hanley has played the last seven games for the Stars but will be a healthy scratch on Thursday as Nils Lundkvist makes his return from a concussion. Hanley's presence in the Stars lineup will likely be more limited moving forward with the recent acquisition of Chris Tanev.
Lundkvist has not played since suffering a concussion on February 15th but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday, replacing Joel Hanley. The 23-year-old Lundkvist has 15 points (2G / 13A) in 43 games this season.
Ingram has played both games for the Coyotes since returning from a two-week absence due to an injury and will play again on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ingram allowed three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, extending their season-worst losing skid to 13 games. The Coyotes are significant +202 road underdogs heading into action.
Oettinger was between the pipes for the Stars on Tuesday, allowing five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, and will attempt to rebound on Thursday night. The Stars are -129 home favourites in a battle for Central division supremacy against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. The Stars have fared well against the Jets this season, winning both previous contests, including a 27-save shutout for Oettinger in a 2-0 victory.
Wilson did not participate in practice on Thursday for personal reasons but could be an option for the Capitals on Friday. After being held without a point in eight straight, Wilson has begun to heat up, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in his last four games.
Jensen has been battling a lower-body injury and did not play Monday or Tuesday. In his last contest, Jensen played 17:39 time-on-ice, recording two penalty minutes and three hits.
Milano did not play on Monday or Tuesday due to an illness but will return to the lineup on Friday. Earlier this month, Milano returned from a multi-week absence due to injury and has potted three points (2G / 1A) in the four games he has played since.
Rust did not play on Tuesday and will be out on a week-to-week basis as he recovers from an upper-body injury. He was starting to heat up before his injury, scoring four points (3G / 1A) in two games before his injury. Pittsburgh has recalled Jonathan Gruden as a lineup replacement in the interim.
Bryan Rust was placed on Injured Reserve on Thursday, allowing the Penguins to recall Gruden. Gruden played five games with Pittsburgh earlier this season but has spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, scoring 23 points (13G / 10A) in 41 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Zub's return to the Senators lines up with the news that Travis Hamonic will be out for several weeks with an injury. The hard-hitting Zub had two points (0G / 2A), four shots, and 10 hits in his last four games before his injury.
