With Alexander Barabanov being held out for trade-related reasons, Labanc will make his return to the Sharks lineup. Labanc has two goals and five assists in 37 games this season.
Cormier was the fourth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 26-year-old netminder has never played an NHL game and has struggled with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) this season, posting a 3.78 GAA and .868 SV% in five games (1-2-2).
The Golden Knights will turn to Hill for the fourth time in the last five games. Hill has struggled lately, losing six of his last seven games and allowing three or more goals six times. In his last outing, he allowed five goals on 32 shots (.844 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Golden Knights enter action as -113 home favourites in a divisional tilt against the Vancouver Canucks
With Matthew Highmore injured, Ottawa recalled Smejkal from Belleville (AHL). Smejkal played nine games with Ottawa earlier this season but has spent most of his time with Belleville, tallying 19 points (8G / 11A) in 39 games.
With Thomas Chabot injured, Ottawa recalled Guenette from Belleville (AHL). Guenette played two games with Ottawa earlier this season but has spent most of his time with Belleville, scoring 29 points (5G / 24A) in 49 games.
The Golden Knights gave up a conditional 2025 first-round pick, a conditional third-round pick, a 2024 fifth-round pick and Daniil Miromanov to acquire Hanifin on Wednesday. The Flames retained 50 percent of Hanifin's contract and the Flyers retained 25 percent as a third-party broker. At 25 percent, Hanifin will carry a $1.2375M AAV cap-hit. The 27-year-old defenseman heads to Vegas with 11 goals and 24 assists (35 points) in 61 games this season.
Andersen was diagnosed with deep-vein thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolisms in November. He has actively participated in practice the last several weeks and could return to the lineup imminently after being activated from IR on Thursday. Anderson has a 2.87 GAA and .894 SV% in six games this season (4-1-0), and at the very least, he will likely return to a timeshare between the pipes.
Trade rumours circulating Walker for the last few weeks finally materialized on Wednesday in a trade sending him to Colorado. The 29-year-old Walker, in his first season with the Philadelphia Flyers, tallied 22 points (6G / 16A), 109 shots, 81 hits, and 98 blocks in 68 games.
After trading Ryan Johansen to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Avalanche filled their center-ice gap by acquiring Mittelstadt from the Buffalo Sabres. The 25-year-old Mittelstadt was enjoying his best season with the Sabres, with 47 points (14G / 33A) in 62 games.
The Golden Knights will likely turn to Hill for the fourth time in the last five games. Hill has struggled lately, losing six of his last seven games and allowing three or more goals six times. In his last outing, he allowed five goals on 32 shots (.844 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Golden Knights enter action as -113 home favourites in a divisional tilt against the Vancouver Canucks.
Korpisalo has not played in three straight but will return to the crease on Thursday against his former team, the Los Angeles Kings. Korpisalo has lost five straight, including a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators in his last outing where he allowed four goals on 36 shots (.889 SV%). The Senators lost 2-1 last night to the Anaheim Ducks and are entering action as +170 road underdogs on Thursday night.
Binnington has performed admirably most of the season, keeping the Blues in playoff contention, and will return to the crease on Thursday night. The 30-year-old Binnington had the night off on Tuesday, a 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders, but is riding a two-game winning streak, allowing only one goal in both outings. The Blues enter action as +157 road underdogs on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.
Kaliyev has not played since February 27th, missing three games, but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. Kaliyev has been in and out of the lineup for the last several months as a result of inconsistent play. He has zero points in his last 16 games.
With Darcy Kuemper's status for Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins uncertain due to an illness, the Capitals have recalled Shepard from the Hershey Bears (AHL). Hunter played reasonably in a four-game stint with the Capitals earlier this season but has spent most of his time in the AHL, posting a 2.00 GAA and .919 SV% in 26 games (21-3-2) with the Bears.
Katchouk was a healthy scratch in five of the last seven games for the Blackhawks and was placed on waivers on Thursday. The 25-year-old has nine points (5G / 4A) in 38 games this season.
Duhaime will add a rugged edge to Colorado's bottom-six forward group as they shape their roster heading into the playoffs. In 62 games with Minnesota this season, Duhaime had eight points (4G / 4A), 66 penalty minutes, and 153 hits.
Bjornfot has not played an NHL game since January 10th and was placed on waivers on Thursday. In three games this season, the 22-year-old Bjornfot has zero points, two hits, and five blocks.
Oesterle made his first appearance in the Flames lineup in nearly two months earlier this week, playing 14:07 time-on-ice and recording two hits. Oesterle has no goals and two assists in 22 games this season.
The Islanders are riding a four-game winning streak and will turn to Sorokin for the sixth straight time on Thursday night. Sorokin has been tremendous lately, allowing fewer than three goals in three of his last four (4-0-0), including saving 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues in his last outing. The Islanders enter action as sizeable -286 road favourites against the San Jose Sharks.
Lagesson played in the Maple Leafs' last contest, a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres, but was a healthy scratch in the previous two games. In 30 games this season, Lagesson has four points (0G / 4A), 57 hits, and 38 blocks.
