Kulich made his NHL debut on Saturday, playing 14:53 time-on-ice, recording zero points, one shot on goal, and a -1 plus/minus. He has been reassigned to the Rochester Americans of the AHL as the Sabres have recalled Brandon Biro.
Markstrom was a full participant at practice and will likely be available to return to the crease for the Flames on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Markstrom was the starting goalie for the Flames one week ago against the Stars, saving 24 of 28 shots (.857 SV%), in a 7-4 victory.
Hirose last played on November 18th but has since served as a healthy scratch, prompting his reassignment to the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. In a corresponding move, the Canucks have recalled veteran defenceman Matt Irwin, who has yet to play at the NHL level this season but has eight points (0G / 8A) in 12 games with Abbotsford.
Karlsson made his NHL debut with the Canucks on November 16 and could be an option to draw back into their lineup after being recalled from Abbotsford (AHL) on Wednesday. In 17 games with Abbotsford, Karlsson has 15 points (3G / 12A) and a +5 plus/minus rating.
Irwin was an NHL regular with the Washington Capital last season, scoring five points (2G / 3A) in 61 games but has exclusively played in the AHL this season with the Abbotsford Canucks, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in 13 games. Irwin was recalled along with Linus Karlsson and could serve as a replacement for Akito Hirose, who was reassigned to Abbotsford in a corresponding move.
Oesterle played four games with the Flames earlier this season, going without a point, but has spent most of his time in the AHL with the Calgary Wrangler where he has eight points (0G / 8A) in 12 games. During his brief stint with the Flames, he played almost exclusively with either Dennis Gilbert or Nikita Zadorov.
Hamilton logged 13:25 TOI before departing Tuesday's come-from-behind win over the Islanders. Hamilton did not return for the third period and head coach Lindy Ruff's only update was that he "couldn't play." Hamilton will be a game-time decision on Thursday.
Greenway has missed the last two games for the Sabres tending to a personal matter but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. Through 19 games this season, Greenway has six points (2G / 4A), 19 penalty minutes, and 28 hits while averaging a career-high 17:08 time-on-ice. He has spent the majority of the season partnered with centerman Casey Mittelstadt.
Primeau will start on Thursday for the Canadiens, the back end of a back-to-back, after Samuel Montembeault got the nod on Wednesday. Primeau played exceptionally in his most recent contest, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, but will be facing a significantly more challenging opponent in the Florida Panthers on Thursday. The Panthers rank in the bottom third of the league offensively (2.91 GF / GP) but will still be heavy road favourites against a Canadiens team that played and travelled the previous night.
Pezzetta has played five consecutive games for the Canadiens but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Joel Armia to draw back into the lineup. Through 17 games this season, Pezzetta is averaging 7:48 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A).
Armia has not played since November 9th, a span of eight games, but will draw back into the lineup for the Canadiens on Wednesday in favour of Michael Pezzetta, who will be a healthy scratch. In six games this season, Armia has one point (1G / 0A) and eight shots while averaging 12:38 time-on-ice.
Merzlikins will start for the fourth time in the last five games for the Blue Jackets and look to build on his best stretch of play this season. After a six-game run of winless hockey for Merzlikins (0-4-1), posting a .891 SV%, he has won two of his last three (2-1-0), registering a tremendous .940 SV%, including a heroic 40-save performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Blue Jackets are -125 home favourites on Wednesday against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost five of their last seven (2-5-0), being outscored 27-17.
Laberge is an undrafted left-winger who has spent the last three seasons with the Utica Comets of the AHL, scoring 32 points (14G / 18A) in 104 combined games. The 26-year-old Laberge has yet to play an NHL game and will likely serve as a depth forward for the Devils while they are without Erik Haula and Timo Meier.
Giordano played only 6:31 time-on-ice before exiting Tuesday's contest with a suspected upper-body injury and is expected to miss an extended period, leaving a huge void on a defensive core already without Timothy Liljegren and John Klingberg. Giordano has been a consistent presence on the back end for the Maple Leafs this season, recording five points (1G / 4A) in 20 games while averaging 17:52.
Jim Montgomery and the Bruins coaching staff have favoured Swayman over Linus Ullmark in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Thursday as Swayman will start for the fifth time in the last seven games. Swayman has been the more consistent of the two goalies this season but has struggled lately, as has the entire team, failing to record a victory in three straight games (0-1-1), posting a subpar .882 SV% in the process. The Bruins will look for only their second win in six games (1-3-1) against a low-scoring San Jose Sharks team (1.64 GF / GP) that has played significantly better lately, winning three of their last six (3-2-1).
Merzlikins will likely start for the fourth time in the last five games for the Blue Jackets and look to build on his best stretch of play this season. After a six-game run of winless hockey for Merzlikins (0-4-1), posting a .891 SV%, he has won two of his last three (2-1-0), registering a tremendous .940 SV%, including a heroic 40-save performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Blue Jackets are -125 home favourites on Wednesday against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost five of their last seven (2-5-0), being outscored 27-17.
Shesterkin will return to the crease on Wednesday after allowing four goals on 38 shots (.895 SV%) in his last contest, a 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. During his Vezina-winning 2021-22 season, Shesterkin allowed four or more goals only seven times the entire season (53 games), a considerably stronger ratio than the four times he has allowed four or more in 12 games this season. That said, Shesterkin looks poised to rebound on Wednesday as the Rangers are -191 home favourites against a Detroit Red Wings team that will be without leading scorer Dylan Larkin.
Shesterkin will likely return to the crease on Wednesday after allowing four goals on 38 shots (.895 SV%) in his last contest, a 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. During his Vezina-winning 2021-22 season, Shesterkin allowed four or more goals only seven times the entire season (53 games), a considerably stronger ratio than the four times he has allowed four or more in 12 games this season. That said, Shesterkin looks poised to rebound on Wednesday as the Rangers are -191 home favourites against a Detroit Red Wings team that will be without leading scorer Dylan Larkin.
Biro played several games with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, where he has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 10 games, after returning from an injury that derailed a hot start to his NHL campaign. Before his injury, Biro played two games with the Sabres, scoring two goals while averaging 13:00 time-on-ice.
Nylander was held without a point in three games with Pittsburgh but was a healthy scratch on Tuesday when Bryan Rust returned to the lineup. Nylander will return to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), where he had eight points (5G / 3A) in 11 games this season.
