Geekie was a healthy scratch for the Kraken's previous game but he will draw back into the lineup on the fourth line for their matchup Thursday vs. Toronto. The 24-year-old has four goals, 10 assists, 27 SOG and a +17 plus/minus through 28 games so far this season.
Jones stopped 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) for his second straight win as he beat Edmonton in his previous start. The 32-year-old is top six in the NHL in wins with his 16-5-3 record but has horrendous numbers with his .890 SV% and 2.92 GAA. He draws the tough task of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who lost their last game 6-5 in the shootout to St. Louis but are seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.42).
Halak stopped 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) for his third win in four starts as he beat Florida in his previous start. The Rangers backup has struggled this season, with his 3-6-1 record, 3.03 GAA and .893 SV%. He draws the Montreal Canadiens, who are in the midst of a six-game losing streak and have lost nine of their last ten games.
Brodzinski has a goal and an assist with 18 SOG and a +4 plus/minus through 11 games but will miss Thursday's contest due to the birth of his child. Gustav Rydahl will make his NHL debut in place of Brodzinski.
Gallagher has four goals, five assists, 57 SOG, 31 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 25 games so far this season but will miss Thursday's game vs. the Rangers due to a lower-body injury.
Robinson has three goals, 10 points, 47 SOG and a -9 plus/minus through 34 games played but will miss Thursday's game vs. the Capitals with an upper-body injury. Carson Meyer will replace him in Columbus' lineup.
Meyer has yet to pick up a point across nine games with the Blue Jackets' but will draw back into the lineup as Eric Robinson misses Thursday's game due to injury (upper body). Mayer will hope to duplicate some of the success he was having in Cleveland (AHL) before he was recalled, as he had six goals and 18 points across 15 games.
Merzlikins allowed three goals on 25 shots (.880 SV%) to snap a two-game winning streak as he was downed by Florida in his last start. The 28-year-old has the league's lowest SV% with his .864 SV%, 4.68 GAA and 4-8-0 record. He draws the tough task of the Washington Capitals, who have won six of their last eight games after dropping their previous contest 5-4 to Buffalo in overtime.
Rydahl has four goals, nine points, 24 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 24 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). He will make his NHL debut Thursday vs. Montreal as he replaces Jonny Brodzinski.
Nylander is having a phenomenal season leading the high-powered Maple Leafs in both goals (22) and points (45) across 38 games and will play Thursday after missing practice Wednesday due to an illness. He will look to continue to be a key contributor to Toronto's offence, which is seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.42).
Allen allowed a career-high nine goals on 40 shots (.775 SV%) to pick up his fifth straight loss as he was walloped by Washington in his previous start. The Canadiens' apparent starter has been losing his grip on the job due to his ugly 9-15-1 record, .894 SV% and 3.52 GAA. He faces the New York Rangers, who have won their last two games and are ninth in the NHL in shots per game (32.6).
Murray stopped 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) as he got back in the win column with a victory over Colorado in his last start Saturday. The 28-year-old has been incredibly solid in his first season in Toronto, with his 9-3-2 record, 2.44 GAA and .920 SV%. He will face the high-scoring Seattle Kraken, who have won their last two games and are fifth in the NHL in goals per game (3.5).
Merzlikins allowed three goals on 25 shots (.880 SV%) to snap a two-game winning streak as he was downed by Florida in his last start. The 28-year-old has the league's lowest SV% with his .864 SV%, 4.68 GAA and 4-8-0 record. He draws the tough task of the Washington Capitals, who have won six of their last eight games after dropping their previous contest 5-4 to Buffalo in overtime.
Hart left his previous start vs. Carolina due to an injury on Dec. 23rd after allowing a goal on seven shots (.857 SV%) and taking the loss to Carolina. The 24-year-old has been one of the few bright spots in Philadelphia this season, with his 10-11-6 record, 2.89 GAA and .911 SV%. He gets one of the best return matchups possible in the Arizona Coyotes, who are 25th in the NHL in goals (2.89) and last in shots per game (25.1).
Allen allowed a career-high nine goals on 40 shots (.775 SV%) to pick up his fifth straight loss as he was walloped by Washington in his previous start. The Canadiens' apparent starter has been losing his grip on the job due to his ugly 9-15-1 record, .894 SV% and 3.52 GAA. He faces the New York Rangers, who have won their last two games and are ninth in the NHL in shots per game (32.6).
Bellows failed to pick up a point across 13 games with Philadelphia and the New York Islanders in his previous time in the NHL this season but will be recalled again from Lehigh Valley (AHL) Thursday. In 11 games in the AHL, he had three goals, six assists and 16 PIMs.
Sandstrom has a 1-6-1 record, 3.37 GAA and .888 SV% and will head to Lehigh Valley (AHL) for a conditioning stint for the first time this season. The 25-year-old rookie netminder was the odd man out as Philadelphia decided to keep Samuel Ersson on the active roster.
Wagner had nine goals, 11 points, 37 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 27 games with Providence (AHL) but will head up to Boston for the first time this season as Jake DeBrusk heads to the LTIR (lower-body).
Debrusk was caught in a walking boot following Tuesday's Winter Classic game and will be out indefinitely as he deals with a fractured fibula. It is a huge loss for the Bruins and the 26-year-old who has been enjoying a true breakout season with 16 goals, 14 assists, 109 SOG and a +15 plus/minus through 36 games so far.
