Dowd was a game-time decision due to a non-covid illness but will be back in the lineup Thursday. The 32-year-old has seven goals, six assists, 18 PIMs and is a +6 plus/minus through 33 games prior to the illness.
Kuemper allowed two goals on 26 shots (.923 SV%) but had to leave early due to an injury in his last game vs. the Calgary Flames on Dec. 3rd. The 32-year-old has been having a solid first season in Washington, with his 8-9-2 record, 2.56 GAA and .916 SV%. He will face the Ottawa Senators, who snapped a four-game winning streak by losing their last two games on the road.
Bastian has three goals, five assists, 26 SOG and 15 PIMs across 21 games played but will be on the injured reserve indefinitely. The move allows the Devils the space to call up Nikita Okhotiuk.
Okhotyuk had two goals, four assists, 18 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus across 17 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) before being recalled Thursday. He has played in five NHL games previously, scoring one goal and one assist.
Jones stopped 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in his last game as he beat St. Louis 5-2 at home. The 32-year-old has a fantastic record at 14-5-2 but has not been that great, with his .889 SV% and 2.91 GAA. He will face the Vancouver Canucks, who have lost three of their last four games after a 5-1 loss to St. Louis in their last game.
Vladar allowed five goals on 34 shots (.853 SV%) as he broke a four-game winning streak with an overtime loss to Toronto in his last start. The 25-year-old has been solid this season as the Flames' backup, with his 5-4-2 record, 2.81 GAA and .905 SV%. He faces the Los Angeles Kings, who have won their last three contests after a victory over Anaheim in their previous game.
Copley stopped 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) as he picked up his fourth straight win in a victory over Anaheim in his last start. The 30-year-old Alaska native has taken the reigns on the Kings' starting job, with his 5-1-0 record, 2.43 GAA and .912 SV%. He will face the Calgary Flames, who are riding high and have won their last two games after a 7-3 victory over San Jose in their last game.
Simek will head to the press box Thursday as a health scratch after putting up a goal, an assist, 28 SOG and 25 PIMs across 29 games played.
Megna has eight assists, 12 PIMs, 32 SOG and is a +4 plus/minus in 31 games and will draw back into the Sharks' lineup Thursday vs. Calgary after being a healthy scratch in their previous game.
Copley stopped 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) as he picked up his fourth straight win in a victory over Anaheim in his last start. The 30-year-old Alaska native has taken the reigns on the Kings' starting job, with his 5-1-0 record, 2.43 GAA and .912 SV%. He will face the Calgary Flames, who are riding high and have won their last two games after a 7-3 victory over San Jose in their last game.
Martin allowed five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) for his second straight five-goal loss as he was defeated by St. Louis in his last start. The 27-year-old has been leaned on heavily due to Thatcher Demko's injury, which has led to a not-so-pretty .885 SV%, 3.59 GAA but a decent 9-5-1 record. He takes on Seattle, who has won their last two games and are sixth in the NHL in goals per game (3.48).
Pettersson has missed the Canucks last two games due to illness but will be a game-time decision Thursday vs. Seattle.
Martin allowed five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) for his second straight five-goal loss as he was defeated by St. Louis in his last start. The 27-year-old has been leaned on heavily due to Thatcher Demko's injury, which has led to a not-so-pretty .885 SV%, 3.59 GAA but a decent 9-5-1 record. He takes on Seattle, who has won their last two games and is sixth in the NHL in goals per game (3.48).
O'Connor will see his first taste of NHL action since Nov. 5th as he draws back into the Penguins' lineup vs. Carolina. O'Connor has been sensational in Wilkes Barre/Scranton (AHL), with eight goals, 14 assists and a +9 plus/minus across 20 games played.
Hart allowed three goals on 33 shots (.909 SV%) and picked up his second win in three starts with a victory over Columbus in his last game. The 24-year-old has been one of the Flyers' lone bright spots this season, with his 10-9-6 record, 2.82 GAA and .912 SV%. He will face the Toronto Maple Leafs, who won their last game 4-1 over Tampa Bay and are 2nd in the NHL in goals against per game (2.39) even though they have been missing key defensive pieces all season due to injury.
Sandin left the Maple Leafs' previous contest vs. Tampa Bay after just 10 shifts and 8:30 TOI and has been placed on the injured reserve. It is a tough break for the 22-year-old, who had been enjoying a breakout season with two goals, 12 assists, 33 SOG, 15 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus in 33 games.
Hollowell will return to the Maple Leafs after it was announced Rasmus Sandin would be heading to the injured reserve Thursday (neck). Hallowell has played well in his limited showings with the Maple Leafs, with two assists, four SOG and a +3 plus/minus while averaging only 12:56 TOI in the Leafs' bottom-six pairings.
Hellebuyck stopped 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) for his second-straight win as he topped Vancouver in his last start. The 29-year-old has been one of the league's top netminders, with his 16-7-1 record, .928 SV% and 2.33 GAA. He takes on the Boston Bruns, who have the league's best record and have won three of their last four games with a victory over Florida in their last game.
Jarry stopped 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) to pick up his seventh straight win, and 11th in his last 12 starts as he beat the Rangers in his previous start. The 27-year-old has been making a heavy push for the Vezina Trophy this year, with his 15-3-3 record, 2.60 GAA and .922 SV%. He will take on one of the hottest teams in the NHL in Carolina, who has won their last six games and ten of their last 11 games.
Archibald missed the Penguins' last game due to a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day as he will be forced to miss Thursday's game as well. Archibald has four goals, two assists, 41 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 30 games prior to the injury.
