Cernak returned to practice earlier this week and will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday after a seven-game absence. Cernak has five points (0G / 5A), 90 hits, and 62 blocks in 39 games this season.
Sergachev has not played since December 19th but will return to the lineup on Wednesday. Wednesday's tilt against the New York Rangers marks the first game Sergachev is eligible to return after being placed on LTIR in December. Sergachev had 19 points (2G / 17A) in 33 games before his injury.
Tampa Bay returns to the ice from the All-Star break on Wednesday and will likely turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for his fifth straight start. The 29-year-old Vasilevskiy has won seven of his last eight and three in a row, his most consistent stretch of wins this season. Despite the victories, Vasilevskiy has been unsensational, allowing three goals in each of his last three games and posting a pedestrian .882 SV%. The Lightning are +112 road underdogs on Wednesday against the New York Rangers.
Mrazek will continue his reign over the Blackhawks crease on Wednesday, starting for the third straight game. The Czech netminder has played exceptionally lately but has failed to receive any goal support from his teammates. In Mrazek's last three starts (0-3-0), he has allowed two goals or fewer in each game, posting an excellent .946 SV%, but the Blackhawks have been outscored 6-0 in that time. The Blackhawks enter Wednesday's matchup against the Minnesota Wild as +180 home underdogs.
Cizikas has been out of the lineup since January 9th due to a lower-body injury but appears just about ready to return to the lineup on Thursday. The 32-year-old is producing at a similar rate to his previous seasons, with 11 points (5G/6A) in 39 games played before his injury.
Crevier last played for the Blackhawks on January 24th and was a healthy scratch in their two following games leading up to the All-Star break. Crevier has no goals and three assists in 15 games this season.
Johnson last played on December 31st and has been on injured reserve since, missing 14 games with a foot injury. The 33-year-old veteran has been one of many injured regulars for the Blackhawks this season but appears ready to return to the lineup on Wednesday. Johnson started the season well with nine goals, 13 points, 16 PIMsand 58 SOG in 35 games played before the injury.
Samsonov saw his three-game winning streak end on Monday, but the Maple Leafs will give him a chance to redeem himself between the pipes on Wednesday. Despite allowing three goals in a 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Monday, Samsonov played well and has limited the opposition to three or fewer goals in his last four games (3-1-0), posting a terrific .942 SV%. The Maple Leafs are -125 home favourites against the Dallas Stars, whom they defeated 4-1 earlier this season.
Trouba will return to action on Wednesday after serving a two-game suspension. The veteran blueliner has been a multi-category force for the Rangers this season, highlighted by two points (0G / 2A), 11 shots, and nine hits in his last four games. Zac Jones will be a healthy scratch, allowing Trouba to re-enter the lineup.
With Jacob Trouba returning from a two-game suspension, Jones will be a healthy scratch for the Rangers on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Jones has been semi-productive from the blueline in limited action with the Rangers this season, scoring five points (1G / 4A) in 17 games.
Quick will return to the crease for his third straight start on Wednesday. The veteran netminder was sensational on Monday night, saving 32 of 33 shots (.970 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the typically high-scoring Colorado Avalanche. Quick has allowed two or fewer goals in his last three starts (2-1-0), posting a tremendous .944 SV%. Quick and the Rangers are -123 home favourites against another top-five offence on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Lightning, averaging 3.48 goals per game.
Hill has won both games since returning from injury and will return to the crease on Tuesday night. Hill picked up right where he left off earlier this season, playing tremendously, saving 76 of 80 shots (.950 SV%) across two games (2-0-0). Hill faces his toughest test of the season on Tuesday as the Golden Knights are +137 home underdogs against the virtually unbeatable Edmonton Oilers, who are searching for their 17th straight victory.
Johnson will get the night off as the Avalanche are set to play their second game in as many nights. Sam Malinski will draw into the lineup in his place.
Malinski will re-enter the lineup in place of Jack Johnson, who is listed as a healthy scratch for Tuesday's game in New Jersey. Malinski will skate alongside Bowen Byram on Colorado's third pair.
Willman will fill in for Tyler Toffoli, who was a late scratch on Tuesday due to an illness. Willman has one goal and one assist in 12 games with the Devils this season.
Toffoli was a surprise scratch for Tuesday's game, with the team only announcing his absence at the start of warmups. Max Willman will draw into the Devils' lineup to fill the void.
Vanecek will start for the third time in the last four games for the Devils in a challenging matchup against the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche. The Devils have lost two straight, and Vanecek has allowed four or more goals in each of his last two starts. That said, Vanecek and the Devils will be facing off against an Avalanche club that lost a hard-fought battle last night, 2-1 versus the New York Rangers in overtime.
After Alexandar Georgiev got the nod in Monday's 2-1 overtime defeat to the Rangers, the Avalanche will turn to Annunen for the tail-end of their back-to-back in New Jersey on Tuesday. Annunen owns a 14-5-4 record on the year along with a .908 SV% in 23 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL). His lone NHL start this season came on January 16th in Ottawa. The 23-year-old netminder allowed four goals on 40 shots as the Avalanche walked away with a 7-4 victory. He draws a tough matchup on Tuesday in New Jersey, though the Avalanche do still find themselves as slight favourites at -115.
Puljujarvi was signed to a two-year, $1.6 million ($800,000 AAV) contract Sunday and will make his debut on Tuesday vs. Winnipeg. The 25-year-old had been playing on a PTO for Pittsburgh's AHL team after undergoing a double hip surgery in the off-season and excelled in his brief appearances as he had four goals and nine points in 13 total games played.
Smith has missed the Penguins' previous six games due to an upper-body injury but will return to the lineup on Tuesday vs. Winnipeg. The 32-year-old right-winger is in his first season with Pittsburgh after being acquired from Vegas for a 2024 third-round pick in the offseason. He is having a down year by his personal standards having only collected 20 points (8G/12A) in his first 40 games.
