Poehling returned for one game from an upper-body injury but is going to be a game-time decision Thursday as the Penguins take on Vegas. The 24-year-old has four goals, four assists, 34 SOG and a +3 plus/minus through 31 games this season.
Georgiev allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) for his fourth straight loss as he was beaten by Vegas in his previous start. The 26-year-old has been faltering as of late, but still holds a strong 15-6-3 record, with a .915 SV% and 2.68 GAA. He will hope for better fortunes against the Vancouver Canucks, who have lost their last three games after a 6-2 loss to the New York Islanders last game.
DeSmith stopped 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a relief loss vs. Boston in the Winter Classic as he was called upon for an injured Tristian Jarry. The 31-year-old backup does not have a great record (4-7-2) despite having a solid SV% (.911) and GAA (2.99). He will take on the Vegas Golden Knights, who have wont their last two games and are eight in the NHL in shots per game (32.8).
Swayman allowed four goals on 25 shots (.840 SV%) for his second straight overtime loss as he was downed by the Buffalo Sabres in his previous start. The Bruins' backup has struggled this season, with his 7-3-3 record, 2.68 GAA and .897 SV%. He will take on the Los Angeles Kings, who have won three of their last four games and eight of their last 10.
Hill was pulled after allowing two goals on five shots (.600 SV%) just 12:26 into his previous start vs. Anaheim. The Golden Knights backup will be hoping to bounce back and improve on his 8-3-1 record, 2.78 GAA and .899 SV%. He will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, who will be looking to snap their current five-game skid after a 2-1 loss vs. Boston in the Winter Classic last game.
Pederson has a goal, two assists, and 12 SOG through seven games but will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. Colorado as Jack Studnicka draws back into the Avalanche's lineup.
Studnicka was a healthy scratch for the Canucks' previous game but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Colorado in place of Lane Pederson. The 23-year-old Windsor native has two goals, three points, 24 SOG and a -5 plus/minus while filling a bottom-six role through 18 games this season with Vancouver.
Delia stopped 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%) for his first loss of the season as he was defeated by Winnipeg last game. The 28-year-old has been solid in limited action with the Canucks, with his 2-1-0 record, 2.58 GAA and .920 SV%. He faces the Colorado Avalanche, who are in unchartered waters with their current four-game losing streak.
Clutterbuck missed the Islanders' previous eight games due to an upper-body injury but has been activated off the injured reserve and is expected to play Thursday vs. Edmonton. The 35-year-old had just recently become the all-time hits leader in the NHL and has three goals, five points, 14 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus in 26 games prior to the injury.
Copley stopped 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) for his seventh straight win as he beat Dallas in his last start. The Alaska native has taken the Kings' starting positions reigns and run, with his 9-1-0 record, 2.52 GAA and .908 SV%. He draws his toughest task yet in the NHL-leading Boston Bruins, who have won six of their last eight contests.
Sorokin stopped 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) for his fourth win of the season as he beat Vancouver in his previous start. The 27-year-old has been fantastic this season, leading the Islanders with his .926 SV%, 2.29 GAA and 14-12-1 record. He will face the Edmonton Oilers, who have lost their last two games but are third in the NHL in goals per game (3.54).
Campbell allowed two goals on 17 shots (.882 SV%) as he took the loss in a low-scoring affair vs. Winnipeg in his previous start. The 30-year-old's first season in Edmonton has been horrendous, with his 8-7-1 record, .877 SV% and 3.80 GAA. He will be hoping to better his numbers when he takes on the New York Islanders Thursday, who have won four of their last five games after a 6-2 win over Vancouver on Tuesday.
Vejmelka allowed five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%) for his second-straight loss as he was defeated by Florida in his previous start. The 26-year-old has been incredibly solid for the offensively challenged Coyotes, with his 11-11-4 record, 3.23 GAA and .906 SV%. He will face Philadelphia Thursday, who is in the middle of a three-game winning streak with a 4-1 win over Anaheim last game.
Saros allowed three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%) but still picked up his second straight win in a victory over Montreal in his last start. The 27-year-old has drastically improved his numbers over the last month, and now has a respectable 13-10-5 record, 2.76 GAA and .915 SV%. He faces the league's hottest team in the Carolina Hurricanes, who just snapped an 11-game winning streak with a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers last game.
Kuemper allowed five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) for his second straight loss as he was downed by Buffalo in his last start. The 32-year-old has been incredibly solid in his first season in Washington, with his 10-9-4 record, .916 SV% and 2.58 GAA. He takes on a struggle Columbus team, who has lost seven of their last eight contests after a 4-0 loss to Ottawa last game.
Donato has eight goals, five assists, 55 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus through 32 games but will be a healthy scratch Thursday as the Kraken take on the Maple Leafs. Morgan Geekie will replace him on Seattle's fourth line.
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.
