NHL Hockey Player News

Smith will get a chance to play on the Sharks' fourth line on Thursday alongside Justin Bailey and Jack Studnicka. Smith has one goal and two assists in 25 games this season.

Barabanov will take a seat on Thursday as Givani Smith slides back into the Sharks' lineup. Barabanov has one goal and four assists in 14 games this season.

Vlasic will be the odd-man out on Thursday as Jan Rutta (illness) is set to return to the Sharks' lineup.

Rutta did not play on Tuesday due to an illness and was be a game-time decision on Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes. He has five points (0G / 5A) in 26 games while averaging 18:56 time-on-ice.

Addison did not play on Tuesday, missing his first game since joining the Sharks earlier this year due to a lower-body injury, and was a game-time decision on Thursday. In 19 games with the Sharks, Addison has six points (1G / 5A), averaging 18:03 time-on-ice, including significant powerplay deployment.

Markstrom was excellent in his return from a fractured finger on Monday, surrendering just a single goal on 34 shots enroute to a 3-1 victory over the Panthers. It was one of the finest starts of the season for Markstrom, who now owns a .901 SV% and a 7-8-2 record on the year. He's in a great spot to keep things rolling on Thursday with the Flames being sizable favourites at -190 in Anaheim.

McTavish has missed the last seven games for the Ducks but will return to action on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Before his injury, McTavish was held without a point in four straight games, recording a -7 plus/minus and six shots on goal.

Drysdale has not played since October 15th due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Drysdale has struggled to stay healthy during his young NHL career, but the 21-year-old has 42 points (7G / 35A) in 115 career games and has the offensive pedigree that could make him a staple on the powerplay for the Ducks.

Jones will take a seat on Thursday as Cale Makar is set to return from an upper-body injury. Jones has no goals and three assists in 15 games this season.

Korpisalo will start for the second time in as many games under interim head coach Jacques Martin when the Senators travel to Colorado on Thursday. Korpisalo was on the losing end of Tuesday's game in Arizona, allowing four goals on 38 shots in the 4-3 defeat. He owns an underwhelming .892 SV% and a 3.54 GAA to go along with his 6-10-0 record on the season. Things won't get any easier for Korpisalo on Thursday, with the Senators being +140 underdogs in Denver.

Georgiev allowed three goals on 22 shots (.864 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday but will return to the crease for his third straight start on Thursday. Georgiev has a below-.500 rating over his last seven outings (2-3-1), posting an unimpressive .889 SV%. The 27-year-old netminder's quality of play has significantly worsened from his stellar 2022-23 campaign when he finished the season with a 2.53 GAA and .918 SV% in 62 games (40-16-6). That said, the Avalanche are sizeable -160 home favourites against the Ottawa Senators, who are losers of five straight.

Makar has struggled to stay in the lineup lately, playing only four of the last nine games for Colorado, and was a game-time decision after being a full participant at practice on Thursday. Makar is among the league leaders for defensemen, scoring 37 points (8G / 29A) in 27 games this season.

Lucchini was a late addition to Thursday's lineup after Ryan Hartman was deemed unable to go due to an upper-body injury. Lucchini had nine goals, 20 points, six PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in 24 games with Iowa (AHL) and was recalled to Minnesota for the first time this season on Thursday on emergency conditions. The 28-year-old left-winger last appeared in the NHL for his one and only season in 2022-23 and had a goal, 14 SOG, and a -2 plus/minus in 11 games played.

Hunt will sit in favour of Dakota Mermis on Thursday after playing in each of the Wild's last three games. Hunt has no goals and one assist in eight games this season.

Mermis will play for the first time since last Thursday as he takes the place of Daemon Hunt on the Wild blue-line. Mermis has two goals and three assists in 15 games this season.

Hartman was a late scratch for Thursday's game, with the Wild only announcing his absence 30 minutes before puck drop. Hartman has nine goals and six assists in 27 games this season.

Schmid has started three of the last five games for the Devils and will start again on Thursday after spending the first portion of the season as the clear backup to Vitek Vanecek. Since taking on a larger role in late November, Schmid has a 4-4-0 record while posting a .905 SV%, a vast improvement over the .885 SV% he sported in the six games leading up to it (1-3-1). The Devils have a challenging matchup on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers but are still -111 home favourites despite losing to them 4-1 less than two weeks ago.

Fabbro will play for the first time since December 12th on Thursday as the Predators are opting to dress seven defensemen. He has two goals and five assists in 24 games this season.

Sherwood will get his first chance to play on Thursday since December 12th. Sherwood originally missed time due to an upper-body injury, but was left out of the lineup on Tuesday despite being medically cleared to play. He has five goals and six assists in 29 games this season.