Laine appeared to grab his shoulder after an awkward collision in the first period. It's another tough blow in what has been a dreadful season for the former 40-goal scorer. Laine has just six goals and three assists in 18 games this season.
Skinner will start for the second straight game as he searches for his eighth consecutive victory. Skinner has been tremendous lately allowing fewer than three goals in five of his last seven games (7-0-0), boasting a stellar .935 SV%. The Oilers will look for their ninth straight win as sizeable -173 home favourites against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that has lost two of their last three (1-2-0), being outscored 12-6, and will be without Victor Hedman for a second straight game.
Sheary has missed the Oilers previous 17 games due to an upper body injury but was activated off the Injured Reserve Thursday and will draw back into the lineup for Tampa Bay in Edmonton. The 31-year-old had struggled offensively prior to his injury with a goal, two assists, 14 SOG, four PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 13 games played.
Watson will sit on Thursday as Conor Sheary (upper-body) makes his return to the lineup. Watson has one goal and zero assists in 15 games this season.
Vasilevskiy fell back down to earth in Vancouver on Thursday, surrendering three goals on just 21 shots in the 4-1 defeat. It ended a three-game winning streak for Vasilevskiy, who finally looked to be rounding into form after an understandably slow start to his season. The 2020-21 Conn Smythe Trophy winner owns an uncharacteristically low .894 SV% on the season to go along with his 4-4-0 record. He draws another difficult assignment on Thursday against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.
Vladar will be back between the pipes for Calgary on Thursday after conceding the start in each of the last two games to rookie Dustin Wolf. Vladar was lit up by the Avalanche his last time out, surrendering six goals on 38 shots enroute to a 6-5 defeat. He has struggled to take advantage of the extra playing time afforded to him as a result of Jacob Markstrom's injury, registering a woeful .876 SV% and a 3.76 GAA on the season. Vladar and the Flames find themselves as +125 underdogs in Minnesota on Thursday.
After serving as the backup for three straight games, Korpisalo will start for the third consecutive game on Thursday. The Senators coaching staff has been quick to deviate to a different goaltender after a poor performance but will stick with Korpisalo on Thursday despite allowing four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. In addition, Korpisalo has lost three of his last four contests (1-3-0) and has only one quality start in the bunch, posting a .882 SV%. That said, the Senators are -118 road favourites against a St. Louis Blues team that has lost four straight, being outscored 20-10.
Kochetkov is coming off one of his best starts of the season and will be rewarded with the nod for the second consecutive game on Thursday. The 24-year-old netminder stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Senators, which included a flying poke check to thwart Brady Tkachuk's penalty shot. The outing helped Kochetkov raise his meager SV% to .883 on the season. He's in a great spot to keep things rolling on Thursday with the Hurricanes being -170 favourites in Detroit.
With Evgeny Kuznetsov set to miss Thursday's game with an illness, Phillips will retake his spot in the lineup after sitting out each of the last two games. Phillips has just one goal to go along with four assists in 18 games with the Capitals this season. He'll start the game alongside Joe Snively and T.J. Oshie on Washington's third line.
Staal will retake his place in the lineup on Thursday after sittoung out Tuesday's overtime loss to the Predators. The veteran blue-liner is yet to register a point across 11 appearances this season.
Zamula will take a seat in favour of Marc Staal on Thursday. The young defenseman has one goal and three assists in 21 games with the Flyers this season.
Kuznetsov was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Capitals announcing his absence just over 30 minutes before puck drop. Kuznetsov is in the midst of another disappointing season, registering just five goals and six assists across his first 22 games. He'll get his first chance to return to the lineup on Saturday when the Capitals visit Nashville.
Lindgren will start for the third time in the last four games for the Capitals and will look to build off his most recent performance, a 31-save shutout in a 4-0 victory over the New York Rangers, his second shutout in as many weeks. Lindgren has been a cornerstone and predominant reason why the Capitals are in playoff contention this season, boasting a tremendous 6-1-1 record and .936 SV% in his last nine appearances. The Capitals are slight +116 road underdogs against an equally surprising team, the Philadelphia Flyers, who have collected a point in six straight games (4-0-2).
Bjornfot failed to pick up a point in nine games with Ontario (AHL) but has been recalled to Los Angeles for the second time this season. The 22-year-old appeared in one game earlier for the Kings on October 11th and played 10:12 TOI before being sent down to Ontario.
Staal was a healthy scratch for the Flyers previous game but will continue his carousel of playing by stepping back into Phildaelphia's lineup Thursday vs. Washington instead of Egor Zamula. The 36-year-old Staal is in his 17th NHL season and has yet to pick up a point in 11 games played while amassing six PIMs and three SOG.
Zamula has dressed in the Flyers last three games but will head to the press box Thursday vs. Washington as Marc Staal steps back into Philadelphia's lineup. The 23-year-old defender will get the night off but has been having an impressive season as he's set career highs in games played (21), goals (1), PIMs (12) and SOG (19) already while having a +9 plus/minus.
With the news that Carter Hart (illness) will be out Thursday vs. Washington, Felix Sandstrom was recalled from Lehigh Valley (AHL) on an emergency basis and will backup Samuel Ersson. The 26-year-old has struggled mightily this season in the AHL, with a 2-1-2 record, 3.32 GAA and .871 SV%.
Ersson draws his second-straight start for the first time this season after Carter Hart (illness) was announced out Thursday. The 24-year-old Flyers backup has fought the puck most nights when between the crease this season, with his 5-3-2 record, 2.80 GAA and .883 SV%. He will host the Washington Capitals Thursday, who have won their last two games but are struggling offensively as they are 29th in the NHL in shots per game (27.9) and 30th in goals (2.48).
Belpedio had not dressed for the Flyers since November 19th and was reassigned to Lehigh Valley (AHL) on Thursday while Felix Sandstrom was recalled on emergency conditions. Belpedio appeared in 12 games for Philadelphia, with two goals, two assists, 12 SOG, and a +6 plus/minus.
