Mayo played three games for the Blue Jackets this season, recording one assist, but has spent most of the season with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 29-year-old defenseman had played exclusively in the AHL the previous two seasons.
Vejmelka has had an up-and-down season, posting a 2.58 GAA and .900 SV% in 35 games (21-11-2), but has been outstanding lately. The 29-year-old Czech goalie is riding a four-game winning streak, allowing two or fewer goals in each game, boasting a tremendous 1.49 GAA and .943 SV%. Utah enters the action on Thursday as slight -110 home favorites against the struggling Dallas Stars, who own the NHL's second-best record (27-11-9) despite only winning two of their previous 10 games (2-4-4).
Hellebuyck is on a two-game winning streak, snapping a miserable 10-game losing skid (0-6-4), but has remained unspectacular between the pipes. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, has a dreadful sub-.900 SV% in 10 consecutive games (2-5-3). The Jets enter the action on Thursday as +124 road underdogs against a Minnesota Wild team coming off a disappointing 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils in their previous game.
Morgan Barron (upper body) will return from a one-week absence, sending Zhilkin to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Barron is averaging 12:57 time-on-ice and has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 36 games this season.
Barron has not played in a week, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 27-year-old forward is averaging 12:57 time-on-ice and has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 36 games this season. Danny Zhilkin will be the odd man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch.
Stromgren recently made his NHL debut, playing three games, but will head to the press box as a healthy scratch on Thursday. The 22-year-old Swedish forward is averaging 7:17 time-on-ice and is still searching for his first career point.
Brzustewicz will return from a multi-game absence, drawing back into the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 21-year-old defenseman is averaging 13:42 time-on-ice and has one assist in 12 games this season.
Andrew Mangiapane will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the New York Islanders, allowing Lazar to re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Lazar is averaging 8:57 time-on-ice and has three goals in 24 games this season.
Curtis Lazar will draw back into Edmonton's lineup on Thursday against the New York Islanders, sending Mangiapane to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Mangiapane has not been effective offensively for the Oilers and has found himself as a healthy scratch several times in the past few weeks. He has 11 points (5G / 6A) in 42 games this season.
Kaiden Guhle will return from a one-game absence on Thursday, sending Struble to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Struble is averaging 14:20 time-on-ice and has six assists in 36 games this season.
Guhle was a surprise scratch on Tuesday, as the Habs did not announce his absence prior to warmups. Jayden Struble will be the odd-man out of the lineup to accommodate Guhle's return.
Tristan Jarry (lower body) made his return from a multi-week absence in Edmonton's most recent game, but they will revert to Ingram, who made a lasting impact in his Oilers' debut while Jarry was sidelined. The 28-year-old Ingram was outstanding in his previous outing, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.70 GAA and .904 SV% in seven games this season (4-2-1). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as -154 home favorites against a New York Islanders team that has lost two of its last three games (1-1-1).
With Colin Miller (lower body) and Neal Pionk (undisclosed) out week-to-week, the Jets have recalled Salomonsson from the Manitoba Moose (AHL). The 21-year-old Salomonsson made his NHL debut earlier this season, averaging 14:44 time-on-ice in four games.
Cooley has been a bright spot in a mostly disappointing season for the Flames and has been solid in his last two games (2-0-0), saving 61 of 65 combined shots (.938 SV%). The 28-year-old California-born goalie has a 2.29 GAA and .918 SV% in 14 appearances this season (5-4-2). The Flames enter the action on Thursday as +109 road underdogs against a Chicago Blackhawks team that will welcome their leading scorer, Connor Bedard (illness), back into the lineup.
Kesselring has not played the last seven games due to a lower-body injury and has resumed practicing the past several days. He was activated off of Injured Reserve on Thursday, which could indicate he is aiming to play in the evening against the Montreal Canadiens. The 25-year-old defenseman is averaging 15:14 time-on-ice and has zero points in 16 games.
The Canadiens will turn to a third different goalie on Thursday night as their three-headed goalie rotation continues, turning to Fowler against the Buffalo Sabres. The 21-year-old Fowler, in his first NHL season, has faced some ups and downs, but has a solid 2.46 GAA and .908 SV% through his first nine games (4-3-2). The Canadiens enter the action on Thursday as -122 road favorites against a Sabres team that defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 yesterday, improving to 14-2-0 in their last 16 games.
Wilsby has played a career-high 36 games this season, but will head to the sidelines on a day-to-day basis because of a lower-body injury. The 25-year-old defenseman is averaging 16:59 time-on-ice and has seven points (1G / 6A).
Knight was solid in his most recent game, despite losing 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers, saving 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%) in the effort. The 24-year-old goalie has been effective over the past two weeks, posting a 2.62 GAA and .911 SV% in five games (3-1-1). He has a 2.63 GAA and .910 SV% in 31 games this season (13-12-6). The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as -113 home favorites against a Calgary Flames team that has lost five of its last six games (1-5-0).
Bedard was a surprise scratch on Monday, as he became the latest victim of the flu that's ravaged the Blackhawks dressing room of late. It's an unfortunate break for the young phenom, who had just two games under his belt since returning from the shoulder injury that sidelined him for over a month. That said, Bedard has been outstanding when healthy, scoring 46 points (19G / 27A) through 33 games this season. He returns to the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, looking to continue his exceptional season.
Bogosian has not played since January 3rd and remains on Injured Reserve because of a lower-body injury. The 35-year-old veteran defenseman is averaging 14:52 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 23 games this season.
