Winterton has been on a leave of absence for over a week, but he was back at practice on Thursday. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 11:47 time-on-ice and has 18 points (4G / 14A) in 62 games this season.
With injured players returning to Pittsburgh's lineup, McGroarty will head back to the AHL. The 22-year-old forward averaged 11:46 time-on-ice and scored five points (2G / 3A) in 21 games with Pittsburgh this season.
With injured players returning to Pittsburgh's lineup, Koivunen will head back to the AHL. The 22-year-old Koivunen averaged 12:29 time-on-ice and scored seven points (2G / 5A) in 36 games with Pittsburgh this season.
Seattle has struggled lately, but remains within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, and will need Daccord at his best on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. The 29-year-old Daccord has allowed four goals in consecutive games (0-1-1), posting a 3.86 GAA and .843 SV%. In eight March games (2-5-1), he had a 3.54 GAA and .880 SV%. The Kraken enter Thursday's contest as +121 home underdogs against a Mammoth team coming off an impressive 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
Slukynsky was a fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft that just earned a three-year, entry-level contract after completing his second year of collegiate hockey. The 20-year-old goalie had a 2.30 GAA and .915 SV% this season in 39 games (27-11-1) with Western Michigan University.
Michaels is an undrafted forward that has just been rewarded with a one-year, entry-level contract after completing his third season of collegiate hockey. The 23-year-old forward scored 26 points (13G / 13A) this season in 39 games with Western Michigan University.
The Jets remain in contention for a playoff spot and will need Hellebuyck at his best in the final weeks of the season, beginning with Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck didn't need to be impressive while facing only 21 shots (.857 SV%) in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Hellebuyck has had, by his elite standards, a poor 2025-26 season, as evident by the 2.69 GAA and .897 SV% he posted in 14 March games (7-4-3). The three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie has posted a sub-.900 SV% in each month this season, except October. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +143 road underdogs against the Stars.
Rust was a late scratch ahead of Tuesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 33-year-old Rust has 61 points (27G / 34A) in 67 games this season, and is just four points short of the career-high 65 points he had a season ago. Rust has been impressive offensively lately, scoring 20 points (8G / 12A) in 16 games in March.
The Jets remain in contention for a playoff spot and will need Hellebuyck at his best in the final weeks of the season, beginning with Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck didn't need to be impressive while facing only 21 shots (.857 SV%) in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Hellebuyck has had, by his elite standards, a poor 2025-26 season, as evident by the 2.69 GAA and .897 SV% he posted in 14 March games (7-4-3). The three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie has posted a sub-.900 SV% in each month this season, except October. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +143 road underdogs against the Stars.
Myers did not play in Dallas' previous game, and he will miss at least one more outing due to an undisclosed ailment. The 36-year-old Myers has two assists in 11 games since joining the Stars at the trade deadline.
Thompson's play has been unpredictable lately, but he returns to the crease on Thursday as Washington tries to stay within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 29-year-old Thompson allowed three or fewer goals in nine straight games to open March, posting a stellar 2.23 GAA and .920 SV%, but only had a 3-4-2 record to show for it. Thompson finished the month by allowing four goals in three straight games, posting an ugly 3.90 GAA and .871 SV%, but had a perfect 3-0-0 record. The Capitals enter Thursday's contest as slight -103 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that has scored two or fewer goals in two of their last three games (1-2-0).
Jones recently concluded a 20-game suspension for violating the Performance Enhancing Substances Program, but will remain sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The 28-year-old Jones only played seven games this season, tallying one assist.
Skinner was excellent in his previous outing, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, allowing fewer than three goals in a game for the first time in eight outings. The 27-year-old Skinner ended March with a less-than-stellar 3.27 GAA and .885 SV% in nine games (3-3-3). The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +151 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that is 6-1-2 in their last nine games.
Swayman allowed three goals in the first period of his previous outing, but shut the door the rest of the way en route to a 22-save performance (.880 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 27-year-old Swayman concluded March with a tremendous 2.15 GAA and .925 SV% in 11 games (8-2-1). The Bruins enter Thursday's contest as -162 road favourites against a Panthers team coming off a surprisingly dominant 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators.
Cameron Hughes will exit the Stars lineup on Thursday, as the team will welcome Capobianco back into the lineup and go with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation on Thursday. The 28-year-old Capobianco has not played since early Februrary. He has five points (2G / 3A) in 31 games this season.
Hughes made his Dallas Stars debut in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, his third career game, but he will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. Defenseman Kyle Capobianco will enter the lineup as Hughes' replacement, suggesting the Stars intend on using an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation on Thursday.
The Stars have followed up a franchise-best 15-game point streak (14-0-1) by losing seven of their last nine (2-5-2). Oettinger, who was nearly unbeatable to start March, posting a stellar 1.80 GAA and seven games (5-0-2), has mimicked his team's decline by ending March with a dreadful 4.01 GAA and .806 SV% in his last four appearances (1-2-0). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -159 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has won four of their last five (4-1-0) to stay within contention of a Wild Card spot.
Hyman has not missed a game since making his debut in mid-November, but he is battling an undisclosed injury, making his status uncertain for Thursday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks. After struggling offensively in the 2024-25 season, Hyman has been productive in 2025-26, scoring 51 points (41G / 20A) in 56 games. He has five points (2G / 3A) in his last four games.
Connor Ingram has been sensational for Edmonton in recent games and is coming off a 3-0 shutout victory over the Seattle Kraken, but he will have the night off on Thursday, as Tristan Jarry will tend the twine. The 30-year-old Jarry has not impressed since joining the Oilers, losing his starting gig, but played well in his most recent outing, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Utah Mammoth. The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -231 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team on a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).
