Kiviranta is in his first year in North America and has tallied 18 points (9G / 9A) in 33 games with Texas this season. Kiviranta's call-up is likely a reaction to the Corey Perry hearing. Perry elbowed Ryan Ellis in the head during the Winter Classic and will likely be suspended for Friday's game, opening the door for Kiviranta to make his NHL debut.
Mrazek allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Canadiens on Tuesday. Mrazek won his final two games of December, finishing the month at 5-2-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .907 SV%. One of those wins came against the Capitals, allowing four goals on 29 shots in a 6-4 win last Saturday.
Bobrovsky surrendered four goals on 28 shots in the Panthers loss in his return to Columbus on Tuesday. Bobrovsky is in the middle of another tough stretch, losing two of his last three while allowing a combined 15 goals on 105 shots (.857 SV%). He's still a strong option in Ottawa--he stopped 29 of 30 shots in a winning effort in his first start vs. the Senators.
Frolik is in the final year of his five-year contract that carries a $4.3M AAV cap-hit and gets acquired for the same fourth-round pick that the Sabres acquired from Montreal for Marco Scandella. Frolik has scored five goals with five assists (10 points) in 38 games this season but has played a much smaller role than in previous seasons. With Jeff Skinner out, the Sabres were looking for some wing help in their middle-6.
Rutta is dealing with a lower-body injury and is officially listed as day-to-day. With Rutta sidelined, Brayden Coburn will draw back into the lineup.
Coburn returned from injury Sunday vs. the Red Wings but was a healthy scratch in Buffalo on Tuesday. With Jan Rutta dealing with an injury, Coburn will draw back into the lineup tonight and is expected to skate with Victor Hedman.
Dobson was a healthy scratch for the last three games but will play Thursday because Adam Pelech was a late scratch due to a lower-body issue. Dobson has just two assists in 11 games this season.
Pelech was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup, so Noah Dobson will replace him vs. the Devils. Pelech should be considered day-to-day as we head into the weekend.
McAvoy was officially listed as a game-time decision but was expected to play tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. McAvoy missed the previous three games but comes in with four assists in his last seven games.
Scandella suited up in 31 of 41 games this season, scoring three goals with six assists (nine points) while averaging 1.23 hits and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Scandella is in the final year of his five-year deal that carries a $4.0M AAV cap-hit. He joins the left-side of the Canadiens' blueline that includes Ben Chiarot, Brett Kulak and Victor Mete.
Sturtz was an undrafted free agent that has been with the Belleville Senators (AHL) since finishing his third year at Penn State. The 25-year-old winger has two points (1G / 1A) 14 AHL games and two points (1G / 1A) in four ECHL games this season.
The Senators blueline is extremely banged up, missing three veterans (Dylan DeMelo, Ron Hainsey and Nikita Zaitsev) so Reilly will likely get playing time over Christian Jaros or Andreas Englund. The 26-year-old has only appeared in 14 games this season, picking up four assists. His contract carries a $1.5M AAV cap-hit and expires at the end of 2021.
Jarry allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Penguins win over the Senators on Monday. Jarry is riding a six-game winning streak while posting a 1.80 GAA, .939 SV% and one shutout. Tonight he faces a Sharks team that was awful in December, going 2-9-2 while scoring just 2.08 goals per game, making Jarry a must-start on Thursday.
Gibson allowed four goals on 42 shots in the Ducks loss in Vegas on Tuesday afternoon. Gibson was 4-4-1 with a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV% in nine December starts and will make his third start of the season vs. Arizona on Thursday. He has gone 1-0-1 with a 1.92 GAA and .934 SV% in the first two meetings of the season.
Lehner allowed three goals on 44 shots in the Blackhawks win in Calgary on Tuesday. Lehner has been hot since the Christmas break, winning three in a row while stopping 110 of the 117 shots (.940 SV%) that he has faced. On the season, Lehner has gone 7-4-1 with a 2.83 GAA and .926 SV% on the road.
Nathan Beaulieu is out for at least one month so Niku returns to the NHL after picking up 14 points (3G / 11A) in 18 AHL games this season. He has five points (2G / 3A) in 32 career NHL games to-date.
Suomela played Tuesday in Detroit but will come back out of the lineup with Melker Karlsson returning from a head injury.
Karlsson missed Tuesday's game in Detroit with a head injury that he suffered after taking a shot to the head vs. the Flyers last Saturday. Karlsson needed a few stitches but escaped a more serious injury and will replace Antti Suomela in the lineup on Thursday.
