Kempe was a healthy scratch vs. the Wild on Tuesday but is expected to replace Carl Grundstrom vs. the Red Wings. After posting 37 and 28 points in the last two seasons, Kempe has struggled to a 19-point pace in 2019-20.
Hronek, who finished Tuesday's game in Anaheim, missed Thursday's morning skate and is questionable to play in Los Angeles. Head coach Jeff Blashill did not rule out the potential of Hronek playing tonight, so monitor his status as the Red Wings hit the ice for warmups.
Connauton, who has collected three assists in 11 AHL games this season and 76 points (27G / 49A) in 310 career NHL games will replace Mark Barberio on the Colorado blueline on Thursday.
Bellemare missed Tuesday's game in Winnipeg but has been upgraded to "questionable" for Thursday's game in Edmonton. If Bellemare is able to return to the lineup, he will replace with Jayson Megna or T.J. Tynan on the fourth line.
Bernier allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Red Wings win in Anaheim on Tuesday. Bernier has won three straight while stopping 67 of the 74 shots (.905 SV%). Bernier has a chance to make it four straight vs. The team that drafted him--they rank fifth-worst in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.56 GF/gm).
Jones stopped 21 of 24 shots in the Sharks win over the Oilers on Tuesday. Jones has won four in a row despite posting a 2.70 GAA and .885 SV%. Jones has not faced the Ducks yet this season but has not won a game on the road, going 0-4-1 with a 3.94 GAA and .871 SV% in six appearances.
Sutter left Tuesday's game after playing just 1:32 TOI and did not return. He will miss at least one week with a strained groin, so Tyler Graovac was recalled from Utica (AHL) on Wednesday and will make his season debut in Sutter's spot on Thursday.
Markstorm gave up two goals on 27 shots in the Canucks loss to the Devils on Sunday. Markstrom has gone 0-2-2 despite posting a strong 2.23 GAA and .924 SV% in his first four starts in November. On Thursday, he faces a Stars team that played last night on home-ice, where he is 2-1-2 with a 2.51 GAA and .916 SV%.
Francouz was forced to leave Tuesday's game vs. the Jets after being run over by Mark Scheifele and the Avalanche confirmed that he is in concussion protocol. Head coach Jared Bednar said that Francouz is "feeling pretty good" and maybe "only be out another day or two." With both of their top two netminders out, Adam Werner will start in Edmonton.
Rooney was not on the ice for Thursday's practice and likely won't play in at least one of the two games over the weekend. Jesper Boqvist will draw back into the lineup vs. the Penguins.
Vatanen missed Sunday and Wednesday's games with an upper-body injury that he suffered in Edmonton and will likely miss the Devils' back-to-back over the weekend. Matt Tennyson will remain on the Devils' blueline while Vatanen is out.
Prout had just one assist during his two-game conditioning stint. Prout has suited up in just one game with the Sharks this season but was sidelined by an upper-body injury prior to his conditioning stint.
Grubauer will miss his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury and with Pavel Francouz also out, Adam Werner will make his first career NHL start. Grubauer appears to be getting close, so there's a chance he's back between the pipes in Vancouver on Saturday.
Markstorm gave up two goals on 27 shots in the Canucks loss to the Devils on Sunday. Markstrom has gone 0-2-2 despite posting a strong 2.23 GAA and .924 SV% in his first four starts in November. On Thursday, he faces a Stars team that played last night on home-ice, where he is 2-1-2 with a 2.51 GAA and .916 SV%.
Blackwood allowed three goals on 24 shots in the Devils loss to the Senators on Wednesday. Blackwood has won three of his last five starts while posting a 2.57 GAA and .915 SV%. He has cemented himself as the Devils’ No.1 netminder and enters Friday at 2-2-3 with a. 2.62 GAA, .892 SV% and one shutout in seven home appearances.
Werner stopped all 40 shots that he faces after replacing Pavel Francouz on Tuesday night. It was a ridiculous performance for the 22-year-old, who will be making his first career start on Thursday night. He had a .908 SV% in nine AHL games before coming up, so it's hard to envision him replicating Tuesday's success against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton.
Quick allowed one goals on 28 shots in the Kings win over the Wild on Tuesday. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for Quick, who draws a friendly matchup vs. the Red Wings on Thursday. Quick has won 2-2-0 with a 3.00 GAA and .912 SV% in four home starts this season.
Smith allowed six goals on 25 shots in the Oilers loss in San Jose on Tuesday. Despite the rough night, the Oilers will go right back to Smith vs. the Avalanche, a team he's had success against in his career. He is 2-2-0 on home-ice and has a .913 SV% on the season. Consider him a solid option against Adam Werner, who makes his first career NHL start in the Avalanche crease.
In addition to calling up Jonathan Ericsson on Wednesday, Hicketts will also join the Red Wings in California. Hicketts had one assist in four games with the Red Wings earlier in the season and leads all Griffins defensemen with nine points (0G / 9A) in 11 AHL games.
Raanta made 31 saves on 34 shots in the Coyotes win in Washington on Monday. Darcy Kuemper hasn't started more than two in a row since Raanta's been healthy, so you can expect Raanta to continue to get games while he is playing well. He is 3-1-1 with a .913 SV% in his last five starts and draws a juicy matchup vs. the last-place Minnesota Wild.
