Girard has not played the previous three games due to an undisclosed injury but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 26-year-old Girard is averaging 21:10 time-on-ice and has 18 points (2G / 16A) in 42 games this season. Sam Malinski will exit the lineup to accommodate Girard's return.
The Flames were defeated 2-1 by the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday and will switch from Dan Vladar to Dustin Wolf between the pipes in a rematch on Thursday. The 23-year-old Wolf has performed admirably as a rookie this season, posting a stellar 2.50 GAA and .916 SV% in 23 games (15-6-2). He has allowed only 10 combined goals in his previous six games (5-1-0), posting a .937 SV%. The Flames enter Thursday's contest as +119 road underdogs against the Blues.
The Blackhawks will hope to snap a three-game losing skid on Thursday when they turn to Soderblom between the pipes in a matchup against the Nashville Predators. The 25-year-old Soderblom struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 34 shots (.882 SV%) in a 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. He has a 2.99 GAA and .903 SV% in 19 appearances this season (6-11-1). The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as significant +241 road underdogs against a Predators squad coming off an impressive 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Samuel Montembeault was excellent in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars five days ago, but the Canadiens will hope for a better fate with Dobes between the pipes in a rematch on Thursday. The 23-year-old Dobes has been tremendous in limited action this season, posting a 0.97 GAA and .959 SV% in three contests (3-0-0). The Canadiens enter the action on Thursday as +190 road underdogs against a Stars club coming off an impressive 4-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Flames were defeated 2-1 by the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday and will switch from Dan Vladar to Dustin Wolf between the pipes in a rematch on Thursday. The 23-year-old Wolf has performed admirably as a rookie this season, posting a stellar 2.50 GAA and .916 SV% in 23 games (15-6-2). He has allowed only 10 combined goals in his previous six games (5-1-0), posting a .937 SV%. The Flames enter Thursday's contest as +119 road underdogs against the Blues.
Colorado is coming off an exciting 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers and will return to Blackwood between the pipes on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been sensational since joining Colorado last month, posting an immaculate 1.68 GAA and .938 SV% in 12 games (9-2-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as slight -112 home favorites against an Oilers squad that played last night and defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-3.
The Predators snapped a two-game losing skid on Tuesday with Justus Annunen between the pipes in a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights but will return to Saros on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Saros struggled in his most recent outing, allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. The 29-year-old Saros has a 2.78 GAA and .903 SV% in 33 appearances this season (9-18-6). The Predators enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -253 home favorites against a Blackhawks club amid a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).
Brandon Saad will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Walker to re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Walker is averaging 11:40 time-on-ice and has eight points (4G / 4A) in 38 games this season.
MacEwen has three points (2G / 1A) in 21 games this season and has only one point (0G / 1A) in his previous 19 contests. He returns to the Belleville Senators (AHL), where has has nine points (5G / 4A) in 14 contests this season.
Hintz exited Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs due to an undisclosed injury early in the first period after only 2:27 time-on-ice. The Stars, already without top-six forwards Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment, can ill-afford to lose Hintz's production for an extended period of time. The 28-year-old Hintz only has 27 points (19G / 8A) in 41 games this season but has been more productive lately, with 11 points (8G / 3A) in his last 14 games.
The red-hot Stars are 8-1-0 in their past nine games and will roll with Oettinger between the pipes on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. Oettinger was excellent in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%). The 26-year-old netminder has allowed two or fewer goals in five of his last six games (6-0-0), posting a stellar .930 SV%. The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -214 home favorites against a Canadiens club they defeated 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday.
Nathan Walker is expected to draw back into the Blues' lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, sending Saad to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Saad is averaging 14:37 time-on-ice and has 16 points (7G / 9A) in 39 games this season.
With Tyler Motte (upper body) sidelined, Fischer will return to Detroit's lineup for the first time since December 27th. The 27-year-old Fischer is averaging 11:28 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 31 games this season.
The Red Wings strayed away from Cam Talbot in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks, snapping their season-best seven-game winning streak, but will return to him between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Talbot was excellent in his previous outing, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. The 37-year-old Talbot has a 2.98 GAA and .903 SV% in 23 appearances this season (10-9-2). The Red Wings enter Thursday's contest as +203 road underdogs against a Panthers squad with points in four of their last five (3-1-1).
Shore began the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL but has been a regular in Minnesota's lineup the past several weeks. The 30-year-old forward is averaging 8:13 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in 25 games this season.
Before this season, Jones had only played two career NHL games but has found himself as a regular in Minnesota's lineup the past several weeks. The 25-year-old forward is averaging 8:23 time-on-ice and has zero points in 26 games this season.
Lauko has not played since December 14th but is likely nearing his return to the lineup after being activated from LTIR. The 24-year-old Czech forward is averaging 10:00 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 24 games this season.
Neighbours is battling an upper-body injury and could miss his first game of the season. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 16:26 time-on-ice and has 21 points (11G / 10A) in 45 games this season. He scored 27 goals 77 games last season but only has one goal in his past 13 contests.
Alexandre Texier will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Bolduc to re-enter the lineup. The 21-year-old Bolduc is averaging 12:20 time-on-ice and has 15 points (5G / 10A) in 37 games this season.
Zack Bolduc will draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, sending Texier to the press box as a healthy scratch. Texier is averaging 12:27 time-on-ice and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 24 games this season.
