Gibson was yanked after allowing four goals on 19 shots in the Ducks loss in Nashville on Tuesday. After a hot start to the season, Gibson has lost four of his last five starts (1-4-0) with a 3.06 GAA and .894 SV%. Tonight he faces a Stars team that has won two in a row and who are 25-16-4 on home-ice dating back to the start of last season.
Sanford has been a healthy scratch for the last four games but will replace Sammy Blais (thumb) on Thursday. Sanford has no points in four games this season and will skate on the third line with Tyler Bozak and Robert Thomas.
Blais is considered day-to-day with a thumb injury, so Zach Sanford will replace him in the lineup on Thursday. Blais could be back for the Blues' back-to-back on Saturday/Sunday.
Komarov has reportedly been hit hard by illness, so he's been moved to IR to open up a roster spot for Casey Cizikas to be activated. Komarov is eligible to be activated whenever he is healthy.
Hanley recorded one assist in two games with the Stars earlier in October before returning to Texas. He was held pointless in two AHL games but returns to the Stars where he will likely serve as an extra defenseman on Thursday.
Koskinen stopped 25 of 26 shots in the Oilers win over the Red Wings last Friday. Mike Smith has started the last two games but they will come back to Koskinen tonight vs. the Capitals. Koskinen has won each of his four starts while posting an impressive 2.21 GAA and .934 SV%. As well as he has played so far, the Capitals' No.3 ranked offence poses a stiff test for the big Finnish netminder.
Rittich allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Flames loss in Los Angeles last Saturday. Cam Talbot started the last two games but Rittich will face the Panthers on Thursday evening. Rittich is 3-0-1 with a 1.50 GAA, .952 SV% and one shutout on home ice this season and Florida is 18-20-8 on the road dating back to the start of last season.
Lehner allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Blackhawks shootout loss to the Golden Knights on Tuesday. Lehner has been spectacular in a Blackhawks uniform, stopping 100 of the first 106 shots (.943 SV%) he has faced through three games. The Flyers beat the Blackhawks in the season opener overseas but it's hard not to trust Lehner to turn in a good performance right now.
Rinne stopped 26 of 27 shots in the Predators win over the Ducks on Tuesday. Rinne has been outstanding to open the 2019-20 season, winning five of his first six starts while posting a 2.31 GAA and .921 SV%. Tonight he faces a Wild team without their No.1 netminder and who come into play ranking 29th in the NHL in scoring (2.33 GF/gm).
Bishop stopped 38 of 39 shots in the Stars win in Philadelphia last Saturday. With Anton Khudobin starting on Monday, Bishop comes into Thursday's game well-rested. Bishop has lost five of his first seven starts with a .913 SV% but the Stars are starting to play better hockey and he has a solid matchup vs. a Ducks team averaging just 2.40 GF/gm (27th in the NHL).
Binnington stopped 17 of 18 shots in the Blues win over the Avalanche on Monday. It was a surprisingly easy night against a tough opponent and snapped a three-game losing streak for Binnington. He comes into Thursday's game at 2-0-2 with a 2.18 GAA and .920 SV% on home-ice so make sure he's in your lineups tonight.
Cizikas has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury but will play Thursday vs. the Coyotes. Cizikas plays quite a bit (13:04 ATOI) in a fourth-line role but doesn't carry any fantasy value. He has one assist in three games this season.
Armia has missed the last two games with a lower-body issue but was back on the ice at practice on Wednesday and should play Thursday. Armia has recorded five points (4G / 1A) in seven games this season and is expected to play with Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin.
Tatar left Wednesday's practice after taking a puck off of the foot but it seems likely that he will play on Thursday. Tatar has recorded three goals with four assists (seven points) in nine games this season.
Lehner allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Blackhawks shootout loss to the Golden Knights on Tuesday. Lehner has been spectacular in a Blackhawks uniform, stopping 100 of the first 106 shots (.943 SV%) he has faced through three games. The Flyers beat the Blackhawks in the season opener overseas but it's hard not to trust Lehner to turn in a good performance right now.
Kuemper allowed two goals on 19 shots in the Coyotes overtime win in New York on Tuesday. Kuemper continues to play outstanding hockey and has now won four in a row while posting a 1.75 GAA and .943 SV%. He is a must-start while he is playing well and draws a great matchup vs. an Islanders team that is averaging just 2.50 goals per game (24th in the NHL).
Jones allowed four goals on 29 shots in the Sharks loss in Buffalo on Tuesday. Aaron Dell got the nod lsat night in Montreal so Jones will start Game 2 of their eastern Canada back-to-back tonight in Toronto. He is 0-2-1 with a 3.97 GAA and 864 SV% on the road this season so it’s hard to trust him against a Maple Leafs team that is still averaging 3.00 goals per game without John Tavares.
Dell allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Sharks win in Chicago on October 10th. Martin Jones has started the last four games but the Sharks will go with Dell on the front-end of their eastern Canadian back-to-back. Dell has surrendered eight goals on 69 shots (.884 SV%) in his two starts and one relief appearance in 2019-20.
Varlamov stopped 32 of 33 shots in the Islanders win in Winnipeg last Thursday. Varlamov and Thomas Greiss have alternated starts this season and tonight is Varlamov's turn in the rotation. He has won two straight while stopping 67 of the last 70 shots (.957 SV%) that he has faced. Tonight he faces a Coyotes team that has won four straight while averaging an impressive 4.25 goals per game.
Harrington has been scratched since the season opener but will replace Markus Nutivaara (lower-body) in the lineup vs. Carolina. The 26-year-old blueliner has just 26 points (5G / 21A) in 153 career NHL games.
