Tampa Bay's blueline has been decimated with injuries this season, but good news is on the horizon with McDonagh's return seemingly imminent. The 36-year-old McDonagh has not played in six weeks. He has six points (3G / 3A) in 15 games this season.
Brodin exited last Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars late in the third period and has not played since. He was retroactively placed on Injured Reserve and has no timeline for his return. The 32-year-old defenseman is averaging 22:05 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) in 30 games this season.
Binnington has struggled all season, with quality starts in a career-low 31 percent of games, but he will tend the twine for the Blues on Thursday in the tail end of a back-to-back. The 32-year-old Binnington has an ugly 3.49 GAA and .869 SV% in 21 games (7-8-5), and allowed six goals on 25 shots (.760 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 7-2 loss to the Nashville Predators.
The Blues have relied more heavily on Hofer lately, and he will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets despite a poor performance in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators, allowing four goals on 25 shots (.840 SV%). The 25-year-old Hofer has a 3.16 GAA and .890 SV% in 18 games (5-7-2), but has been much better lately, with a 1.95 GAA and .924 SV% in his last seven appearances (3-2-0). The Blues enter Wednesday's contest as +130 road underdogs against a Jets team they face for the first time since being eliminated by them in the first round of the playoffs.
Stenberg was drafted 25th overall by the Blues in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and will make his NHL debut on Wednesday against the Winnipet Jets. The 20-year-old forward has eight points (3G / 5A) in 21 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.
Berggren was drafted 33rd overall by the Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but had trouble establishing himself with them at the NHL level and was ultimately placed on waivers. The 25-year-old forward had six points (2G / 4A) in 15 games this season and hopes to solidify himself as a full-time NHLer with the Blues.
Kesselring's first season in Buffalo has been off to a rocky start, sidelined by various injuries, most recently a lower-body injury that has kept him out for over a month. The 25-year-old Kesselring has zero points in nine games this season but has stated he is good to play in Buffalo's next game.
Chabot has only played one game in the last five weeks, but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Chabot is averaging 21:55 time-on-ice and has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 18 games this season. Chabot played 80 games last season, unfortunately, an irregularity for the talented defenseman who has had trouble staying healthy in recent seasons.
Lambos was drafted 26th overall by the Minnesota Wild and has yet to play an NHL game. The 22-year-old defenseman has five points (2G / 3A) in 26 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season. His call up indicated that Daemon Hunt's (undisclosed) injury might prevent him from playing when Minnesota returns to action on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Luke Kunin will draw back into Florida's lineup on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings, resulting in Studnicka being a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Studnicka has zero points through eight games this season.
The Panthers have won two straight and hope to continue inching themselves closer to playoff contention, turning to Tarasov to tend the twine on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old Tarasov has been inconsistent this season and is coming off a game in which he allowed six goals on 42 shots (.857 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He has a 2.84 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games this season (3-5-1). The Panthers enter the action on Wednesday as -140 home favorites against a Kings team that has scored the fewest goals in the NHL since the beginning of November.
Kunin has not played in nearly two weeks, but will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 28-year-old Kunin has two points (1G / 1A) and 41 hits in 22 games this season.
Mitchell has been a regular in New York's lineup the past two weeks, playing nine games this season, including his first career goal. The 26-year-old Mitchell returns to Bridgeport (AHL) where he has three points (0G / 3A) in 12 games this season
Forsling exited Monday's 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period after 13:57 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. He was absent from morning skate on Wednesday, but will play on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Forsling has 26 hits, 37 blocks, and 14 points (1G / 13A) in 32 games this season.
The Panthers have won two straight and hope to continue inching themselves closer to playoff contention, turning to Tarasov to tend the twine on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old Tarasov has been inconsistent this season and is coming off a game in which he allowed six goals on 42 shots (.857 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He has a 2.84 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games this season (3-5-1). The Panthers enter the action on Wednesday as -140 home favorites against a Kings team that has scored the fewest goals in the NHL since the beginning of November.
Hunt's Tuesday's night was cut short due to an undisclosed injury, exiting the game midway through the first period. The 23-year-old Hunt has two assists in 12 games this season.
Originally expected to be out two-to-three months with an upper-body injury, Foerster went through additional medical consultations and ultimately opted to undergo surgery that should keep him sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. The 23-year-old Foerster had 13 points (10G / 3A) in 21 games before his injury.
Montour exited Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the second period after only 11:46 time-on-ice. The 31-year-old defenseman is averaging 21:56 time-on-ice and has 16 points (6G / 10A) in 27 games. An update on Montour's status should be provided before Seattle returns to action on Thursday against the Calgary Flames.
