Sikura played in the last two games but failed to register a point while playing 10:30 ATOI. Matthew Highmore, who was called up from Rockford (AHL) on Monday, will replace Sikura on Thursday.
Highmore was called up on Monday but sat as a healthy scratch on Tuesday. Highmore will replace Dylan Sikura in the Blackhawks' bottom-6 and comes in with no points in two games this season.
Maatta missed the last four games with an illness but will replace Calvin de Haan, who is on IR with a shoulder injury. Maatta has eight points (1G / 7A) while averaging 1.2 shots and 1.3 blocked shots in 27 games this season.
Mrazek gave up two goals on 24 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Wild last Saturday. James Reimer started Tuesday in Edmonton but it looks like Mrazek will start Thursday in Vancouver. He's won two straight and is 3-3-1 with a 3.24 GAA and .891 SV% on the road this year, so he's not a great option against a quality Canucks offence.
Kuemper allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Coyotes win in Chicago on Sunday. Kuemper has won four of his last five starts (4-0-1) while posting a 1.90 GAA and .939 SV%. The 29-year-old has gone 5-4-1 with a 1.99 GAA, .938 SV% and two shutouts on home-ice and gets set to face the Blackhawks again tonight.
Walker appeared in five games during his call-up but was a healthy scratch on Tuesday and returns to the AHL with Oskar Sundqvist returning to the lineup on Thursday. Walker has 22 points (12G / 10A) in 20 AHL games this season.
Granlund has appeared in 12 straight games but will be replaced by Sam Gagner in the lineup on Thursday.
Russell played 9:47 TOI vs. the Hurricanes on Tuesday but will be replaced by Alex Chiasson on Thursday. Russell has just four assists in 27 games this year.
Gagner has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace Markus Granlund on the Oilers' third line on Thursday. Gagner has one goal and six assists (seven points) in 15 games this season.
Chiasson was a healthy scratch vs. Carolina on Tuesday but will replace Patrick Russell in the lineup on Thursday. Chiasson, who will skate on the second line with Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 28 games this season.
de Haan was hurt midway through Tuesday's game in Vegas and was immediately sent back to Chicago for evaluation. de Haan being placed on IR means he will miss at least three games. With de Haan out, Slater Koekkoek will draw back into the lineup on Thursday.
Lehner gave up three goals on 47 shots in the Blackhawks loss to the Coyotes. Lehner has dropped four of his last five starts (1-2-2) while posting a 3.28 GAA and .914 SV%. The Blackhawks give up the most shots against in the NHL, so he'll continue to be busy on a nightly basis. He'll get another shot at the Coyotes tonight, this time on the road, where he is 3-3-1 with a 2.89 GAA and .927 SV%.
Blichfeld was a seventh-round pick (No.210 overall) in 2016 and is leading the Barracuda in goals (9) and points (19) in his first professional season. Blichfeld is expected to make his NHL debut on the third line with Patrick Marleau and Barclay Goodrow.
Andersen made 38 saves on 39 shots in the Maple Leafs' win in Vancouver on Tuesday. It was a brilliant outing for Andersen, who has won six of his last eight while posting a 1.88 GAA, .939 SV% and one shutout. Tonight he'll take on a Flames team that is riding a six-game winning streak while scoring 4.00 goals per game.
Matheson has had a tough season so far, scoring just one goal with two assists in 25 games. Matheson played just 13:41 TOI on Tuesday and will be scratched in favour of Mark Pysyk on Thursday night. Coach Quenneville called it “not an easy thing to do," especially when you consider that Matheson has seven years left on a deal that carries a $4.875M AAV cap-hit.
Leddy participated in Thursday's morning skate and head coach Barry Trotz said that "he's progressing quite well but you won't see him tonight." Leddy will miss his second straight game which means that rookie Noah Dobson will remain in the lineup.
Fleury made 28 saves on 29 shots in the Golden Knights' win over the Blackhawks on Tuesday. Fleury's shutout was snapped late but it was a terrific return to the crease nonetheless. In St. Louis, he'll face a Blues team that is 8-4-3 while scoring 2.93 goals per game on home ice this season. Fleury is 5-1-0 with a 1.64 GAA, .948 SV% and one shutout on the road.
Quick allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Kings win over the Rangers on Tuesday. It was one of the best performances of the season for Quick, who snapped a three-game losing skid in the process. The 33-year-old has had a really difficult time on the road this year, going 1-8-0 with a 4.20 GAA and .850 SV% in nine starts this year.
Smith allowed three goals on 22 shots in the Oilers' loss to the Sabres on Sunday. Smith has struggled mightily as of late, losing three straight while surrendering 10 goals on the last 73 shots (.863 SV%) that he has faced. He has played on the road this season though. The 37-year-old has gone 4-4-1 with 2.25 GAA, .923 SV% and one shutout in away games.
