Thompson came to the Sabres with so much upside and a lethal shot but has registered just seven goals on 81 shots (8.6 SH%) and four assists (11 points) in 45 games this season. Thompson will be replaced by Johan Larsson tonight.
Lovejoy has missed the last six games with an upper-body injury but is set to return Thursday vs. the Islanders. Lovejoy brings very little in terms of offence, scoring just once with five assists in 43 games this season.
Larkin missed Saturday’s game in Ottawa with an oblique injury that he suffered in overtime vs. the Maple Leafs last Friday. The Red Wings are a totally different team without Larkin so they will need him tonight if they want any chance against the Golden Knights.
Schneider will be making his first NHL appearance since December 14th and comes in having gone 0-5-1 with a 4.66 GAA and .852 SV% in nine appearances this season. During his time with the Binghamton Devils (AHL), Schneider wasn’t much better, posting a 3.24 GAA and .881 SV% across eight games. He has simply lost the form that once made him one of the best goalies in the league and can’t be trusted until he finds it (if ever).
Gibson allowed five goals on 35 shots in the Ducks loss in Toronto on Monday. Gibson is in the middle of a very difficult stretch, allowing a combined 16 goals on 80 shots (.800 SV%) in his last three games. The Ducks don’t seem to care anymore but Gibson has a chance to get back on-track tonight. He draws a great matchup in Ottawa, vs. a Sens team that played last night.
Quick allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Kings win in New York on Monday. Quick has allowed three goals in three straight games, stopping 85 of the 94 shots (.904 SV%) that he has faced. Quick, who has gone 3-6-2 with a 3.31 GAA and .895 SV% on the road this season, will be in tough against a Flyers team riding an eight-game win streak.
Blackwell failed to record a point in six games with the Predators during his call-up. He returns to the AHL where he has seven goals in 16 games because Kyle Turris has been activated from IR and is set to return to the lineup on Thursday.
Turris has been out since December 27th but is set to play against the Stars on Thursday. Turris had six goals and 12 assists (18 points) before getting injured and is expected to centre the Predators second line with Kevin Fiala and Craig Smith on his wings.
Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 37 shots in the Lightning’s shootout loss to the Golden Knights on Tuesday. Vasilevskiy has been great lately, going 3-2-1 despite posting a 1.97 GAA, .940 SV% and two shutouts in his last six starts. He has not faced the Blues this season but comes in at 12-4-1 with a 2.46 GAA, .927 SV% and one shutout on home-ice.
Ullmark allowed four goals on 45 shots in the Sabres shootout win over the Wild on Tuesday. It was a busy night for Ullmark, who is now 2-4-0 with a 3.32 GAA and .895 SV% in his last eight appearances. The 25-year-old comes in at 5-2-1 with a 3.41 GAA, .900 SV% and one shutout on home-ice this season.
Howard allowed two goals on 21 shots in the Red Wings overtime win over the Maple Leafs last Friday. Howard has won two straight while stopping 51 of 55 shots (.927 SV%). Tonight he takes on a Golden Knights team that has lost four of their last five but rank 15th in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.93 GF/pg).
Copley allowed three goals on 17 shots after replacing Braden Holtby in the Capitals loss in Chicago on January 20th. Copley has struggled over the course of the last month, allowing a combined 15 goals on the last 94 shots (.840 SV%) that he has faced. In his first start against Colorado this season, Copley stopped 24 of 26 shots in a 3-2 overtime win (Nov.16).
Schneider will be making his first NHL appearance since December 14th and comes in having gone 0-5-1 with a 4.66 GAA and .852 SV% in nine appearances this season. During his time with the Binghamton Devils (AHL), Schneider wasn’t much better, posting a 3.24 GAA and .881 SV% across eight games. He has simply lost the form that once made him one of the best goalies in the league and can’t be trusted until he finds it (if ever).
After sitting has a healthy scratch for the last two games, Brouwer will replace Jayce Hawryluk in the lineup on Thursday. The veteran winger has registered 10 points (7G / 3A) with a minus-12 rating, 28 PIMS and 50 shots on goal in 44 games this season.
On Wednesday, Panthers head coach Bob Boughner said there was a 50/50 chance that Hawryluk would play on Thursday but downgraded him to out this morning. Troy Brouwer will replace the rookie winger.
McCoshen has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace MacKenzie Weegar in the lineup on Thursday. McCoshen has not registered a point in five games since being called up by Florida.
Weegar has been in the lineup for the last two games but will be replaced by Ian McCoshen on Thursday.
Luongo allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Panthers loss to the Predators last Friday. Luongo has played better as of late, winning two of his last three while stopping 69 of the 75 shots (.920 SV%) that he faced. In his first start against the Penguins, Luongo was pulled after giving up four goals on 16 shots in a 5-1 loss (Jan.8).
Eaves sat in the second game of the Ducks’ back-to-back earlier in the week and will be out for a second straight game as he battles an illness. Eaves continues to have a difficult time staying on the ice and will be replaced by Adam Cracknell for the second contest in a row.
Welinski, 25, has split his 2018-19 season right down the middle, playing 19 NHL games and 18 AHL games. With Korbinian Holzer returning to Germany for a family matter, Welinski has been called up and is expected to play on Thursday. The former third-round pick has two assists with the Ducks this year and four assists in 26 career NHL games overall.
