McGing was drafted by the Blues in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, but has only worked his way into six career NHL games. The 27-year-old forward has six points (4G / 2A) in 18 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.
Blackwood started three straight games while Scott Wedgewood was injured, but it appears the Avalanche will return to an even goalie rotation after Wedgewood made his return on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Blackwood returns to the crease against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, following a 23-save performance (.920 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Colorado has received exceptional goaltending regardless of who is tending the twine, and Blackwood has been no exception, posting an excellent 2.21 GAA and .920 SV% in 10 games (8-1-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as significant -224 home favorites against a Panthers team that played last night and is riding a three-game winning streak.
Hart has been serviceable since returning to the NHL, but is coming off his first loss, allowing four goals on 27 shots (.852 SV%) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the New York Islanders. The 27-year-old Hart has a 2.80 GAA and .889 SV% in three games (2-0-1) and will have started in four of six Golden Knights' games since his debut.
Carter Hart has started the previous two games for the Golden Knights, but head coach Bruce Cassidy wants to keep Schmid in the rotation and will turn to him on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 25-year-old Schmid was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 24 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils for his second shutout of the season. Schmid has a 2.35 GAA and .903 SV% in 16 games (10-2-4). The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as -143 road favorites against a Flyers team that is 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.
Ellis was perfect, saving all six shots he faced, before exiting Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers later in the first period due to an upper-body injury. The severity of Ellis' injury is unclear, but he will miss at least a week after being placed on Injured Reserve. Expect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon to occupy the Sabres' crease during his absence.
The Oilers have played better lately, collecting a point in four of their last five (3-1-1), and will roll with Skinner between the pipes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 27-year-old Skinner has been unreliable on many nights this season, posting a 2.91 GAA and .887 SV% in 22 games (10-8-4). That said, he is amid his best four-game stretch of the season (2-1-1), posting a 1.85 GAA and .929 SV%. The Oilers enter the action on Thursday as -166 home favorites against a Red Wings team that played last night and has won four of their last five games (4-0-1).
Kierstad has only played two NHL games over the past three seasons, playing almost exclusively at the AHL level. The undrafted 27-year-old defenseman has three assists in 23 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season.
Aube-Kubel has 80 points (32G / 48A) in 304 career NHL games, but has spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 29-year-old forward has 13 points (5G / 8A) in 23 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season.
Yaroslav Askarov has been battling an illness and, though he appears to be back to full health, will serve as the backup to Nedeljkovic on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old Nedeljkovic has had an up-and-down season with San Jose, posting a 3.02 GAA and .899 SV% in 14 games (4-6-2). That said, he has played well lately, allowing three or fewer goals in nine of his last 10 games (3-6-1) while posting a .911 SV%. The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as +171 road underdogs against a surging Maple Leafs team with points in five straight games (4-0-1).
With Gustav Nyquist drawing back into the lineup, Pearson will be the odd man out as a healthy scratch. The 33-year-old Pearson has five points (4G / 1A) in 27 games this season.
Mukhamadullin has not played in over a week, but he will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 23-year-old Mukhamadullin is averaging 16:29 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 14 games this season.
Carter Hart has started the previous two games for the Golden Knights, but head coach Bruce Cassidy wants to keep Schmid in the rotation and will turn to him on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 25-year-old Schmid was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 24 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils for his second shutout of the season. Schmid has a 2.35 GAA and .903 SV% in 16 games (10-2-4). The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as -143 road favorites against a Flyers team that is 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.
With Booner Jenner (upper body) expected to return on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, Del Bel Belluz will be the odd man out and immediately assigned to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 22-year-old Del Bel Belluz has one assist in 11 games with Columbus this season.
Hunt has been a healthy scratch for the last four games and will head back to the AHL, where he has 16 points (5G / 11A) in 15 games this season. During his time with the Flames, the veteran winger had no points in two games.
Middleton was limited to 16:34 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken, and has been placed on Injured Reserve due to an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:08 time-on-ice and has six assists in 28 games this season.
Zuccarello missed the first month of the season with a lower-body injury and now returns to the sidelines, placed on Injured Reserve due to an upper-body injury. The 38-year-old Zuccarello has been effective when healthy, with 12 points (2G / 10A) in 15 games.
Minnesota has steadily rotated its goalies over the past month, but will give Gustavsson rare consecutive starts on Thursday when he tends twine against their divisional rivals, the Dallas Stars. Jesper Wallstedt has deservedly received a lot of praise for his goaltending abilities lately for Minnesota, but Gustavsson has been no slouch himself. The 27-year-old Gustavsson has posted excellent numbers lately, with a 2.15 GAA and .924 SV% in 10 games since the beginning of November (6-2-2). Minnesota enters the action on Thursday as a +127 home underdog against a Dallas team that has been cruising lately, going 9-0-2 in its last 11 games.
Markstrom has been unreliable and inconsistent between the pipes this season, but the Devils are hoping he can build momentum off a solid 35-save performance (.921 SV%) in their most recent game, a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 35-year-old Markstrom has an ugly 3.48 GAA and .880 SV% in 15 games (8-6-1) and is sporting a career-worst 29 percent quality start rate. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as +120 home underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that erupted for a 6-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens in their last game after being shut out in two straight.
If not for an injury to Pyotr Kochetkov to start the 2025-26 season, Bussi would likely not be in the mix for the Hurricanes, but excellent play has earned him his third start in the last four games. The 27-year-old Bussi, a first-year NHLer, has a 2.09 GAA and .909 SV% in 10 games this season (9-1-0). He has a 1.35 GAA and .933 SV% in his last four games (4-0-0). The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as -113 road favorites against a Washington Capitals team that is 10-1-2 in its last 13 games.
Connor Hellebuyck (knee) returned to practice on Wednesday, but Comrie will continue to occupy the crease on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 30-year-old Comrie has struggled, as have the Jets, since Hellebuyck's injury, posting a concerning sub- .800 SV% in three of his last five games (1-3-1). He has a 3.16 GAA and .892 SV% in 14 games this season (6-7-1). The Jets enter Thursday's contest as -148 home favorites against a Bruins team that has scored four or more goals in four straight games (3-1-0).
