Jost has split time between the AHL and NHL this season, but played nine straight games for the Hurricanes before suffering an undisclosed injury on Tuesday. The 26-year-old Jost has two points (2G / 0A) in 16 games with the Hurricanes this season.
The Bruins will turn to Swayman between the pipes for a third consecutive game on Thursday when they visit the New York Rangers. Swayman was unsuccessful in his most recent outing, a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, but was solid, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%). The 26-year-old Swayman has played well lately, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (4-1-1), posting a .919 SV%. The Bruins enter Thursday's contest as slight -104 road underdogs against against a Rangers club outscored 19-6 in their last four games (0-4-0).
The Hurricanes have lost three of their last four (1-2-1) and will turn to Kochetkov between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Kochetkov allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has a 2.52 GAA and .899 SV% in 23 games this season (14-7-1). The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as +105 home underdogs against a Panthers club that defeated them 6-0 on November 30th.
The Blue Jackets have won three of their last four (3-1-0) and will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Merzlikins was solid in his most recent outing, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 30-year-old netminder has a 3.07 GAA and .891 SV% in 24 games this season (12-9-3). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as -123 home favorites against a Red Wings club outscoring their opposition 8-4 during a two-game winning streak.
Spurgeon was the unlikely recipient of a Zachary L'Heureux slew-foot in Minnesota's previous game and is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The injury is not as bad as originally expected according to Minnesota's training staff but the team will still be missing their captain mightily, who had four goals, 13 points and 59 SOG while averaging 20:43 TOI in 32 games played this season.
The Ducks are riding a two-game winning streak, with an impressive win against Edmonton and New Jersey, and will likely turn to Gibson between the pipes on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. Gibson has a serviceable 2.93 GAA and .906 SV% in 12 appearances this season (5-5-1) but has struggled lately, posting a 1-5-0 record in his last seven appearances and posting a .895 SV%. The Ducks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +230 home underdogs against the Jets.
Jared Spurgeon of the Minnesota Wild exited Tuesday's contest after being slew-footed by L'Heureux and did not return to game. Spurgeon was seen leaving the arena with crutches. L'Heureux was not issued any penalties on the play. The 21-year-old L'Heureux is in his first NHL season and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 33 games.
The Canucks have lost five of their last six and will turn to Demko between the pipes for their first game of 2025. Demko struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Seattle Kraken. He has a 3.43 GAA and .879 SV% in six games this season (2-1-3). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as slight +107 road underdogs in a rematch against the Kraken.
Keller was a late scratch on Tuesday due to an illness but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Keller has been a point-per-game player over the past four seasons, with an impressive 262 points (111G / 151A) in 263 games. He leads Utah HC this season with 37 points (13G / 24A) in 36 games.
Forsberg will serve as the backup to Leevi Merilainen on Thursday against the Dallas Stars after being sidelined for the past three weeks. Mads Sogaard was loaned to the Belleville Senators (AHL) to accommodate Forsberg's return.
With Anton Forsberg (lower body) returning to Ottawa's lineup, Sogaard has been loaned to Belleville (AHL). The 24-year-old Soogard has not seen much NHL action this season, posting an ugly 5.24 GAA and .800 SV% in two games (1-1-0).
Guentzel did not play on the previous game due to a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 30-year-old Guentzel has been terrific in his first season with Tampa Bay, scoring 37 points (20G / 17A) in 33 games.
The Canucks have lost five of their last six and will turn to Demko between the pipes for their first game of 2025. Demko struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Seattle Kraken. He has a 3.43 GAA and .879 SV% in six games this season (2-1-3). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as slight +107 road underdogs in a rematch against the Kraken.
Barbashev has not played since December 15th, missing six games with an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Barbashev was enjoying a tremendous season before his injury, on pace for career-best offensive totals, scoring 30 points (15G / 15A) in 31 games. Previously, his career-best season was in 2021-21 when he scored 60 points (26G / 34A) in 81 games with the St. Louis Blues.
The Golden Knights' six-game winning streak snapped with a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. The team will revert to Samsonov between the pipes against the Philadelphia Flyers. Samsonov was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 31 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over the Calgary Flames for his first shutout as a Golden Knight. He has a 2.74 GAA and .906 SV% in 13 games this season (9-3-1). The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as -194 home favorites against a Flyers club coming off a 4-0 win over the San Jose Sharks.
The Oilers will turn to Skinner between the pipes on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. Skinner was solid in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in a 4-1 over the Utah Hockey Club. Still, the 26-year-old Skinner has faced challenges this season, posting a 2.81 GAA and .897 SV% in 25 games (14-8-3).
Stastney was a fifth-round pick of the Predators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old defenseman played 20 games with the Predators last season, scoring four points (2G / 2A), but has exclusively played in the AHL this season. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 10 games with Milwaukee (AHL) this season.
Wiesblatt was the 31st overall pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game. He has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 27 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.
With Marc-Edouard Vlasic (back) making his season debut on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lighting, Mukhamadullin will be sidelined as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Mukhamadullin is averaging 15:27 time-on-ice and has one goal in eight games this season.
Coming off consecutive back-to-back games, Tampa Bay has split their workload between Vasilevskiy and Jonas Johansson over the past four games (2-2-0). They will return to their workhorse netminder on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Vasilevskiy was outstanding in his most recent outing, saving 42 of 44 shots (.955 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. He has a 2.39 GAA and .913 SV% in 27 games this season (26-10-1). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as significant -275 road favorites against a San Jose club amid an eight-game losing skid.
