Caggiula has missed the last four games with a hand injury but was activated from IR on Wednesday and will play on Thursday. Caggiula is expected to skate on the fourth line with Ryan Spooner and Tobias Rieder.
Thornton missed Wednesday’s practice and is questionable to play Thursday vs. the Stars. The Sharks are being vague on Thornton’s injury but the fact he is a game-time decision suggests that it is minor. Thornton has just 12 points (4G / 8A) in 23 games this season.
Jones allowed two goals on 24 shots in the Sharks win over the Devils on Monday. Jones has been solid in his last four starts, going 3-1-0 while allowing just seven goals on 135 shots (.948 SV%). The one loss came to the Stars, who he’ll face again tonight—this time in San Jose. Jones is 8-2-2 with a 2.67 GAA and .905 SV% on home-ice this season.
Talbot allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Oilers win over the Wild last Friday. Talbot has won two straight while stopping 59 of 63 shots (.937 SV%). In three starts under Ken Hitchcock, Talbot has gone 2-1-0 with a 2.29 GAA and .925 SV%. He has a difficult task tonight in Winnipeg—the Jets are 11-4-2 on home-ice this season.
Nilsson surrendered three goals on 28 shots in the Canucks loss to the Wild on December 4th. Nilsson started the season 3-0-0 but has lost six in a row with a 3.36 GAA and .884 SV% since then. Nilsson is very difficult to trust regardless of matchup but he should absolutely stay on the bench against a Predators team that is 12-5-0 in Nashville.
Peca was a healthy scratch for the last three games but will replace Nicolas Deslauriers tonight. Peca has one goal and six assists (seven points) in 22 games this season.
Deslauriers has just two points in 24 games this season, averaging just 10:12 TOI/gm. Deslauriers will be replaced by Matthew Peca.
Price stopped all nine shots that he faced after replacing Antti Niemi in Minnesota on Tuesday. Price has played very well as of late, winning three in a row while allowing just six goals on 90 shots (.933 SV%). In his first start against the Hurricanes, Price allowed two goals on 22 shots in a 2-1 loss.
Andersen allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Maple Leafs win in Carolina on Tuesday. Andersen bounced-back from a rough outing in Boston to earn his 17th win of the season, which ranks second in the NHL. He draws a tough matchup against the Lightning, who are 14-4-0 on home-ice. Andersen is 10-3-0 with a 2.74 GAA and .920 SV% on the road.
Reilly was a healthy scratch in Minnesota on Tuesday but is expected to replace David Schlemko on Thursday. Reilly has six points (2G / 4A) in 25 games this season.
Schlemko has been held pointless in his last five games and was a minus-1 in 18:35 TOI in Minnesota on Tuesday. The Canadiens were blown out so they will make some changes tonight vs. the Hurricanes. Mike Reilly is expected to replace Schlemko on the blueline.
Buchnevich has been out since November 10th but is expected to play Friday vs. the Coyotes. Buchnevich has averaged just 14:53 TOI/gm this season but collected nine points (5G / 4A) in 14 games.
Zuccarello has missed the last seven games with a groin injury but is expected to play Friday vs. the Coyotes. Zuccarello has been dealing with a groin injury since the start of November. He has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 17 games this season.
Mrazek allowed four goals on 29 shots in the Hurricanes loss to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Mrazek has gone 1-2-0 while allowing a combined six goals on 82 shots (.927 SV%) in his last three starts. Tonight he will take on a Canadiens team that has won four of their last six games while averaging 3.33 goals for per game.
Reimer allowed five goals on 39 shots in the Panthers loss to the Lightning on December 1st. Reimer has struggled this season, sitting tied for 49th in both GAA (3.36) and SV% (.893). Tonight he faces the Wild in Minnesota and comes in at 2-2-1 with a 3.42 GAA and .885 SV% on the road this season.
Galchenyuk missed Tuesday’s game in Boston and remains questionable for Thursday’s game in Buffalo. Galchenyuk has not been great through 21 games in Arizona, picking up just 11 points (3G / 8A). Galchenyuk’s 45.8 CorsiFor% and -2.1 CF% rel doesn’t lend a lot of hope that things are going to get much better in the near future.
Rinne made 25 saves on 26 shots in the Predators win over the Senators on Tuesday. Rinne has gone 3-1-0 with a 2.18 GAA and .915 SV% in his last four starts and comes into Thursday’s game tied for fourth in the NHL in wins (13). Rinne was yanked after allowing four goals on 25 shots in a surpassing 5-3 loss in Vancouver last Thursday.
Kuemper allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Coyotes loss in Boston on Tuesday. Despite Adin Hill playing spectacularly while Kuemper was out, they will stick with Kuemper tonight in Buffalo. Kuemper has gone 2-4-1 with a 3.30 GAA and .895 SV% on the road this season, so look at your other options before rolling with Kuemper.
Turris has missed the last eight games with an upper-body injury but will return tonight vs. the Canucks. Turris will draw back in on the Predators second line with Craig Smith and Calle Jarnkrok and has 16 points (5G / 11A) in 23 games this season.
Quick allowed three goals on 21 shots in the Kings loss in Detroit on Monday. Since returning from a knee injury, Quick has gone 2-4-0 with a 2.38 GAA and .919 SV% in six starts. The 32-year-old has struggled on the road so far, going 0-3-0 with a 3.46 GAA and .872 SV% in three starts. However, Columbus is .500 on home-ice (7-7-1).
