Talbot missed the last four games but will start for the first time since December 1st. Talbot had an excellent start to the season, going 5-2-1 with a 2.34 GAA, .927 SV% and one shutout in his first nine games. However, things haven't been quite as good recently, as he's gone 1-3-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .895 SV% in his last six games. On Thursday, Talbot and the Red Wings are +119 underdogs in Philadelphia.
Darcy Kuemper has played the last two games for the Kings but they will revert to Rittich on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 32-year-old Rittich has a 2.45 GAA and .891 SV% in 17 appearances (10-6-0). With Kuemper battling through two different injuries already this season, the Kings may utilize Rittich more often than not in order to keep Kuemper fresh. The Kings enter Thursday's contest with the Devils as +132 road underdogs.
The Capitals will continue their goalie rotation, turning to Lindgren between the pipes on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lindgren has won three straight outings, improving to a 2.80 GAA and .894 SV% in 13 games this season (8-5-0). The Capitals have won six of their last seven and enter Thursday's contest as -155 road favorites against a Blue Jackets club that has lost four of their last five (1-4-0).
Martinez was limited to only 13:53 time-on-ice before exiting Saturday's game due to an upper-body injury. He will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday and is being reevaluated in Chicago. The 37-year-old Martinez is averaging 20:05 time-on-ice, recording four points (1G / 3A), 38 blocks, and four hits in 15 games.
Craig Smith (undisclosed) will draw back into Chicago's lineup on Thursday against the New York Islanders, sending Anderson to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Anderson is averaging 14:16 time-on-ice and has one points (0G / 1A) in 13 games this season.
Joey Anderson will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the New York Islanders, allowing Smith to return from a one-game absence. The 35-year-old Smith has provided depth offense for the Blackhawks, scoring 10 points (6G / 4A) in 25 games this season.
The Blackhawks will start Soderblom a third consecutive game on Thursday when they visit the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old Soderblom has been solid in limited action this season, posting an impressive 2.41 GAA and .921 SV% in nine games (2-6-1). The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +167 road underdogs against an Islanders club that has lost three of their last five (2-2-1).
Markstrom has a light night in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, allowing two goals on 16 shots (.875 SV%), and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 34-year-old Markstrom has been serviceable this season, posting a 2.48 GAA and .906 SV% in 21 games (13-6-2). The Devils enter Thursday's contest as -144 home favorites against a Kings club outscoring their opposition 21-8 during a season-best six-game winning streak.
Whitecloud has been out of the lineup for two weeks but will return to action on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old Whitecloud was averaging 17:23 time-on-ice before his injury, recording two points (1G / 1A), 40 blocks, and 33 hits in 21 games.
The Golden Knights have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 8-3, and will roll with Hill between the pipes on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old Hill has a respectable 2.63 GAA and .905 SV% in 18 games this season (12-4-2) and has been excellent lately, allowing three or fewer goals in eight straight (6-1-1), posting a stellar .938 SV%. The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as +108 road underdogs against a Jets club they defeated 4-3 less than two weeks ago.
Bobrovsky has strung together four straight wins, allowing only six combined goals and posting a sublime .941 SV%. It's a step in the right direction for the 36-year-old Bobrovsky, who has a 2.81 GAA and .896 SV% in 19 games this season (13-5-1). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -159 road favorites against a Vancouver Canucks club welcoming J.T. Miller (personal) back into the lineup.
Vejmelka struggled in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 38 shots (.895 SV%) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild. Despite the minor blip on Tuesday, the 28-year-old Czech netminder has been stellar between the pipes this season, posting a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV% in 15 appearances (4-7-2). Utah HC enters Thursday's contest as +156 road underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche club that defeated them 5-1 in their only other meeting this season.
With Robert Bortuzzo (lower body) out indefinitely, Kolyachonok will re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Kolyachonok is averaging 13:05 time-on-ice, recording four points (1G / 3A), and a -4 plus/minus in 13 games this season.
Bortuzzo has been in and out of the lineup due to injuries this season. He exited Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild due to a lower-body injury after playing only 6:57 time-on-ice. The 35-year-old Bortuzzo is averaging 11:03 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 15 games this season.
The Capitals will continue their goalie rotation, turning to Lindgren between the pipes on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lindgren has won three straight outings, improving to a 2.80 GAA and .894 SV% in 13 games this season (8-5-0). The Capitals have won six of their last seven and enter Thursday's contest as -155 road favorites against a Blue Jackets club that has lost four of their last five (1-4-0).
Forbort has not played since November 4th and will finally return to the lineup on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 32-year-old Forbort has one point (0G / 1A) while averaging 16:30 time-on-ice through four games this season.
Thatcher Demko (lower body) made his long-awaited season debut in a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, but the Canucks will revert to Lankinen between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Lankinen has been solid tending the twice for the Canucks this season, posting a 2.65 GAA and .908 SV% in 20 games (13-4-3), and will likely continue seeing a reasonable workload as Demko acclimates pack to game speed. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +153 home underdogs against a Panthers club riding a three-game winning streak.
Dermott has not played since November 19th and has been placed on waivers. The 27-year-old defenseman has played 10 games this season, averaging 13:05 time-on-ice, recording zero points, 10 blocks, and six hits.
With several injured players returning to the Maple Leafs lineup, Alex Nylander had fallen out of the lineup rotation and was placed on waivers on Wednesday. Nylander was signed by the Maple Leafs three weeks ago and averaged 9:53 time-on-ice while recording zero points in five games.
Parker Wotherspoon will draw back into the lineup for the Bruins on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, resulting in Lohrei being a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Lohrei has consistently been in the lineup this season, averaging 17:45 time-on-ice and scoring 12 points (1G / 11A) in 26 games.
