Erik Gustafsson will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Johansson to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Johansson is in his first NHL season and has one point (0G / 1A) while averaging 13:23 time-on-ice through 13 games.
Veleno will be a healthy scratch against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, indication that Patrick Kane may be ready to return to the lineup after a five-game absence. The 24-year-old Veleno is averaging a career-low 11:11 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) through 22 games this season.
Lekkerimaki spent five straight games with Vancouver last month, his first exposure to the NHL, before being return to Abbotsford (AHL). The 20-year-old Lekkerimaki was the 15th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
McWard is an undrafted product of Ohio State University with six games of NHL experience. The 23-year-old McWard has five points (1G / 5A) in 21 games with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) this season.
Pickard has only played one of the last six games for the Oilers but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 32-year-old Pickard was solid in his most recent outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Utah Hockey Club, and sports a 2.50 GAA and .895 SV% through nine appearances this season (5-3-0). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -270 home favorites against a Blue Jackets club that was shutout 3-0 by the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Pierre Engvall will draw back into the lineup for the Islanders on Thursday, resulting in Martin being a healthy scratch. The 35-year-old Martin is averaging 8:06 time-on-ice, recording one point (0G / 1A), five penalty minutes, and 42 hits in 15 games.
Matt Martin will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Engvall to return from a two-game absence. The 28-year-old Engvall is averaging 12:44 time-on-ice and has five points (3G / 2A) in 16 games this season.
Kane has missed five straight due to an upper-body injury and will draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators after being activated from IR earlier in the day. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer has struggled this season, scoring only 10 points (3G / 7A) through 20 games.
Fresh off a 16-save performance for his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, Vladar will return to the Flames' crease as the starting goalie for a third consecutive game. The 27-year-old Vladar has been serviceable this season, posting a 2.65 GAA and .904 SV% in 13 games (5-5-3). The Flames enter Thursday's contest as -125 home favorites against a St. Louis Blues club with points in four straight (3-0-1).
Wedgewood was spectacular in his first appearance as an Avalanche on Tuesday and will be rewarded with his first start for the club on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 32-year-old Wedgewood saved all 22 shots he faced in relief of Justus Annunen in Tuesday's 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Buffalo Sabres. Colorado has struggled to receive consistent goaltending all season, and a strong performance from Wedgewood on Thursday could go a long way in solidifying a heavier workload. Colorado enters Thursday's contest as +135 road underdogs against Carolina.
With Semyon Varlamov (lower body) day-to-day, Sorokin will start for the third consecutive game on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old Sorokin has been solid this season, posting a 2.48 GAA and .916 SV% in 16 games (6-6-4). He has saved 54 of 56 shots faced (.964 SV%) over his last two outings (1-0-1). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as -125 home favorites against a Kraken club coming off an impressive 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Guentzel left practice early on Tuesday due to an undisclosed ailment but will play on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 30-year-old Guentzel has been productive in his first season with Tampa Bay, scoring 22 points (10G / 12A) in 23 games.
Bobrovsky will be away from the team for a second consecutive game but could return to the crease on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks. Spencer Knight has served as the Panthers' netminder in Bobrovsky's absence, with Chris Driedger as the backup.
With Rasmus Dahlin (back spasms) out of the lineup, Gilbert will play his first game since November 16th. The 28-year-old Gilbert is averaging 10:50 time-on-ice, recording zero points, seven blocks, and 15 hits in six games.
The struggling Senators have lost seven of their last nine and will turn to Ullmark between the pipes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 31-year-old Ullmark has struggled this season, posting a 3.07 GAA and .888 SV% in 15 appearances (5-7-2). He has allowed three or more goals in six straight (1-3-2), posting a .869 SV%. The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -164 home favorites against a Red Wings club amid a three-game losing skid (0-1-2).
Sabres' head coach Lindy Ruff is hopeful that Dahlin's injury will not be a long-term concern but his absence from the lineup on Thursday remains a crushing blow for the team. Dahlin exited Tuesday's game in the third period after playing 17:16 time-on-ice. The 24-year-old Dahlin has 19 points (6G / 13A) through 25 games this season. The Sabres recalled Ryan Johnson from Rochester (AHL) as a possible lineup replacement for Dahlin on the blueline.
After setting an NHL record by winning 15 of their first 16 games to start the season, the Jets have fallen off significantly, winning only three of their next 10 (3-7-0). That said, Hellebuyck has remained brilliant between the pipes and is an early-season favorite to repeat as the Vezina trophy winner, posting a sublime 2.16 GAA and .927 SV% in 20 games (15-5-0). The Jets enter Thursday's contest as -130 road favorites against a Buffalo Sabres club without Rasmus Dahlin (back spasms).
Despite struggling on Tuesday, allowing five goals on 16 shots (.688 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Knight will return to the crease on Thursday for his third consecutive start. The 23-year-old Knight has been serviceable most of the season, posting a 2.60 GAA and .896 SV% and one shutout in 10 appearances (4-4-1). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -185 road favorites against a Philadelphia Flyers club riding a three-game winning streak.
The struggling Senators have lost seven of their last nine and will turn to Ullmark between the pipes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 31-year-old Ullmark has struggled this season, posting a 3.07 GAA and .888 SV% in 15 appearances (5-7-2). He has allowed three or more goals in six straight (1-3-2), posting a .869 SV%. The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -164 home favorites against a Red Wings club amid a three-game losing skid (0-1-2).
Paul will return from a six-game absence on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Before his injury, Paul was pacing for the best offensive season of his career with 13 points (5G / 8A) in 17 games.
