Helleson was the second-round pick, 47th overall, of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old made his NHL debut with the Ducks in the 2022-23 season, playing three games, but has played exclusively in the AHL since.
Harkins played one game with the Ducks earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign as an offensive powerhouse in the AHL. The 27-year-old Harkins has 17 points (5G ./ 12A) in 11 games with the San Diego Gulls (AHL) this season.
The Penguins are coming off a forgetful outing on Monday when they allowed six goals in the first period in an eventual 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Nedeljkovic entered the contest in relief and allowed four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%), lowering his season totals to a 3.25 GAA and .882 SV% in eight appearances (2-3-2). The Penguins enter Wednesday's contest as -137 home favorites against a Detroit Red Wings club riding a two-game losing skid.
The Penguins will shake up their defense on Wednesday after a debilitating 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in their previous contest, welcoming Shea back into the lineup in favor of Jack St. Ivany. The 27-year-old Shea is averaging 15:06 time-on-ice and has zero points in three games this season.
Despite recording an assist and an even plus/minus rating in a disastrous 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in their last outing, the Penguins will scratch St. Ivany on Wednesday in favor on Ryan Shea. The 25-year-old St. Ivany is averaging 16:02 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) through 14 games this season.
Milne was the third-round pick, 89th overall, of the Minnesota Wild in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Milne has yet to play an NHL game and has spent most of the season with the Iowa Wild (AHL), where he has eight points (4G / 4A) in 10 games.
The Penguins are coming off a forgetful outing on Monday when they allowed six goals in the first period in an eventual 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Nedeljkovic entered the contest in relief and allowed four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%), lowering his season totals to a 3.25 GAA and .882 SV% in eight appearances (2-3-2). The Penguins enter Wednesday's contest as -137 home favorites against a Detroit Red Wings club riding a two-game losing skid.
Wood has not played since October 28th but appears to be nearing an imminent return the the lineup. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. He and Jonathan Drouin (upper body) could both be options to return to the lineup on Friday.
Drouin has not played since the first game of the season, and will miss a 16th consecutive contest on Wednesday. After several forgetful seasons, the 29-year-old Drouin had a career-high 56 points (19G / 37A) in 79 games last season, and could return to the lineup on Friday against the Washington Capitals.
For the first time this season, the Capitals will stray away from their even goalie rotation and turn to Thompson between the pipes for consecutive games. The 27-year-old Thompson has been tremendous in his first season as a Capital, yet to lose a game (7-0-0), posting a solid 2.55 GAA and .910 SV%. The Capitals own a +19 goal differential through 14 games this season (10-4-0) and enter Wednesday's contest as -135 home favorites against a Toronto Maple Leafs club defeated 3-0 last night by the Ottawa Senators.
Loof was the third-round pick, 88th overall, of the St. Louis Blues in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Loof has one point (0G / 1A) in 11 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.
Wilsby was the fourth-round pick, 101st overall, of the Nashville Predators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old has spent the past three seasons exclusively in the AHL, including scoring three points (1G / 2A) through 11 games with the Milwaukee Admirals this season.
Goncalves made his season debut with Tampa Bay last week, scoring zero points in two games. The 23-year-old Goncalves has played four NHL games in his career but spent most of his young career in the AHL, including scoring 58 points (13G / 45A) in 69 games with Syracuse last season.
According to head coach Paul Maurice, Bennett had something "tighten up this morning and it didn't loosen up throughout the day." He added that even if Bennett doesn't play Thursday, he won't be out long-term. Jesper Boqvist moved up to the Panthers' second line with Bennett out.
With Dakota Joshua (testicular cancer) not quite ready to return to the lineup, Bains will get the chance to make his first appearance since November 2nd. Bains has one goal and zero assists in seven games this season.
Lindholm suffered the injury in the first period of Tuesday's game and was unable to join his teammates on the bench for the start of the second. We should receive an update on his status ahead of Boston's game in Dallas on Thursday.
With Michael Sgarbossa being reassigned to Hershey (AHL) and Lars Eller not expected to be ready to make his debut, Lapierre will likely re-enter the lineup on Wednesday. Lapierre is yet to score a goal but does have two assists in 11 games this season.
After being acquired from the Penguins on Tuesday night, Eller is not expected to be ready in time to make his debut on Wednesday. With Michael Sgarbossa being reassigned to Hershey (AHL), Hendrix Lapierre will likely draw back into the lineup.
Sgarbossa's reassignment makes room on the Capitals roster for the newly acquired Lars Eller. Sgarbossa has impressed in his limited time with the Caps this season, registering one goal and one assist in three games.
The Bruins will turn to Swayman between the pipes for the fourth time in the last five games. Partially a byproduct of poor team play, Swayman has struggled this season, posting a 3.13 GAA and .896 SV% in 11 outings (4-5-2), a far cry from the 2.53 GAA and .916 SV% he recorded in 44 games last season (25-10-8) to help him secure an eight-year, $66 million contract extension. That said, the Bruins enter the action on Tuesday as -168 road favorites against a St. Louis Blues club coming off a disastrous 8-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.
