The Blackhawks have relied on Knight in seven of 10 games to start the 2025-26 season (5-3-2), and will roll with him again on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 24-year-old Knight has been excellent in his first full season with the Blackhawks, posting a stellar 2.11 GAA and .930 SV% in seven games (4-2-1). Still, the Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +187 road underdogs against a 7-3-0 Jets team.
Minnesota has been abysmally defensive lately, outscored 20-11 during a four-game losing streak (0-2-2). The team hopes for a heroic performance out of Gustavsson when he returns to the crease on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old Gustavsson had a 26-save shutout in his first game of the season, but has struggled saving the puck since, posting a 3.90 GAA and .876 SV% in his subsequent seven outings (1-5-1). Still, Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as a -166 home favorite against a Pittsburgh team with points in seven straight games (5-0-2).
The Oilers are coming off a 6-3 win over the Utah Mammoth, and they will roll with Skinner again after he saved 20 of 23 shots (.870 SV%) in the winning effort. The 26-year-old Skinner has had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, mirroring the Oilers' early-season efforts, posting a 2.41 GAA and .898 SV% in seven games (3-3-1). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as -155 home favorites against a New York Rangers team they defeated 2-0 on October 14th, a 30-save shutout for Skinner.
Fedor Svechkov returns to Nashville's lineup on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, returning Jost to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Jost has one point (1G / 0A) and a -3 plus/minus in 10 games this season.
Tyson Jost will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, allowing Svechkov to re-enter the lineup. The 22-year-old Svechkov has struggled in his second NHL season, recording zero points, 19 shots, and a -5 plus/minus through nine games.
Blankenburg made his season debut for Nashville on October 18th, recording a +1 plus/minus in 12:04 time-on-ice, but has been sidelined since. The 27-year-old Blankenburg played a career-high 60 games with Nashville last season and recorded 16 points (4G / 12A). He draws into the lineup for an injured Adam Wilsby (lower body).
Zayne Parekh (undisclosed) will not play on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, allowing Pachal to re-enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Pachal played a career-high 76 games with the Flames last season, but has been used sparingly in 2025-26, playing in only four of the team's 11 contests.
Connor Zary will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, allowing Klapka to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Klapka, a bruting 6-8, 235lb forward, has 34 hits, 25 penalty minutes, and three points (1G / 2A) in 10 games this season.
Romanov has only played four games this season, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 25-year-old Romanov was averaging 18:12 time-on-ice, with 12 block and 15 hits in four games before his injury.
Adam Klapka will draw back into Calgary's lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, sending Zary to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. Zary had an impressive 2024-25 season, scoring 27 points (13G / 14A) in 54 games, but has not been able to discover his scoring touch early in 2025-26, limited to only two points (1G / 1A) in 11 games.
Flames' head coach Ryan Huska indicated that Parekh is a little "banged up" and will not play on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The 19-year-old first-year defenseman is averaging 15:53 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in nine games this season.
The Stars are riding a three-game winning streak and have been stingy offensively in the process, outscoring their opposition 7-4. Oettinger is coming off his best performance of the season, saving all 24 shots he faced for his first shutout in a 1-0 win over the Washington Capitals. The 26-year-old Oettinger has a 2.61 GAA and .909 SV% in eight games this season (5-2-1). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as +129 road underdogs against a Lightning team also on a three-game winning streak.
Kyrou was drafted 50th-overall by the Stars in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Kyrou has yet to play an AHL game and could benefit from a change of scenery after struggling to establish himself at the AHL level. He had 15 points (4G / 11A) in 36 games with the Texas Stars (AHL) last season.
Tuomaala was drafted 46th-overall by the Flyers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He has yet to play an NHL game, but has been effective at the AHL level. He scored 32 points (11G / 21A) in 46 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) last season, and will provide a boost for a Texas Stars (AHL) team that has struggled offensively.
Islanders' head coach Patrick Roy stated that Barzal will be a healthy scratch for disciplinary reasons after being late to morning skate. The 28-year-old Barzal has eight points (2G / 6A) in nine games this season. Emil Heineman will be the main beneficiary in Barzal's absence, moving up to the team's top powerplay unit.
Crozier has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury in a game on October 14th, but he will return to the lineup in Tampa Bay's three-game road trip. The 25-year-old Crozier was off to a hot start in 2025-26, scoring three points (0G / 3A) in four games.
The Canadiens' fifth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has battled injuries early in his professional career and has been sidelined to this point in the 2025-26 season, recovering from a broken metacarpal bone. The 20-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game and was limited to only 10 contests with the Laval Rocket in 2024-25, scoring five points (2G / 3A).
With Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body) nearing an imminent return, Bussi's days with the Hurricanes are likely numbered, but he is expected to be between the pipes on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 27-year-old Bussi has been solid in his first exposure to NHL action this season, posting a 2.33 GAA and .911 SV% through his first three games (2-1-0). The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as sizable -211 home favorites against an Islanders team coming off an uninspired 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins.
Wilsby was limited to only 5:36 time-on-ice in Nashville's 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, exiting the game with a lower-body injury. The 25-year-old has two points (0G / 2A) and is averaging 17:49 time-on-ice through 11 games this season.
The Blues have been atrocious defensively lately, having been outscored 26-14 during a five-game losing streak (0-4-1). Binnington returns to the crease on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks, hoping to rebound after a forgetful performance in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings when he allowed five goals on 19 shots (.789 SV%). The 32-year-old goalie has a 3.27 GAA and .863 SV% in eight appearances this season (2-4-1). The Blues enter Thursday's contest as -146 home favorites against a 5-6-0 Canucks team.
