Will Smith will be sidelined for a maintenance day on Thursday, replaced by Givani Smith. The 26-year-old Givani Smith has scored zero points this season while being limited to only four games.
As has been the case several times this season, Smith will be held out of the lineup for a maintenance day as he adjusts to the NHL. The 19-year-old Smith has four points (2G / 2A) in 17 games this season. He will be replaced by Givani Smith.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, a night after losing 5-2 to the Dallas Stars, the Sharks will turn to Askarov between the pipes for his season debut with the club. Askarov was the 11th overall pick of the Nashville Predators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and was acquired by the Sharks via trade in the offseason. The 22-year-old Askarov has a high pedigree, which has been on display in the AHL this season, posting a sublime 1.92 GAA and .939 SV% in nine games (6-3-0). The Sharks enter the action on Thursday as +191 road underdogs against the St. Louis Blues.
Caggiula is no stranger to the NHL, with 284 games of NHL experience, but has primarily been an AHL player since the 2022-23 campaign. In 11 games with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL), the 30-year-old Caggiula has nine points (5G / 4A) this season.
Kapanen struggled to establish himself with the Blues, in and out of the lineup this season, being limited to only one point (1G / 0A) in 10 games. As a result, he was placed on waivers by the Blues and ultimately claimed by the Oilers. He has 23 points (7G / 16A) in 83 total games with the Blues over the previous two seasons.
The Oilers will roll with Skinner between the pipes for consecutive games when they face off on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. Skinner has battled adversity this season, posting a 3.18 GAA and .881 SV% in 13 games (6-5-2), but was excellent in his previous outing, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Edmonton enters the action on Thursday as -150 home favorites against a Minnesota team with points in five of their last six (4-1-1).
Mathieu Joseph will return from a one game absence, resulting in Texier being sidelined as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Texier, after recording three points (1G / 2A) and a -1 plus/minus in his first five games, has a -5 rating and zero points in seven games since.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph will return from a three-game absence due to a lower-body injury, resulting in Kessel being a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Kessel has been a regular in the lineup this season, averaging 12:47 time-on-ice, scoring two points (0G / 2A).
Alexandre Texier will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Joseph to return to the lineup. The 27-year-old Joseph had three points (1G / 2A) in his first six games but has only tallied one assist in seven games since.
Joseph has been sidelined the past three games but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday, replacing Matthew Kessel. The 25-year-old Joseph is averaging 13:48 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A), 10 blocks, and seven hits in 13 games.
For the sixth time in seven games, the Blues will roll with Binnington in their crease. The 31-year-old Binnington has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, posting a 3.19 GAA and .887 SV% in 15 games (5-8-1). He has allowed three or more goals in four of his last five (1-4-0). The Blues enter the action on Thursday as sizeable -220 home favorites against a San Jose Sharks club defeated 5-2 last night by the Dallas Stars.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, after losing 3-0 to the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, the Golden Knights will likely turn to Samsonov in net. Samsonov has not played much lately, partly due to injury, and is sporting a pedestrian 3.15 GAA and .917 SV% in six games this season (3-2-1). The Golden Knights enter the action as +140 road underdogs against an Ottawa Senators club amid a three-game losing skid.
Wolf has been tremendous between the pipes lately and will return to the crease for a third straight game on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 23-year-old Wolf is making a case at the Calder Trophy, posting a 2.36 GAA and .925 SV% in 10 games (7-2-1). He has been near perfect during a three-game winning streak, saving 85 of 87 shots (.977 SV%). The Flames enter Thursday's contest as +133 home underdogs against a Rangers club riding a three-game winning streak.
Lekkerimaki played the last five games with Vancouver, his first exposure to the NHL, averaging 14:48 time-on-ice and scoring one goal. The 20-year-old Lekkerimaki was the 15th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Sasson is an undrafted 24-year-old from Western Michigan University. He has spent the past three years in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 16 games this season.
With Connor Ingram (upper body) day-to-day, Utah HC will turn to Vejmelka between the pipes for the third time in four games. The 28-year-old Vejmelka has been solid in limited action this season, posting a 2.58 GAA and .915 SV% in seven appearances (1-4-0). He has a .931 SV% in his previous four outings (1-2-0). Utah HC enters the action on Thursday as +135 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins club riding a three-game losing skid.
In their first game in the post-Jim Montgomery era, Bruins' head coach Joe Sacco will turn to Korpisalo between the pipes. The 30-year-old Korpisalo has been serviceable, improving as the season goes on, posting a stellar .926 SV% in his last five outings (2-1-1). The Bruins enter the action on Thursday as -150 home favorites against the Utah Hockey Club, outscored 10-4 during a two-game losing skid.
The Islanders have lost three straight with Sorokin between the pipes but will roll with the netminder on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Sorokin has allowed three or more in three straight (0-1-2) and was on the losing end of a 1-0 contest against the Red Wings on October 22nd, allowing one goal on 11 shots (.909 SV%). In a battle of two teams in the bottom tier of the league offensively, the Islanders enter the action as -130 road favorites against the Red Wings.
Paul exited Tampa's last game after played on 10:38 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old Paul, averaging 16:24 time-on-ice, is pacing for a career-best season, with 13 points (5G / 8A) in 17 games.
Albert Johansson will draw back into the Red Wings lineup on Thursday, resulting in Holl being a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Holl is averaging 15:36 time-on-ice, has one point (0G / 1A), 15 blocks, and eight hits in 12 games this season.
