Tyler Motte will draw back into the Red Wings lineup on Thursday, resulting in Veleno being a healthy scratch. The Red Wings have had trouble generating offense this season, evident by Veleno's two points (1G / 1A) in 17 games.
Justin Holl will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Johansson to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Johansson, the 60th overall pick of the Red Wings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, is averaging 14:20 time-on-ice and has zero points in nine games this season.
Motte has only played two of the previous five games but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday, replacing Joe Veleno. The 29-year-old Motte is averaging 11:36 time-on-ice and has zero points, 12 shots, and seven hits in six games.
Originally expected to be a minor injury, the Hurricanes have revealed that Andersen will be sidelined for approximately 8-12 weeks after undergoing a procedure on his knee. Pyotr Kochetkov has filled in admirably in Andersen's absence and should continue to do so with Spencer Martin as his backup.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, a night after losing 5-2 to the Dallas Stars, the Sharks will likely 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.
With Alex Ovechkin (lower body) week-to-week, Lapierre will draw into the Capitals lineup. The 22-year-old Lapierre has played 12 games this season, averaging 10:25 time-on-ice and scoring two points (0G / 2A).
After evenly splitting starts for the first five weeks of the season, the Capitals will turn to Thompson between the pipes for the fourth time in five games. The 27-year-old Thompson has been excellent in his first season in Washington, yet to lose in regulation, posting a 2.63 GAA and .913 SV% in nine games (8-0-1). The Capitals enter the action on Thursday, without Alex Ovechkin (lower body), as +120 home underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche club they defeated 5-2 on November 15th.
Bowers was the 27th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old forward has only played nine career NHL games, including eight last season with the Devils. He has three points (0G / 3A) in 13 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) this season. He will replaced Kurtis MacDermid in the lineup on Thursday.
Shane Bowers will make his Devils' debut on Thursday, replacing MacDermid in the lineup. The hard-hitting MacDermid has played 10 games this season, accumulating 17 penalty minutes and 18 hits.
David Jiricek was loaned the the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) yesterday, creating room for Johnson to re-enter the lineup. The 37-year-old Johnson is averaging 14:58 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A), 10 blocks, and eight hits in 14 games this season.
With Kent Johnson making his return to the lineup, Labanc will serve as a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Labanc has successfully contributed for the Blue Jackets this season, tallying 10 points (1G / 9A) and a +6 plus/minus in 14 games.
The Blue Jackets have had an up-and-down season, mirrored by the play of Merzlikins, who will return to the crease on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.72 GAA and .905 SV% in 10 games (4-5-1) and has been extra impressive lately, winning two straight and posting a .942 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter the action on Thursday as +146 home underdogs against a Lightning club riding a three-game winning streak.
Travis Hamonic will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Bernard-Docker to re-enter the lineup for the first time since November 5th. The 24-year-old Bernard-Docker is averaging 14:17 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in nine games this season.
Jacob Bernard-Docker will draw back into the Senators lineup on Thursday, resulting in Hamonic being a healthy scratch. The 34-year-old Hamonic is averaging 16:27 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A), 35 blocks, and 25 hits in 18 games this season.
The Senators will turn to Ullmark between the pipes on Thursday, his fifth start in the last six games. The 31-year-old Ullmark has been inconsistent this season, posting a 2.99 GAA and .884 SV% in 11 appearances (4-5-1). He has lost three of his previous five, allowing five goals in each of the losses. The Senators enter the action on Thursday as -155 home favorites in a matchup against a Vegas Golden Knights club that played last night, losing 3-0 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Devils will likely turn to Markstrom between the pipes on Thursday for his 500th career game. The 34-year-old Markstrom has an up-and-down season with the Devils, posting a 2.58 GAA and .907 SV% in 14 games (8-5-1), but has been reliable lately, posting a .924 SV% in his previous seven outings (5-2-0). The Devils enter the action on Thursday as -116 home favorites against a Carolina Hurricanes club that played last night, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1.
Johnson has not played since October 17th due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old Johnson showed signs of a true breakout campaign before his injury, with two goals and three assists in his first four games. The Blue Jackets loaned Mikael Pyyhtia to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) to accommodate Johnson's return.
Caggiula is no stranger to the NHL, with 284 games of NHL experience, but has primarily been an AH 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.
Granlund left Wednesday's game late in the third period. He was eager to get in the mix for an offensive zone faceoff but was forced out of the game by a concussion spotter. That said, there is no update on his status.
Tuch was absent from the morning skate on Wednesday but will play against the Kings. Tuch has been tremendous this season for the Sabres, averaging a career-high 20:01 time-on-ice and has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 18 games this season.
