Martinez has not played since the fourth game of the season, missing 12 straight, but appears to inching closer to a return. The veteran 37-year-old defenseman is averaging 21:02 time-on-ice through four games this season and has tallied one assist, 15 blocks, and one hit.
The Blackhawks will turn to Mrazek between the pipes on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 32-year-old Mrazek has been serviceable this season, posting a 2.85 GAA and .905 SV% in 12 games (5-7-0), highlighted by a tremendous effort in his previous outing when he saved 32 of 33 shots (.970 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild. That said, the Blackhawks enter the action on Thursday as +139 road underdogs against a Kraken club riding a two-game winning streak.
The Islanders have lost two straight (0-0-2), both with Ilya Sorokin in their crease and will switch to Varlamov on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 36-year-old Varlamov has struggled this season, posting a 3.01 GAA and .887 SV% in six games (2-3-1), but is coming off his best outing of the season, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +163 road underdogs against the Canucks.
The Islanders have lost two straight (0-0-2), both with Ilya Sorokin in their crease and will likely switch to Varlamov on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 36-year-old Varlamov has struggled this season, posting a 3.01 GAA and .887 SV% in six games (2-3-1), but is coming off his best outing of the season, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +163 road underdogs against the Canucks.
The Canucks will likely turn to Lankinen between the pipes for the sixth straight game and for the 11th time in the last 12. The 29-year-old Lankinen has earned his workload this season, being terrific in the crease for the Canucks, posting a 2.46 GAA and .911 SV% in 11 games (8-1-2). The Canucks enter the action on Thursday as -180 home favorites against a New York Islanders club averaging 2.6 goals per game.
In mid-September, the Canucks announced that 28-year-old Dakota Joshua had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and successfully had a tumor removed but would not be ready for the start of training camp. After several months of recovery, Joshua is expected to make his season debut, likely with limited minutes on the fourth line. The fifth-year winger is coming off his best season in 2023-24, with 18 goals, 32 points, 60 PIMs, 84 SOG, and a +19 plus/minus through 63 games played.
The 32-year-old Brown has 25 points (10G / 15A) in 149 career NHL games, but has spent most of the previous two seasons in the AHL. Brown has seven points (3G / 4A) in 12 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL) this season.
Grubauer will suit on Thursday but serve as the backup to Joey Daccord against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 32-year-old Grubauer has a 3.27 GAA and .877 SV% in six games this season (1-5-0).
Philipp Grubauer has returned from an injury but will serve as the backup to Daccord on Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. Daccord has started two straight, both victories, and has been serviceable all season for Seattle, posting a solid 2.71 GAA and .916 SV% in 10 games (6-3-1). Seattle enters the action on Thursday as -164 home favorites against a Chicago team coming off an impressive 2-1 overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild.
Only 16 games into the 2024-25 season, the red-hot Jets are riding their second seven-game winning streak and will turn to Comrie between the pipes in a cross-conference matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Comrie has only played once in the past eight games but has been serviceable in limited action when called upon, posting a 2.67 GAA and .914 SV% in three games (3-0-0). The Jets enter Thursday's contest as slight -102 road favorites against a Lightning squad riding a four-game losing skid.
Ullmark is riding his first two-game winning streak as a Senator and will try to extend it to three on Thursday. The 31-year-old Ullmark has a 2.51 GAA and .904 SV% in nine games (4-4-0) and is coming off his best performance of the season, saving all 27 shots he faced for his first shutout in a 3-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Senators enter the action on Thursday as -174 home favorites against a Flyers club with points in three straight (2-0-1).
With Viktor Arvidsson battling an undisclosed injury, the Oilers will switch to an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation and bring Dermott into the lineup. The 27-year-old Dermott is averaging 15:14 time-on-ice, has zero points, and a -2 plus/minus in six games this season.
The Sharks will turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 27-year-old Blackwood has won three of his last four outings (3-1-0) and is coming off unquestionably his best performance of the season, a 44-save shutout in a 1-0 win over his former team, the New Jersey Devils. That said, the Sharks enter the action on Thursday as enormous +359 road underdogs against the New York Rangers.
Ersson was beginning to come to form lately, allowing only seven combined goals in his last five outings (3-0-1), posting a stellar .940 SV%. It's unclear the severity of the injury to Ersson, who already missed several games earlier this season. Ivan Fedotov will take the crease on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators in Ersson's absence.
Arvidsson is battling an undisclosed ailment and will miss his first game of the season on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. Most recently, the 31-year-old Arvidsson has been suiting up on a line with Leon Draisatl after struggling to find success in the early going of his first season with the Oilers, scoring five points (2G / 3A) in his first 16 games. Travis Dermott will draw into the Oilers lineup as Arvidsson's replacement with the team switching to an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation.
The Bruins, fresh off a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, will turn to Swayman between the pipes for a third straight game. The 25-year-old Swayman is sporting a pedestrian 3.03 GAA and .896 SV% in 12 games (5-5-2). The Bruins enter the action on Thursday as +150 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that defeated them 5-2 three weeks ago when Swayman allowed four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%).
Allen has been solid lately for the Devils and has earned himself his third start in the past six games. The 34-year-old Allen has a respectable 2.35 GAA and .914 SV% in six outings (3-2-1), highlighted by saving 57 of the last 58 shots he has faced (.983 SV%). The Devils enter the action on Thursday as +127 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers club they defeated 4-1 on Tuesday.
The Blues have lost three straight, outscored 15-5, and will turn to Binnington between the pipes on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 31-year-old Binnington has an ugly 3.26 GAA and .887 SV% in 12 games this season (4-7-1). The Blues enter the action on Thursday as +146 road underdogs against a Sabres club coming off a 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens that will be without Tage Thompson and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen due to injuries.
Raty played four straight for Vancouver, was reassigned to Abbotsford (AHL) on Wednesday as per a paper transaction, and has been recalled by Vancouver. The 21-year-old Raty was the 52nd overall pick of the New York Islanders in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He has seven points (3G / 4A) in eight AHL games with Abbotsford this season.
Lekkerimaki made his NHL debut on Tuesday, playing 14:07 time-on-ice, recording two shots and one hit, while seeing top-line and top-powerplay deployment. The 20-year-old Lekkerimaki was the 15th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
