Nikolas Matinpalo will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Spence to suit up for his fifth game of the season. The 24-year-old Spence has been impressive offensively in his first season with the Senators, scoring four points (0G / 4A) in four games.
Olle Lycksell will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing MacDermid to suit up for his fifth game of the season. The 31-year-old MacDermid is averaging 5:28 time-on-ice and has seven penalty minutes in four games.
Lindholm has been in and out of the lineup with injuries lately. His absence from the morning skate on Thursday was concerning, but it was not injury-related, as he was away from the team to welcome the birth of his child. The 31-year-old Lindholm is averaging 16:04 time-on-ice and has one assist in four games this season.
Emil Andrae will draw back into Philadelphia' lineup on Thursday against the Nashville Predators, sending Zamula to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Zamula has eight blocks and one assist in six games this season.
Egor Zamula will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Nashville Predaotrs, allowing Andrae to suit up for his second game of the season. The 23-year-old Andrae played 10:22 time-on-ice in his only contest this season.
Samuel Ersson is battling an undisclosed injury, temporarily giving control of the Flyers' crease to Vladar. That said, Vladar has been outstanding this season, making his own case to be the team's undisputed starting netminder. The 28-year-old Czech goalie is boasting an impressive 1.81 GAA and .932 SV% through five games (3-2-0). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as -144 home favorites against a Nashville Predators team that is being outscored 37-28 through 11 games this season (4-5-2).
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.
Ottawa leads the league with 41 goals this season, an impressive stat mitigated by the fact that they have allowed an Eastern Conference-worst 44 goals. Goaltending has been an issue for the Senators early in the 2025-26 season, highlighted by an ugly 3.44 GAA and .858 SV% that Ullmark is sporting through nine games (4-4-1). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -158 home favorites against a league-worst Calgary Flames team (2-8-1) that is being outscored 39-24.
Frank only played 8:48 time-on-ice in Tuesday's matchup against the Dallas Stars, exiting the game after a collision with Mikko Rantanen. The 27-year-old Frank has one point (0G / 1A) in three games this season.
After a poor 1-4-2 start to the season, Tampa Bay has turned things around, winning three straight, and will likely turn to Vasilevskiy on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has an uninspiring 2.86 GAA and .893 SV% in seven games (2-3-2), but has been significantly better lately, posting a 2.00 GAA and .916 SV% in his last four outings (2-1-1). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as -147 home favorites against a Dallas Stars team also riding a three-game winning streak.
With William Nylander (lower body) out of the lineup on Wednesday, Blais will make his season debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Blais spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, but is no stranger to the NHL, with 71 points (27G / 44A) in 257 career games.
Nylander has been battling a nagging injury the last week, being in and out of the lineup, and will sit again on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Nylander played last night and record an assist in a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames. He has 15 points (3G / 12A) in nine games this season. Sammy Blais will draw into the lineup, filling in for Nylander.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, a night after defeating the Calgary Flames 4-3, the Maple Leafs will turn to Primeau between the pipes on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Wednesday's start could mark Primeau's final appearance in the Maple Leafs crease before Joseph Woll (personal) returns to action. The 26-year-old Primeau has a 3.46 GAA and .875 SV% in two games this season (2-0-0). The Maple Leafs enter Wednesday's game as +109 road underdogs against the Blue Jackets.
The Red Wings are coming off an exciting 4-3 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings last night, improving to 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. The Red Wings will turn to Gibson on Friday to face off against the Anaheim Ducks, the team he spent the previous 12 seasons with. The 32-year-old Gibson has had an up-and-down first season with Detroit, posting a 3.20 GAA and .876 SV% in six games (4-2-0). Detroit enters Friday's contest as +107 road underdogs against a 5-3-1 Anaheim team.
The elite goaltending the Red Wings received earlier in the season has dissipated slightly, but they continue their winning ways, looking to extend their winning streak to three on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 38-year-old Talbot will return to the crease for the Red Wings on Thursday, looking to improve after a forgetful performance in his most recent outing, allowing seven goals on 30 shots (.767 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the New York Islanders. He has a 2.98 GAA and .890 SV% in five appearances this season (3-1-0).
