Mason Lohrei will be a healthy scratch against the Dallas Stars on Thursday, allowing Wotherspoon to return to the lineup for the first time since October 10th. In his only game this season, Wotherspoon played 12:56 time-on-ice, recording one shot and one hit.
Despite a spectacular 30-save performance for Alex Lyon in a 1-0 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday, the Red Wings will turn to Talbot between the pipes on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. Talbot's first start of the season was a sensational 42-save shutout victory but, as a whole, has a less impressive 3.31 GAA and .907 SV% in three appearances (1-1-0). The Red Wings enter action on Thursday as +138 home underdogs against a Devils club that has allowed 14 goals in their last two games (0-1-1).
Pacioretty returned from a two-game absence on Monday, but then exited Tuesday's game after only 9:58 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. Pacioretty has two points (2G / 0A) in five games this season. The 35-year-old Pacioretty has six 30-goal seasons under his belt but has been limited to only 91 games over the past three seasons due to various injuries.
The Stars organization made it very clear that Jake Oettinger is their goalie of the future, signing an eight-year contract extension last week, but they continue to be very liberal with their early-season goalie rotation and will return to DeSmith between the pipes for the third time in eight games. The 33-year-old DeSmith has been stellar when called upon early in the season, posting a 1.53 GAA and .941 SV% in two contests (1-1-0). The Stars enter the action on Thursday as slight +103 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins club that has been outscored 24-21 this season (3-3-1).
Woll has not played since a preseason contest on October 5th but will make his season debut for the Maple Leafs on Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues. The Maple Leafs are sizeable -229 home favorites. The 26-year-old Woll was projected to be the opening night starter for the Maple Leafs but suffered a last-minute lower-body ailment, resulting in him missing the first seven games and pivoting the starting goalie role to Anthony Stolarz. That said, Stolarz has been terrific filling in this season, posting a 1.83 GAA and .938 SV% in five games (3-2-0), which could pose an obstacle for Woll's playing time if he is unable to get off to a hot start. In 25 games played in 2023-24, Woll had a 12-11-1 record with a 2.94 GAA and .907 SV%.
In their sixth game of the season, Tampa Bay turned to Jonas Johansson between the pipes for the first time but will likely return to Vasilevskiy on Thursday night for their seventh game. After winning his first three outings, saving 68 of 73 shots (.932 SV%), Vasilevskiy has dropped two straight, allowing a troubling nine goals on 42 shots (.786 SV%). That said, Tampa Bay enters action on Thursday as a -145 home favorite against a Minnesota Wild club that has yet to lose in regulation (4-0-2).
Woll has not played since a preseason contest on October 5th but will make his season debut for the Maple Leafs on Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues. The Maple Leafs are sizeable -229 home favorites. The 26-year-old Woll was projected to be the opening night starter for the Maple Leafs but suffered a last-minute lower-body ailment, resulting in him missing the first seven games and pivoting the starting goalie role to Anthony Stolarz. That said, Stolarz has been terrific filling in this season, posting a 1.83 GAA and .938 SV% in five games (3-2-0), which could pose an obstacle for Woll's playing time if he is unable to get off to a hot start. In 25 games played in 2023-24, Woll had a 12-11-1 record with a 2.94 GAA and .907 SV%.
Hildeby was called up prior to the season-opening game for the Maple Leafs after Joseph Woll went out of the lineup with a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old Hildeby was limited to action in back-to-back contests, posting mixed results with a 4.03 GAA and .869 SV% in two outings (1-1-0).
Woll was projected to be the opening night starter for the Maple Leafs but suffered a last-minute lower-body ailment, resulting in him missing the first seven games and pivoting the starting goalie role to Anthony Stolarz. That said, Stolarz has been terrific filling in this season, posting a 1.83 GAA and .938 SV% in five games (3-2-0), which could pose an obstacle for Woll's playing time when he returns to the lineup. In 25 games played in 2023-24, Woll had a 12-11-1 record with a 2.94 GAA and .907 SV%. Dennis Hildeby has been sent down to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Wagner was recalled in place of Calum Ritchie, who was reassigned to Oshawa (OHL) on Wednesday. Wagner is yet to register a point in two NHL games this season.
The 27th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Ritchie will return to Oshawa after registering one goal and no assists in seven games with the Avalanche. Ritchie will play an integral role in his final OHL season with the Generals and is likely to play on Team Canada at the upcoming World Juniors.
After suffering their fifth consecutive loss last night (0-4-1) at the hands of a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Flyers will turn to Fedotov between the pipes in a rematch on Wednesday night. The Flyers will be desperate to return to the win column, but Fedotov's numbers thus far leave little to be hopeful for, showcasing an ugly 6.09 GAA and .818 SV% in two outings (0-2-0). The Flyers enter action on Wednesday as +121 road underdogs against the Capitals.
Theodore was a late scratch ahead of Tuesday's contest against the Los Angeles Kings but returned to practice on Wednesday and should be ready to play on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. Noah Hanifin was on the top powerplay unit in Theodore's absence but will likely revert back to the secondary unit when Theodore returns to the lineup. The 29-year-old Theodore is off to a blistering start to the 2024-25 season, with seven points (1G / 6A), three on the powerplay, in six games.
Leddy suffered a lower-body injury last week and was been placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to October 16th, making him eligible to return at any point on their upcoming road trip. The 33-year-old Leddy has zero points and a -3 plus/minus through four games this season. Pierre-Olivier Joseph has draw in as Leddy's replacement in the last three games.
Sundqvist underwent surgery for a torn ACL towards the end of the 2023-24 campaign and, after a long recovery, was cleared for contact last week. The 30-year-old veteran enjoyed an average first season in St. Louis as far as personal production, with his six goals, 21 points, 68 SOG and 32 PIMs in 71 games played before the injury. Sundqvist could be an option to draw into the Blues' lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, their first game without Roberto Thomas, who suffered a fractured ankle on Tuesday.
Matthew Kessel will exit the Blues' lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, allowing Perunovich to enter the lineup for his season debut. The 26-year-old Perunovich has an offensive pedigree that has made him a near-point-per-game defenseman at every level other than the NHL. In 54 games with the Blues last season, Perunovich had 17 points (0G / 17A).
Scott Perunovich will make his season debut on Thurday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, sending Kessel to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Kessel has seen limited time, averaging 11:58 time-on-ice through six games, while primarily playing on the Blues' third defensive pair.
Hughes was given a 6-8 week timeline to return from a shoulder injury suffered in mid-September during training camp and appears to be on schedule to return. If he is unable to play on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, Devils' head coach Sheldon Keefe insisted that Hughes should be in the lineup this weekend. The sophomore defenseman will play a key role in the Devils' back end. In 2023-24, he had nine goals, 47 points, 135 SOG, 28 PIMs, and a -25 plus/minus in 82 games, finishing third place in voting for the Calder trophy.
