The 30-year-old Caggiula has 282 games of NHL experience but has played exclusively in the AHL since a four-game stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2022-23 season. Caggiula has five points (2G / 3A) in five games with Bakersfield this season.
The Oilers lost Connor McDavid early in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets and will switch to Pickard between the pipes for the second time in the last three games. The 32-year-old Pickard has been serviceable in limited action this season but has been notably impressive in his last two outings (2-0-0), saving 49 of 53 shots (.925 SV%). The Oilers will be without Connor McDavid for the next two to three weeks and will face off against a Nashville Predators team with points in each of their last four games (3-0-1).
Daccord has seemingly taken over the crease in Seattle and will start between the pipes for a fourth straight game on Thursday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Daccord was stellar in his last outing, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in an 8-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in his previous outing, and has a respectable 2.80 GAA and .914 SV% through six games this season (4-1-1). Seattle enters the action on Thursday as +164 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs club that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1).
The Blues have been outscored 13-3 during a two-game losing skid (0-2-0) and will turn to Binnington between the pipes on Thursday after giving Joel Hofer the start in an embarrassing 8-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. After a solid 2023-24 campaign, posting a 2.84 GAA and .913 SV% in 57 appearances (28-21-5), Binnington has had a pedestrian start to the 2024-25 season, sporting an unimpressive 3.12 GAA and .895 SV%. The Blues enter the action on Thursday as +136 road favorites against a Philadelphia Flyers club with a -11 goal differential through 10 games this season (3-6-1).
The Penguins are in a heap of trouble, being outscored 27-13 during a six-game losing skid (0-5-1), and will turn to Nedeljkovic between the pipes. Unsurprisingly, given the Penguins' struggles, Nedeljkovic is still searching for his first victory, sporting a troubling 3.94 GAA and .874 SV% in three games (0-2-1). Despite his struggles, Nedeljkovic has kept his team afloat at times, especially early in games, saving 34 of 35 first-period shots on goal (.971 SV%). The Penguins enter the action on Thursday as rare -176 home favorites against an Anaheim Ducks club that has only scored 21 goals this season, the fewest in the league.
Geekie will miss his second game of the season on Thursday, being replaced by Max Jones. The 26-year-old Geekie posted career highs last season in goals (17), assists (22), and points (39) in 76 games, but has only one point (0G / 1A) through nine contests this season.
Morgan Geekie will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Jones to re-enter the Bruins lineup. The 26-year-old Jones has been limited to only three games this season, recording zero points, eight penalty minutes, and five hits.
The Bruins failed to score on Tuesday when they gave the night off to Swayman, a 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and have been outscored 16-7 during a 1-3-1 skid. Swayman will return to the crease on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes and hopes to improve on a pedestrian start to the season, sporting a 2.97 GAA and .900 SV% in seven games (3-3-1). The Bruins enter the action on Thursday as +157 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes club riding a four-game winning streak.
Lizotte suffered a concussion during training camping and has missed the first 11 games of the season, but could make his debut on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 28-year-old signed a two-year, $3.7 million contract in the offseason with Pittsburgh after five solid seasons in Los Angeles. In 62 games in 2023-24, Lizotte had seven goals, 15 points, 76 SOG and 20 PIMs while averaging just 11:49 TOI/GP.
After being re-evaluated, the Hurricanes received bad news regarding Andersen's lower-body injury, downgrading his initial day-to-status to week-to-week. The only positive news regarding Andersen's injury is that it is not related to the blood clotting issues that caused him to miss most of the 2023-24 season. The 35-year-old netminder has a 1.48 GAA and .941 SV% through four outings this season (3-1-0). Expect Pytor Kochetkov to control the Hurricanes' crease in Andersen's absence.
Watson played his second game of the season on Wednesday, filling in for Vladimir Tarasenko (illness), playing 9:06 time-on-ice, recording four hits and a -1 plus/minus. Watson had a one-game stint with the Red Wings earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring six points (0G / 6A) in seven games with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Maple Leafs have been bleeding defensively lately, being outscored 19-12 over their last four games (1-2-1), and will turn to Woll for his second start of the season. Woll showed some rust last week, returning from a lower-body injury, allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in his season debut, a 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. That said, the Maple Leafs handed the Winnipeg Jets their first loss of the season in their last outing and will enter the action against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday as -184 home favorites.
The Penguins are in a heap of trouble, being outscored 27-13 during a six-game losing skid (0-5-1), and will turn to Nedeljkovic between the pipes. Unsurprisingly, given the Penguins' struggles, Nedeljkovic is still searching for his first victory, sporting a troubling 3.94 GAA and .874 SV% in three games (0-2-1). Despite his struggles, Nedeljkovic has kept his team afloat at times, especially early in games, saving 34 of 35 first-period shots on goal (.971 SV%). The Penguins enter the action on Thursday as rare -176 home favorites against an Anaheim Ducks club that has only scored 21 goals this season, the fewest in the league.
The Canadiens had a disastrous 8-2 loss against the Seattle Kraken in their last outing and will rotate to Primeau in the crease on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. Primeau entered Tuesday's loss to Seattle in relief of Samuel Montembeault, allowing three goals on 13 shots (.769 SV%). That said, Primeau has been solid in his previous three outings (1-0-1), posting a .907 SV%. The Canadiens enter the action on Tuesday as +180 road underdogs against the Washington Capitals.
Xhekaj has played the last three games but will return to being a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. Through eight games this season, Xhekaj has seven blocks and 16 hits but an ugly -6 plus/minus.
Barron has not played since October 22nd, missing three games due to an upper-body injury, but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday. In 7 games played this season, Barrron has a goal and six PIMs.
Guhle has not played since October 17th, missing five games due to an upper-body injury, but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday. The 22-year-old defender was off to an excellent start to the season before his injury, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in five games.
Alexeyev was the 31st overall pick of the Capitals in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and will make his season debut on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, replacing Jakob Chychrun (upper body). The 24-year-old Alexeyev had three points (1G / 2A) in 39 games with the Capitals last season.
With Connor McDavid's expected to miss the next 2-3 weeks with a lower-body injury, the freshly recalled Philp will make his NHL debut on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 26-year-old Philp has spent the last three seasons in Bakersfield (AHL) awaiting his NHL debut. Philp has three points (2G / 1A) in six games with Bakersfield this season.
The Capitals are off to an excellent 6-2-0 start to the season and will continue their goalie rotation, turning to Lindgren between the pipes for his fifth start. Lindgren has been serviceable in the crease for the Capitals this season, albeit unspectacular, posting a 2.52 GAA and .895 SV% in four contests (2-2-0). The Capitals enter the action on Thursday as sizeable -197 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens club with a -12 goal differential this season (4-5-1).
