Merilainen being sent down to the Belleville Senators (AHL) is likely an indication that Linus Ullmark (strain) is ready to return to the Senators lineup. The 22-year-old Merilainen has a 3.47 GAA and .852 SV% in three games with Belleville this season (2-1-0).
Fleury has not been drawn into Seattle's lineup yet this season, but with Vince Dunn (upper body) not eligible to return from LTIR yet, Fleury has regularly been recalled from and returned to Coachella Valley (AHL) over the last week. That said, Fleury has been a stranger to NHL action over the previous several seasons. After playing 41 games with the Montreal Canadiens in his rookie season in 2019-20, the 25-year-old Fleury has only played 22 combined NHL games since. Last season with Coachella Valley, Fleury had 36 points (7G / 29A) in 65 games.
The Blackhawks will turn to Mrazek between the pipes for a second consecutive game and for the sixth time in eight contests to start the season. Mrazek had a solid start to the season, posting a .911 SV% in his first four games (2-2-0), but allowing six goals on 30 shots (.800 SV%) in his last outing, a 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The Blackhawks, outscored 10-5 in their previous two games (0-2-0), enter the action on Friday as +154 home underdogs against a Nashville Predators club that recorded their first win of the season on Tuesday (1-5-0).
Seven games through the 2024-25 season, York leads all Flyers players, averaging 22:56 time-on-ice. York has also contributed three points (2G / 1A) and will be sorely missed from the Flyers' blueline if he misses any time. The Flyers return to action on Saturday afternoon against the Minnesota Wild.
Harris is expected to draw back into Columbus' lineup on Saturday in Nashville. Harris did not play in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs but will return to the lineup on Saturday for his fourth game of the season.
Martin was a sixth-round pick of the Panthers in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old Edmonton native has spent the last four seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL). He has eight points (1G / 7A) in eight games with Medicine Hat this season.
Colton exited Thursday's 5-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club with an upper-body injury after 11:07 time-on-ice. Colton managed a goal before his exit, his seventh in eight games to start the season. Further updates on Colton's status will likely be provided this weekend. The Avalanche return to action on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators.
Rempe has predominantly been a healthy scratch for the Rangers this season, being limited to only 11:17 time-on-ice through two games. In two outings, the hard-hitting Rempe has yet to record a penalty minute and has five hits.
The Kraken have rotated their goaltenders every game to open the 2024-25 season and that trend will continue on Thursday. Daccord was excellent his last time out, allowing just one goal on 22 shots in a 2-1 victory over the Flames on Saturday. Daccord owns a perfect 3-0-0 record on the year to go along with a .914 SV% and a 2.60 GAA. He has clearly outplayed Philipp Grubauer to date and could earn himself the lion's share of the starts if his fine form continues. Daccord and the Kraken enter action against the Jets as slight home underdogs at +105.
After serving as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev in their first five games (1-4-0), the Avalanche will roll with Annunen between the pipes for the third straight game. In his two starts (2-0-0), the only two games Colorado has allowed fewer than three goals, the 24-year-old Annunen has been terrific, saving 50 of 53 shots. Colorado enters action on Thursday, looking for their fourth straight victory, as -150 road favorites against the Utah Hockey Club.
The Hurricanes will continue their early-season goalie rotation and switch back to Kochetkov in the crease on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Kochetkov had a poor effort in his last outing, allowing four goals on 19 shots (.789 SV%) in a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, but was stellar in his only other outing, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. The Hurricanes enter the action on Thursday as sizeable -193 road favorites despite visiting a Flames squad that is one of four teams without a regulation loss (5-0-1).
Maatta will re-enter the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game on Long Island. Maatta is yet to register a point through five games this season.
Compher was a surprise scratch for Thursday's game, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. The Red Wings will opt to dress seven defensemen as a result of Compher's absence.
In their sixth game of the season, Tampa Bay turned to Jonas Johansson between the pipes for the first time but will 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).
Nemec was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. It's unclear if this is injury related or if Nemec is simply a healthy scratch.
The Rangers will roll with Shesterkin between the pipes for the sixth time in seven games to start the season. Despite a forgettable performance in his second outing, allowing six goals on 26 shots (.769 SV%) in a 6-5 overtime loss to Utah HC, Shesterkin has been in Vezina form to start the 2024-25 campaign, posting an excellent 1.98 GAA and .932 SV% in six games (4-0-1). The Rangers are one of four teams remaining without a regulation loss (5-0-1) and enter action on Thursday as -144 home favorites against the Florida Panthers.
The Devils will turn back to Markstrom between the pipes after Jake Allen got the nod against the Lightning on Tuesday. Markstrom struggled his last time out, surrendering six goals on 37 shots as New Jersey fell to the Capitals in overtime. The 35-year-old netminder owns a 3-2-1 record on the season to go along with a .902 SV% and a 2.99 GAA. The Devils are big road favourites in Detroit on Thursday, entering action at -180 on the money line.
Copley has been with the Kings since being recalled from Ontario (AHL) on October 16th but strictly served as the backup to David Rittich during his stay. Copley played eight games with the Kings last season (4-1-2), posting a 3.16 GAA and .870 SV%, and has a 3.04 GAA and .864 SV% after one game with the Ontario Reign (1-0-0) this season.
Kuemper has not played since a forgetful outing on October 14th when he allowed eight goals on 41 shots (.805 SV%) in an 8-7 loss to the Ottawa Senators. He was placed on Injured Reserve shortly after. David Rittich had stepped in as the Kings' starter in Kuemper's absence and will start again on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Kuemper could have a chance to return to the crease on Saturday against the Utah Hockey Club.
After a tremendous start to the 2024-25 season, scoring seven points (1G / 6A) in his first six games, Theodore has been rewarded with a seven-year, $51.975 million contract extension ($7.425 million AAV). The contract extension for the talented 29-year-old blue liner runs through 2031-32, Theodore's age 36 season. Theodore has battled some injuries the past several seasons, being limited to only 102 games but scoring 83 points (13G / 70A) in that span.
