Brannstrom is a surprise omission from Thursday night's lineup after quarterbacking Vancouver's top power-play unit in their last game. Guillaume Brisebois will draw into the lineup in his place.
Brisebois will make his season debut on Thursday as Erik Brannstrom draws out of the lineup. Brisebois has not played an NHL game since the 2022-23 season, when he logged one goal and two assist across 17 games.
Grubauer will make his third consecutive start on Thursday as Joey Daccord remains unavailable due to an upper-body injury. Grubauer was stellar his last time out, allowing just two goals on 30 shots in a 5-2 victory over Utah on Monday. It was just the fifth victory in 15 starts this season for Grubauer, who owns an .878 SV% on the year. He and the Kraken enter action on Thursday as slight favourites at -125 on the money line.
After winning four straight, Utah HC has lost five in a row and will attempt to right the ship in their first game of 2025, with Vejmelka between the pipes. Despite losing his last three games, Vejmelka has been serviceable, posting a .906 SV%. He has a 2.40 GAA and .916 SV% in 22 appearances this season (8-10-2). Utah HC enters Thursday's contest as -120 road favorites against a Calgary Flames club coming off a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
Keller was a late scratch on Tuesday due to an illness but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Keller has been a point-per-game player over the past four seasons, with an impressive 262 points (111G / 151A) in 263 games. He leads Utah HC this season with 37 points (13G / 24A) in 36 games.
Maccelli is the latest victim of the bug travelling around Utah's dressing room. His absence tonight makes room for Clayton Keller, who missed last game with an illness.
Luukkonen will make his 28th start of the season when the Sabres travel to Denver to take on the Avalanche on Thursday. Luukkonen turned in a strong performance in a losing effort his last time out, stopping 29 of the 32 shots he faced in a 4-2 loss in Dallas on Tuesday. The 25-year-old netminder brings an 11-12-3 record and an .898 SV% into Thursday night's game. The Sabres will need him to be at his best tonight, as they enter action at +175 on the money line.
The Ducks are riding a two-game winning streak, with an impressive win against Edmonton and New Jersey, and will turn to Gibson between the pipes on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. Gibson has a serviceable 2.93 GAA and .906 SV% in 12 appearances this season (5-5-1) but has struggled lately, posting a 1-5-0 record in his last seven appearances and posting a .895 SV%. The Ducks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +230 home underdogs against the Jets.
Jost has split time between the AHL and NHL this season, but played nine straight games for the Hurricanes before suffering an undisclosed injury on Tuesday. The 26-year-old Jost has two points (2G / 0A) in 16 games with the Hurricanes this season.
The Bruins will turn to Swayman between the pipes for a third consecutive game on Thursday when they visit the New York Rangers. Swayman was unsuccessful in his most recent outing, a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, but was solid, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%). The 26-year-old Swayman has played well lately, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (4-1-1), posting a .919 SV%. The Bruins enter Thursday's contest as slight -104 road underdogs against against a Rangers club outscored 19-6 in their last four games (0-4-0).
The Hurricanes have lost three of their last four (1-2-1) and will turn to Kochetkov between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Kochetkov allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has a 2.52 GAA and .899 SV% in 23 games this season (14-7-1). The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as +105 home underdogs against a Panthers club that defeated them 6-0 on November 30th.
The Blue Jackets have won three of their last four (3-1-0) and will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Merzlikins was solid in his most recent outing, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 30-year-old netminder has a 3.07 GAA and .891 SV% in 24 games this season (12-9-3). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as -123 home favorites against a Red Wings club outscoring their opposition 8-4 during a two-game winning streak.
Spurgeon was the unlikely recipient of a Zachary L'Heureux slew-foot in Minnesota's previous game and is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The injury is not as bad as originally expected according to Minnesota's training staff but the team will still be missing their captain mightily, who had four goals, 13 points and 59 SOG while averaging 20:43 TOI in 32 games played this season.
The Ducks are riding a two-game winning streak, with an impressive win against Edmonton and New Jersey, and will likely turn to Gibson between the pipes on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. Gibson has a serviceable 2.93 GAA and .906 SV% in 12 appearances this season (5-5-1) but has struggled lately, posting a 1-5-0 record in his last seven appearances and posting a .895 SV%. The Ducks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +230 home underdogs against the Jets.
Jared Spurgeon of the Minnesota Wild exited Tuesday's contest after being slew-footed by L'Heureux and did not return to game. Spurgeon was seen leaving the arena with crutches. L'Heureux was not issued any penalties on the play. The 21-year-old L'Heureux is in his first NHL season and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 33 games.
The Canucks have lost five of their last six and will turn to Demko between the pipes for their first game of 2025. Demko struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Seattle Kraken. He has a 3.43 GAA and .879 SV% in six games this season (2-1-3). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as slight +107 road underdogs in a rematch against the Kraken.
Keller was a late scratch on Tuesday due to an illness but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Keller has been a point-per-game player over the past four seasons, with an impressive 262 points (111G / 151A) in 263 games. He leads Utah HC this season with 37 points (13G / 24A) in 36 games.
Forsberg will serve as the backup to Leevi Merilainen on Thursday against the Dallas Stars after being sidelined for the past three weeks. Mads Sogaard was loaned to the Belleville Senators (AHL) to accommodate Forsberg's return.
With Anton Forsberg (lower body) returning to Ottawa's lineup, Sogaard has been loaned to Belleville (AHL). The 24-year-old Soogard has not seen much NHL action this season, posting an ugly 5.24 GAA and .800 SV% in two games (1-1-0).
Guentzel did not play on the previous game due to a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 30-year-old Guentzel has been terrific in his first season with Tampa Bay, scoring 37 points (20G / 17A) in 33 games.
