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.
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.
Barbashev has not played since December 15th, missing six games with an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Barbashev was enjoying a tremendous season before his injury, on pace for career-best offensive totals, scoring 30 points (15G / 15A) in 31 games. Previously, his career-best season was in 2021-21 when he scored 60 points (26G / 34A) in 81 games with the St. Louis Blues.
The Golden Knights' six-game winning streak snapped with a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. The team will revert to Samsonov between the pipes against the Philadelphia Flyers. Samsonov was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 31 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over the Calgary Flames for his first shutout as a Golden Knight. He has a 2.74 GAA and .906 SV% in 13 games this season (9-3-1). The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as -194 home favorites against a Flyers club coming off a 4-0 win over the San Jose Sharks.
The Oilers will turn to Skinner between the pipes on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. Skinner was solid in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in a 4-1 over the Utah Hockey Club. Still, the 26-year-old Skinner has faced challenges this season, posting a 2.81 GAA and .897 SV% in 25 games (14-8-3).
Stastney was a fifth-round pick of the Predators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old defenseman played 20 games with the Predators last season, scoring four points (2G / 2A), but has exclusively played in the AHL this season. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 10 games with Milwaukee (AHL) this season.
Wiesblatt was the 31st overall pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game. He has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 27 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.
With Marc-Edouard Vlasic (back) making his season debut on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lighting, Mukhamadullin will be sidelined as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Mukhamadullin is averaging 15:27 time-on-ice and has one goal in eight games this season.
Coming off consecutive back-to-back games, Tampa Bay has split their workload between Vasilevskiy and Jonas Johansson over the past four games (2-2-0). They will return to their workhorse netminder on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Vasilevskiy was outstanding in his most recent outing, saving 42 of 44 shots (.955 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. He has a 2.39 GAA and .913 SV% in 27 games this season (26-10-1). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as significant -275 road favorites against a San Jose club amid an eight-game losing skid.
Vlasic has missed all 40 games to start the season due to a back injury but will finally debut on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 37-year-old stay-at-home defenseman is entering his 19th NHL season (all with San Jose) after putting up six goals, 12 points and a -27 plus/minus in 57 games played in 2023-24.
With Samuel Ersson (lower body) sidelined, Kolosov will start for the Flyers on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Kolosov was solid relieving an injured Ersson on Tuesday, saving all seven shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the San Jose Sharks. That said, the 22-year-old Kolosov has battled adversity in his first NHL season, posting a 3.39 GAA and .872 SV% in 14 appearances (4-7-1). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +175 road underdogs against a Golden Knights squad whose six-game losing skid snapped in a 3-2 loss against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
Laczynski played five straight games for the Golden Knights before being reassigned to the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) last week. The 27-year-old has lit up the AHL this season, scoring 20 points (6G / 14A) in 18 games.
The Sharks are amid their second eight-game losing skid of the season and will attempt to return to the win column with Askarov between the pipes on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Askarov played well in his most recent outing, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. The 22-year-old Askarov has a 2.62 GAA and .915 SV% in five NHL games this season (1-2-2). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +227 road underdogs against a Lightning club coming off a 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
Zub has missed the last 17-games with a foot injury, in addition to nine games he missed earlier this season due to a concussion. The 29-year-old hard-hitting defenseman has battled injuries the last two seasons, limited to 53 and 69 games respectively.
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.
Reichel has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 34 games this season but is averaging only 12:30 time-on-ice, nearly two minutes less than the 14:07 he was playing last season. The 22-year-old forward has only two points (0G / 2A) in his last 13 games.
Kylington has been decimated with injuries the past several seasons and has not played since November 27th, remaining week-to-week. The 27-year-old defenseman has been limited to eight games this season, averaging 12:10 time-on-ice and scoring two points (1G / 1A).
Olausson was the 28th overall pick of the Avalanche in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He has played one NHL game each of the past two seasons but has predominantly been an AHL talent. He has 10 points (5G / 5A) in 27 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.
