Kaiser is battling an illness and will not play on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 22-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:02 time-on-ice and has eight pints (4G / 4A) in 54 games this season.
Kastelic has not played since March 20th and has been ruled out for the final three games of the Bruins' 2024-25 season. The 26-year-old forward averaged 10:44 time-on-ice and scored 14 points (5G / 19A) in 61 games this season.
McAvoy began practicing over a week ago, making strides to return before the end of the season, but has officially been ruled out for Boston's final three games. The 27-year-old had seven goals, 23 points, 98 SOG and 46 PIMs in 50 games to start the season.
The Panthers have been regularly resting players leading up to the playoffs, a trend that continues on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings with Verheage getting the night off for maintenance. The 29-year-old Verheaghe is averaging 17:52 time-on-ice and has 49 points (18G / 31A) in 78 games this season.
Soderblom has not played since March 30th, when he allowed five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club, but will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 25-year-old Soderblom has a 3.23 GAA and .897 SV% in 34 appearances this season (8-18-7). The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +154 road underdogs against a Bruins team coming off a 7-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.
With Logan Thompson still sidelined, Lindgren will return to the crease on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Lindgren struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 22 shots (.818 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders. The 31-year-old Lindgren has a 2.71 GAA and .894 SV% in 36 games this season (18-13-3). The Capitals enter Thursday's contest as +121 home underdogs against a Hurricanes team coming off a 3-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
Lennox was a third-round pick, 93rd overall, of the Islanders in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old goalie has a 4.44 GAA and .832 SV% in four games with the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL). He will likely serve as the backup to Marcus Hogberg in Thursday's contest against the New York Rangers.
Ilya Sorokin was not at New York's morning skate on Thursday, tending to an upper-body injury, leaving the crease to Hogberg. The 30-year-old Hogberg struggled in a relief performance on Tuesday, allowing three goals on nine shots (.667 SV%) in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators. He has a 2.62 GAA and .907 SV% in 12 appearances this season (2-4-2). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as -120 home favorites against a New York Rangers team coming off a disappointing 8-5 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers last night.
Duran was a sixth-round pick, 182nd overall, of the Boston Bruins in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game. He has 16 points (12G / 4A) in 58 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL) this season.
Bobrovsky saved 17 of 18 shots in a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, and he will return to the crease on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has a 2.42 GAA and .907 SV% in 52 games this season (32-18-2). The Panthers suddenly find themselves trying to secure third place in the Atlantic division, fighting to not fall into a Wild Card position. They enter Thursday's contest as -197 home favorites against a Red Wings team that defeated them 2-1 on Sunday.
Sorokin left Tuesday's game in the third period and is not on the ice for Thursday's morning skate, suggesting he will not be available vs. the Rangers. Tristan Lennox was recalled from the AHL and is expected to serve as Marcus Hogberg's backup.
Middleton missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, but he will travel on the Wild's two-game road-trip that starts Friday in Calgary. Middleton has been great in banger leagues this season, posting 20 points (8G / 12A) to go along with 1.4 SOG, 1.5 hits and 2.4 BS per game.
Puustinen last appeared in an NHL game in mid-November. He's spent most of the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, tallying 35 points (16G / 19A) in 47 games. The 25-year-old has appeared in 10 NHL games this season, scoring one goal with one assist.
Ponomarev has spent the majority of the season in the AHL, where he has 15 goals and 25 assists (40 points) in 54 games. He has appeared in four NHL games this season, but has yet to register a point.
Bemstrom has appeared in 13 NHL games this season for the Penguins, posting just one assist. During his time with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he is tied for the team-lead in goals (21) and third in points (46). Bemstrom could draw into the Penguins lineup on Friday with Rutger McGroarty getting injured on Tuesday.
McDavid will make his long anticipated return to the lineup on Wednesday after missing Edmonton's last eight games. The 28-year-old McDavid is averaging 22:08 time-on-ice and has 90 points (26G / 64A) in 63 games this season.
Klingberg has not played since March 27th and is without a timetable for his return. The 32-year-old Klingberg is averaging 17:15 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 11 games with the Oilers this season.
The Oilers will be forced to dress just five defencemen for Wednesday's game against the Blues. Luckily for Edmonton, they will get Connor McDavid back after playing without their captain for each of the last eight games.
Nugent-Hopkins is battling an illness and will not play on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues. Already without Connor McDavid (undisclosed) and Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed), the Oilers will be without arguably their top three offensive contributors. The 31-year-old Nugent-Hopkins has 49 points (20G / 29A) in 76 games this season.
