Chychrun was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Capitals announcing his absence about five minutes prior to the start of warmups. Dylan McIlrath will draw into the lineup in his place.
Soderblom has battled some injuries lately, playing only four games since March 18th, and will miss another contest on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 23-year-old Soderblom is averaging 13:22 time-on-ice and has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 26 games this season.
Lettieri will be the odd-man out on Thursday in order to make room for Riley Duran's NHL debut. Lettieri has three goals and two assists in 24 games this season.
The Sabres are among the hottest teams in the NHL, with an 8-2-0 record in their last 10 games, and will turn to Reimer, one of the NHL's hottest netminders. Reimer was tremendous in his most recent outing, saving all 33 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 37-year-old veteran netminder has a solid 2.40 GAA and .921 SV% in his last seven games (7-0-0). The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as +123 road underdogs against a Columbus Blue Jackets team coming off a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.
With Elvis Merzlikins (undisclosed) unavailable, the Blue Jackets will turn to Greaves for Thursday's game against the Sabres. Greaves has not appeared in an NHL game since March 17th, when he allowed two goals on 20 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Devils. The 23-year-old netminder has made 16 career starts across three seasons, posting a lowly 5-9-2 record despite an impressive .910 SV%. Greaves and the Blue Jackets enter action on Thursday at -140 on the money line.
The Bruins will turn to Swayman between the pipes for the 57th time this season when they host the Blackhawks on Thursday. Swayman turned in a solid performance in his last start, stopping 19 of the 21 shots he faced in a 7-2 win in New Jersey on Tuesday. It was just the 22nd win of the season for the 26-year-old netminder, who has struggled on his way to an .895 SV% on the year. Luckily for Swayman, he's a good bet to stay in the win column on Thursday, as the Bruins enter action at -180 on the money line.
Zadorov did not practice on Wednesday due to personal reasons and his status for Thursday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks is up in the air. The 29-year-old Zadorov is averaging 20:35 time-on-ice, recording 19 points (4G / 15A) and a team-best +21 plus/minus rating in 78 games. No other player on the Bruins has better than a +3 plus/minus.
Skinner has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since March 26th but will return to the lineup on Friday against the San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old Skinner has a 2.91 GAA and .894 SV% in 49 games this season (24-18-4).
With only four games remaining, the Rangers effectively squandered their slim hopes of making the playoffs after a disappointing 8-5 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers last night. The Rangers needed Shesterkin at his best for any hopes of making the playoffs, and he responded with an uninspiring 3.70 GAA and .820 SV% in three April games (1-2-0). The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as +109 road underdogs against the New York Islanders.
With Stuart Skinner (upper body) returning to the lineup on Friday, Rodrigue has been reassigned to the Bakersfield Condors (AHL). The 24-year-old Rodrigue made his NHL debut in his brief stint with the Oilers, posting a 3.10 GAA and .862 SV% in two winless appearances.
Dineen played one game for the Oilers earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 26-year-old defenseman has 43 points (9G / 34A) in 59 games with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL) this season.
Nikita Nesterenko will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings, allowing Leason to re-enter the lineup. The 27-year-old Leason is averaging 13:01 time-on-ice and has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 61 games this season.
Hertl has missed eight consecutive games due to an undisclosed injury but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 31-year-old Hertl is averaging 17:07 time-on-ice and has 59 points (31G / 28A) in 70 games this season.
Jansen Harkins will draw back into Anaheim's lineup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings, resulting in Nesterenko being a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Nesterenko is averaging 10:00 time-on-ice and has five points (4G / 1A) in 18 games this season.
The Ducks defeated the Calgary Flames 4-3 in overtime last night and will turn to Dostal between the pipes on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. Dostal was outstanding in his most recent outing, saving 45 of 47 shots (.957 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. The 24-year-old Czech goalie has a 3.05 GAA and .905 SV% in 51 games this season (23-21-6). The Ducks enter Thursday's contest as +298 road underdogs against a Kings team coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken.
Rutta has not played since January 23rd due to a lower-body injury but could return on Friday against the Edmonton Oilers. Before his injury, the 34-year-old Rutta was averaging 16:57 time-on-ice and has eight points (2G / 6A) in 51 games this season.
Ferraro suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the Minnesota Wild and will miss San Jose's final four games of the season. The 26-year-old Ferraro ends the 2024-25 campaign with 17 points (5G / 12A) and a -25 plus/minus rating in 78 games.
The Canucks are officially eliminated from the playoffs and will have Lankinen tending the twine on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. Lankinen played well in his most recent outing, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 29-year-old goalie has a 2.67 GAA and .899 SV% in 48 games this season (24-15-9). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +186 road favorites against an Avalanche team that will be without Nathan MacKinnon (undisclosed).
Olofsson is battling an illness and his status for Thursday's game against the Seattle Kraken is up in the air. The 29-year-old Olofsson has 27 points (14G / 13A) in 54 games this season.
Mutter is an undrafted forward that has spent most of the previous three seasons in the AHL. The 24-year-old Mutter has four points (1G / 3A) in 37 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.
