Staal somehow managed an even plus/minus in Philadelphia's 9-3 loss to Montreal on Tuesday but will be the odd man out of the lineup on Thursday as Egor Zamula returns. The 37-year-old veteran defenseman has had a season to forget in his first year in Philadelphia, with a goal and five points, 14 PIMs, 20 SOG and a +2 plus/minus in 35 games played.
Zamula has been a healthy scratch for the Flyers' previous three games but will draw back in on Thursday vs. the Rangers as he takes the spot of Marc Staal. The 24-year-old has enjoyed a solid breakout season in 2023-24, with five goals, 20 points, 58 SOG, 32 PIMs and his +1 plus/minus through 63 games played.
Atkinson was a healthy scratch for Philadelphia's previous game but will draw back in on Thursday as Olle Lycksell is a healthy scratch. The 34-year-old is having his least productive season since 2012-13, with his 13 goals, 15 assists, 174 SOG, 25 PIMs and -22 plus/minus through 67 games played this year.
Graves' regular season is over after he was placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve on Thursday due to a concussion but has the potential to return during the playoffs if needed. The 28-year-old's inaugural season in Pittsburgh ends with his lowest point production since his rookie season with three goals, 14 points, 77 SOG, 30 PIMs and +10 plus/minus in 70 games played.
With Vancouver locking up a playoff spot weeks ago they have been taking Thatcher Demko's recovery slow but the goaltender claimed Thursday "I feel fine" and that he is a possibility to return on Saturday. The 28-year-old star netminder last appeared on March 9th and holds an impressive 34-13-2 record, 2.47 GAA and . 917 SV% on the season.
Seattle announced that they would be confirming their lineup closer to game-time on Thursday meaning Jared McCann could be a possible candidate to return after taking part in the team's optional morning skate. The 27-year-old missed Seattle's previous game and leads the team in both goals (28) and points (60) across his 75 games played before the injury.
Vegas locked up another key piece to its core long-term as it signed 27-year-old defenseman Noah Hanifian to an eight-year, $58.8 million ($7,350,000 AAV) contract extension. Hanifin has excelled since joining the Golden Knights at the trade deadline, with two goals, nine points, 37 SOG and a +7 plus/minus through 16 games played.
Zuccarello is in the midst of a four-game point streak (6A) but did not travel to Vegas due to personal reasons and is unlikely to play on Friday but has not been fully ruled out. The 36-year-old is third in team scoring with 11 goals and 62 points in 68 games played. An update on his status is expected by mid-day Friday.
Gaudreau did not travel to Vegas with Minnesota due to personal reasons but was not fully ruled out for the game on Friday. The 30-year-old should have an update in the morning but if he does play will be looking to add to his five goals and 15 points in 65 games this season.
Ohgren will make his NHL debut on Friday in Vegas after appearing in three games for Iowa (AHL) after a full season in the Swedish Elite League with Farjestad BK. The 20-year-old left-winger is Minnesota's 2022 first-round pick (20th overall) and had an impressive 12 goals and 19 points in 26 games with Farjestad BK before being sent to North America.
Officially eliminated from the playoffs, Minnesota will turn to Fleury for the second time in their last five games. Fleury has struggled lately, allowing four or more goals in three of his last five (1-3-0), including four on 25 shots (.840 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Minnesota enters action on Friday as a +152 road underdog against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Murphy has been out since January 13th due to a groin strain but was activated from the Injured Reserve on Thursday and will return to the lineup on Friday vs. Nashville. The 31-year-old will look to improve on his horrific -19 plus/minus and add to his two goals and eight points that he had in 43 games played before the injury.
Duehr has not played since April 4th, missing the last two games, but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 26-year-old Duehr has seven points (2G / 5A) in 37 games this season.
Carrick played 12:37 time-on-ice in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knight but suffered an undisclosed injury. He has been in and out of the lineup lately but has two points (0G / 2A) in his last four games.
McDavid skated on Wednesday after being absent from practice on Tuesday and could miss a second straight game on Friday against the Arizona Coyotes. McDavid has likely fallen out of contention for the Art Ross Trophy, nine points behind the scoring leader Nikita Kucherov, but is amid another terrific season with 130 points (31G / 99A) in 74 games.
Nylander was a late scratch on Tuesday after he left warmups due to an undisclosed injury but could draw back into the lineup on Thursday. The 26-year-old has been one of Columbus' best stories this season after being acquired earlier this season, with 10 goals. 14 points, 55 SOG and a -1 plus/minus in 20 games played before the injury.
The Blue Jackets have been outscored 8-2 in their last two games (0-2-0) but will turn to Greaves for the second straight game on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Greaves has played well since being called up, allowing two or fewer goals in two of three appearances (1-2-0), but allowed four goals on 28 shots (.875 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blue Jackets enter action as significant +331 road underdogs.
Morrison played his first game since March 30th on Tuesday but will return to the press box as a healthy scratch on Thursday. The 21-year-old Morrison has spent most of the season in the AHL, scoring 40 points (15G / 25A) in 60 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Coleman will not play on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings due to an upper-body injury. The 32-year-old Coleman has a career-high 52 points (29G / 23A) through 77 games this season but has been held off the scoresheet in nine of his last 10 games.
