Thiesing is an undrafted 22-year-old forward out of Tennessee who has spent the last three seasons playing collegiate hockey with Ohio State University. In the 2023-24 campaign, Thiesing scored 16 points (9G / 7A) in 31 games with OSU.
The Stars will wrap up the five-game homestand on Friday and turn to Oettinger between the pipes against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Oettinger has been wildly inconsistent all season but is fresh off a 5-2 victory against the Arizona Coyotes when he saved 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%). The Stars are riding a two-game winning streak and enter action as -195 home favourites.
Phillips has not played a game with the Capitals since February 22nd but could draw back into their lineup on Friday in anticipation of a lengthy suspension for Tom Wilson. In 27 games with the Capitals this season, Phillips has five points (1G / 4A).
Oshie did not play in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs due to an upper-body injury but was back on the ice at the morning skate on Friday and is still not expected to return yet. The 37-year-old Oshie has been plagued with injuries this season and only has one point (1G / 0A) in his last five games.
After a disastrous 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, the Capitals will likely turn to Kuemper between the pipes on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Kuemper has been inconsistent all season and has only played once in the last 11 games for the Capitals, a 7-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers when he allowed seven goals on 37 shots (.811 SV%). The Capitals enter action as +174 road underdogs against the Hurricanes.
Crookshank was a fifth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old played seven games with Ottawa earlier this season but has spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with Belleville (AHL), tallying 46 points (24G / 22A) in 50 games.
Ostapchuk played the last six games for Ottawa, scoring zero points, and has been reassigned to Belleville (AHL) in correspondence to Angus Crookshank being recalled. The 20-year-old Ostapchuk was the 39th overall pick of the Senators in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Phillips has not played a game with the Capitals since February 22nd but could draw back into their lineup on Friday in anticipation of a lengthy suspension for Tom Wilson. In 27 games with the Capitals this season, Phillips has five points (1G / 4A).
Fleury played 12 games with Seattle last season but has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL), tallying 29 points (5G / 24A) in 57 games. The 25-year-old Fleury was the third-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Schwartz has not played since March 8th, missing four games with an upper-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The veteran forward has 23 points (11G / 22A) in 47 games this season.
Oleksiak played only 9:49 time-on-ice before exiting Monday's 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres with an undisclosed injury. The 31-year-old Oleksiak has 10 points (2G / 8A), 98 hits, and 150 blocks in 67 games this season.
Seattle will turn to Grubauer for the second time in three games on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Joey Daccord started the last game for Seattle and allowed three goals on four shots before being replaced by Grubauer, who allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in an eventual 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Grubauer and the Kraken are +156 road underdogs against a Golden Knights club that defeated them 5-4 less than two weeks ago.
Martinsen-Lilleberg will play in place of Nicklaus Perbix, who is listed as a scratch. Martinsen-Lilleberg has no goals and three assists in 23 games this season.
Perbix will sit as Emil Martinsen-Lilleberg draws back into the lineup. Perbix has two goals and 19 assists in 66 games this season.
Tampa Bay is riding a four-game winning streak and will return to Vasilevskiy in the crease for the ninth straight game in a favourable matchup against the San Jose Sharks where they are -375 road favourites. In his last outing, Vasilevskiy saved 24 of 27 shots in a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. He has allowed three or more goals in seven of his last eight games.
Groulx will be the odd-man out on Thursday as Ben Meyers draws back into the lineup. Groulx is yet to score a goal in 41 games this season.
Meyers will draw into the lineup in place of Bo Groulx, who is listed as a scratch. Meyers has one goal and no assists in 14 games this season.
Tinordi will draw back into the lineup as the Blackhawks are opting to dress seven defensemen. He has no goals and eight assists in 44 games this season.
The Sabres will turn to Luukkonen for the sixth time in the last seven games after giving him the night off in their last outing, a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Luukkonen has been tremendous lately, winning four of his last five (4-1-0), including saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in his last outing, a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. The Sabres enter action as +190 road underdogs against the high-scoring Edmonton Oilers.
