Sebastian Aho will be the odd man out of the lineup for the Islanders on Thursday, allowing Bortuzzo to return from a multi-month absence, playing for the first time since January 2nd. The 35-year-old veteran has yet to pick up a point in 15 games this season with both New York and St. Louis.
Pierre Engvall will draw back into the lineup for the Islanders on Thursday, sending Martin to the press box as a healthy scratch. Martin has six points (3G / 3A), and 129 hits in 45 games this season.
Sorokin will lead the Islanders on Thursday in a matchup against the Detroit Red Wings, two teams battling for a Wild Card position. The Islanders have lost five straight, including four with Sorokin between the pipes. In his last outing, Sorokin allowed three goals on 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Islanders enter action as slight -112 road underdogs.
Markstrom has missed the last five games due to a lower-body injury but could return to the crease as soon as Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. Dustin Wolf will likely serve as Markstrom's backup for the duration of the season as Dan Vladar is set to undergo season-ending hip surgery.
Vladar's season has abruptly ended as the Czech netminder will undergo hip surgery. The 26-year-old backstop has struggled tremendously this season, showcasing an unimpressive 3.62 GAA and .882 SV% in 20 games (8-9-2). Dustin Wolf will likely stay with the Flames for the remainder of the season, backing up Jacob Markstrom.
Jesper Fast will not play on Thursday due to an upper-body injury, allowing DeAngelo to re-enter the lineup. DeAngelo has not played since February 25th, when he scored a goal in 15:46 ice time.
Fast is battling an upper-body injury and will not play on Thursday. The 32-year-old Fast has 18 points (6G / 12A) in 66 games this season while averaging 12:47 time-on-ice. Tony DeAngelo is expected to suit up on the blue line for the Hurricanes.
With Torey Krug battling a lower-body injury, Scandella will re-enter the lineup for the Blues. Scandella has not played the last five games but has been semi-productive when in the lineup lately, scoring three points (0G / 3A) in his last seven games.
Krug is battling a lower-body injury and will not play on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. Krug is averaging a modest 0.49 points per game this season but has been limited to only two points (0G / 2A) in his last nine outings.
Blackwood has been out of the lineup since suffering a groin injury on February 27th. Magnus Chrona has served predominantly as the starting netminder recently due to Blackwood's injury and Kaapo Kahkonen's trade to the New Jersey Devils. With Chrona being reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), Blackwood will likely take control of the Sharks' crease.
Chrona took over starting duties for the Sharks after Kaapo Kahkonen was traded but will return to the AHL after Mackenzie Blackwood has been activated from IR. Chrona's most recent outing was the worst of his young career, allowing eight goals on 40 shots (.800 SV%) in an 8-2 loss to the Nashville Predators.
The Blues' four-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday and they will switch to Hofer in the crease for the second time in the last three games. Hofer has been solid lately, winning his last two games, including a 26-save performance (.929 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks in his last outing. The Blues enter action as slight +110 road underdogs.
The Bruins are riding a three-game winning streak and will take the ice with Swayman in the crease on Thursday night. Swayman has allowed four or more goals in each of his last two outings but recorded a victory by making 24 of 29 saves (.828 SV%) in a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Bruins enter action as -144 home favourites against the New York Rangers.
Giroux is battling an illness and his status is up in the air for Thursday's contest against the St. Louis Blues. Despite the Senators' struggles this season, the 36-year-old Giroux has enjoyed another productive campaign, scoring 57 points (19G / 38A) in 67 games.
Hamonic has not played since February 27th, missing 10 games with a lower-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 33-year-old defenseman has six points (2G / 4A), 51 hits, and 74 blocks in 47 games this season.
The Rangers will likely rely on Quick in the crease on Thursday night for his second start in the last four games. The veteran Quick has only played twice in the last 10 games but has recorded victories in each, most recently saving 34 of 38 shots (.895 SV%) in a 7-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 16th. The Rangers enter action as +126 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins club riding a three-game winning streak.
The red-hot Predators, riding a 13-0-2 point streak in their last 15 games, will turn to Lankinen between the pipes for only the second time in the last 10 games. Lankien has been solid when called upon, including a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in his last outing, when he saved 33 of 34 shots (.971 SV%). The Predators enter action as +159 road underdogs against the Florida Panthers.
The Flyers snapped a two-game losing skid on Tuesday and will return to Ersson between the pipes on Thursday. Ersson played well on Tuesday, saving 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%), hanging on for a 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Flyers enter action on Thursday as sizeable +204 road underdogs against a red-hot Carolina Hurricanes club that has been rolling, outscoring their competition 20-7 during a four-game winning streak.
