Protas last appeared on April 4th due to a foot injury but has been travelling with Washington for their first-round series vs. Montreal and is a game-time decision to return for Game 3 on Friday. The 24-year-old took a massive step forward in his fourth NHL season in 2024-25, with 30 goals, 60 points and a +40 plus/minus in 76 games played.
Unsurprisingly, Thompson will make his third straight start as Washington looks to take a further 3-0 stranglehold on their series vs. Montreal on Friday. The 28-year-old has continued his in-season success by becoming nearly unbeatable in the playoffs thus far, with his 2-0-0 record, .951 SV% and 1.47 GAA. He'll face the tough task of Montreal at home on Friday, who were 23-12-6 at the Bell Centre this season.
Siegenthaler has not played since February 4th due to a lower-body injury but is hopeful to make his seasonal playoff debut and return on Friday for Game 3 vs. Carolina. The 27-year-old Swiss defender will make a welcome addition to New Jersey's already battered blue line after he had two goals, nine points and a +9 plus/minus in 55 games during the regular season.
Texier will slot in on Thursday as the Blues are opting to dress 12 forwards. Defenceman Ryan Suter will sit in his place.
Suter will take a seat on Thursday as the Blues are opting to dress 12 forwards. Winger Alexandre Texier will draw into the lineup in his place.
Miller will slot in for Dylan DeMelo, who was a late scratch with an undisclosed injury. Miller appeared in 60 games this season, logging four goals and 11 assists.
DeMelo was a surprise scratch for Game 3, with the Jets not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Colin Miller will draw into the lineup in his place.
Heading to St. Louis with a 2-0 series lead, Winnipeg will of course stick with the reigning Vezina Trophy winner between the pipes on Thursday. After a mediocre 2025 playoff debut in Game 1, Hellebuyck silenced any remaining doubters in the second game of the series, allowing just a single goal on 22 shots. The Jets will look to grab a commanding 3-0 series lead on Thursday and remain slight favourites despite not having the home ice. They enter action at -130 on the money line.
The Blues will be desperate for a victory, returning home down 2-0 in their first-round matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. Binnington played well in Game 2, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%), but did not receive ample goal support in the 2-1 loss. The 31-year-old goalie has a 2.75 GAA and .908 SV% in 43 career playoff appearances (20-22). The Blues enter Game 3 as +104 home underdogs against the Jets.
As expected, the Senators will stick with Ullmark for Game 3 of the series despite entering Thursday night's matchup in a 2-0 hole. Though he was unable to come away with the victory, Ullmark turned in a markedly better performance in the second game of the 2025 Battle of Ontario. The former Vezina Trophy winner stopped 18 of the 21 shots he faced in the 3-2 overtime loss. Ullmark and the Senators enter action on Thursday at -130 on the money line.
The Maple Leafs will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead on Thursday, turning to Stolarz between the pipes. Stolarz has been excellent through the first two games (2-0), posting a stellar 1.95 GAA and .934 SV%. The 31-year-old netminder was tremendous to close out the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 0.99 GAA and .963 SV% in his final five games (5-0-0). The Maple Leafs enter Game 3 on Thursday as slight +115 road underdogs against a desperate Ottawa Senators team.
Raddysh will take a seat on Thursday as the Lightning are opting to dress 12 forwards. Winger Mitchell Chaffee will play in his place.
Chaffee will get the chance to make his 2025 playoff debut on Thursday as the Lightning are opting to dress 12 forwards. Defenceman Darren Raddysh will sit in his place.
Cirelli exited Tuesday's 6-2 Game 1 loss to the Florida Panthers after playing only 6:21 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury, and his status is up in the air for Game 2. Nick Paul centered Tampa Bay's second line after Cirelli's injury. The 27-year-old Cirelli scored a career-high 59 points (27G / 32A) in 80 games this season.
Vasilevskiy had a tremendous regular season, posting a 2.18 GAA and .921 SV% in 63 games (38-20-5). During the regular season, Vasilevskiy never allowed more than five goals in a game. However, in Game 1, he was beaten six times on 17 shots (.647 SV%) in a 6-2 loss. Still, he will return to the crease in Game 2, looking to help Tampa Bay tie the series at one. Tampa Bay enters Game 2 on Thursday as -117 home favorites against the Florida Panthers.
After a solid Game 1 victory, saving 18 of 20 shots (.900 SV%), Hill allowed four goals on 16 shots in Game 2, a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, evening the series at 1-1. Hill will return to the crease for Game 3 on Thursday, looking to redeem himself and improve his 2.19 GAA and .926 SV% through 21 career playoff games (13-7). The Golden Knights enter Game 3 on Thursday as -156 road favorites against the Wild.
Minnesota enters Game 3 with their first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights tied 1-1, courtesy of an excellent performance from Gustavsson in Game 2, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in the 5-2 victory. The 26-year-old Gustavsson will return to the crease in Game 3, looking to build on his 2.38 GAA and .919 SV% through seven career playoff games (3-4-0). Minnesota enters Game 3 on Thursday as +140 home underdogs against Vegas.
As has been the case the past several season, Pacioretty has battled injuries, limited to only 37 games this season, last playing on Februrary 8th. However, the veteran 36-year-old was effective when in this lineup, playing in a limited role and recording 13 points (5G / 8A) and 105 hits. Nicholas Robertson will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Pacioretty's return.
Max Pacioretty (undisclosed) will return to the lineup for his first game since February 8th, sending Robertson to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Robertson recorded one point (0G / 1A), one shot, and six penalty minutes through the first two games of Toronto's round-one series against the Ottawa Senators.
