The Bruins have lost five of their last seven, with their two wins coming with Swayman between the pipes. Swayman was outstanding in his last outing, saving 32 of 33 shots (.970 SV%) in a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs and will tend the twine in a rematch on Thursday night. The Bruins enter action as -141 home favourites.
Woll will get the nod for the tail-end of Toronto's back-to-back on Thursday after Ilya Samsonov got the nod in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime victory over the Sabres. It's the second time in as many games that Woll will face the Bruins. He surrendered four goals on 27 shots in a 4-1 loss to Boston on Monday. It was just his second start since returning from the ankle injury he suffered in early December. Woll and the Maple Leafs are +125 underdogs heading into Boston on Thursday.
Markstrom is set to make a fourth consecutive start on Thursday when the Flames travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning. He saw a personal four-game losing streak come to an end in Monday's game against the Kraken, when he allowed four goals on 30 shots enroute to a 4-2 defeat. He owns a 21-16-2 record on the season to go along with a .912 SV%. He'll have his hands full again on Thursday as the Flames find themselves as +130 underdogs in Tampa.
Tampa Bay will turn to Vasilevskiy between the pipes for a fourth straight game on Thursday night. The Vezina-winning netminder hasn't played to expectations this season and has allowed three or more goals in seven of his last eight starts (3-4-1) but saved 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in his last outing, a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning are -148 home favourites against a Calgary Flames squad that has recently traded two of their opening-night top-four defenders, Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin.
Bunting is in the first year of a three-year contract and has a 10-team no-trade list but will still be held out of Carolina's lineup on Thursday for trade-related reasons. The 28-year-old scrappy left-winger has enjoyed a mediocre first season in Carolina, with 13 goals, 36 points, 113 SOG, 55 PIMs and a -15 plus/minus through 60 games played.
Byram was acquired from Colorado in a one-for-one deal for Casey Mittlestadt on Wednesday and will make his Sabres' debut on Thursday in Nashville. The 22-year-old offensive defenseman is expected to pair with Rasmus Dahlin out of the gate and will hope to add to his eight goals, 20 points, 40 PIMs and 63 SOG through 40 games played this season.
Lycksell has three assists in nine games this season but will head to the press box as the odd-man out of the Flyers' lineup with Travis Konecny (upper body) returning. The 24-year-old Lycksell has yet to score his first career NHL goal despite partaking in 17 games in the previous two seasons.
Brink has two goals in his previous four games but finds himself the odd man out of the Flyers' lineup on Thursday in Florida. The 22-year-old rookie has impressed in his first full season, with nine goals, 20 points, 62 SOG, Six PIMs and a +7 plus/minus through 42 games played.
Attard last appeared in the NHL in April of 2023 and will find himself in Philadelphia's lineup for the first time in the 2023-24 season as he replaces the traded Sean Walker. The 24-year-old is still technically a rookie even though he appeared in 15 games in 2021-22 and had four points (2G/2A) and eight PIMs during that season.
Konecny has missed the Flyers' previous six games but will return to the lineup on Thursday in Florida. It is a much-welcomed return as Konecny leads Philadelphia in both goals (27) and points (54) while leading all forwards in average TOI (19:54). He should resume his role in the Flyers' top-six and continue to be their main scoring option on powerplays.
Ersson will take over the Flyers' crease for a second-straight game as he looks to avenge a 24-save (.960 SV%) overtime loss to St. Louis in his last start. The 24-year-old rookie has struggled since taking over the Flyers' starting position full-time, with his 17-12-5 record, 2.57 GAA and .899 SV%. He draws the unfortunate task of taking on the red-hot Florida Panthers, who are in the midst of a six-game winning streak and have won 12 of their last 13 contests.
McCabe missed Toronto's game Wednesday vs. Buffalo due to illness but is expected to return for the second half of their back-to-back on Thursday in Boston. The 30-year-old defenseman has already tied his career high in points (22) and surpassed his previous highs in goals (6) through only 55 games played this season.
Carolina was unable to sign their 2019 fourth-round pick (99th overall) Cade Webber and traded his rights to Toronto for a 2026 6th-round pick on Thursday. The 23-year-old towering stay-at-home defenseman has scored only one goal and 16 points in 115 games played across four NCAA seasons with Boston University.
Andersen has been out since November 2nd, 2023 due to blood clots but will make his much-awaited return to Carolina's crease on Thursday vs. Montreal. The 34-year-old veteran netminder got off to a winning start to originally begin the season, with his 4-1-0 record, 2.87 GAA and .894 SV%. He will host the Montreal Canadiens, who have struggled as of late with seven losses in their last nine games and are 27th in the NHL in goals per game (2.79).
Nemec was a healthy scratch for the Devils' previous game as Travis Green wanted him to have a "reset" but will draw back into New Jersey's lineup on Thursday vs. St. Louis. The 20-year-old rookie has made an impressive impact in his first season in New Jersey, with two goals, 16 points, 54 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 40 games played this season.
The Devils, losers of three straight, will return to Daws between the pipes after unsuccessfully allowing Akira Schmid to prove himself in a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Daws has showcased horrendous performances in his last two outings (0-2-0), allowing eight goals on his last 27 shots (.704 SV%). That said, the Devils enter action as -151 home favourites against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
Koch had one goal, 11 points and 67 PIMs in 47 games played with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) this season and earned his first career NHL call-up on Thursday. The 27-year-old undrafted defenseman spent the majority of his professional career in the Czechia league before making the leap to North America in 2023-24.
Amongst the flurry of trades made by Florida during the deadline, William Lockwood was reassigned to Charlotte (AHL) after clearing waivers on Thursday. The 25-year-old offers the Panthers some forward depth in the minors as he had an assist, 19 SOG, 16 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus in 26 games played before being waived.
Konecny has not played since February 21st, missing six games with an upper-body injury, but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. Before his injury, Konecy was producing at a blistering pace, scoring 12 points (5G / 7A) during a seven-game point streak. The Flyers return to the ice on Thursday against the Florida Panthers.
