Jayden Struble will draw back into Montreal's lineup on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets, sending Xhekaj to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 11:20 time-on-ice, recording two points (1G / 1A), 33 blocks, 135 hits, and 104 penalty minutes in 50 games.
Jakub Dobes has started the past several games for the Canadiens. Still, after losing 4-3 to the Minnesota Wild on Monday, Montreal will turn to Montembeault on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 29-year-old Montembeault showed encouraging signs immediately after returning from a conditioning stint in Laval (AHL), but has seemingly returned to his early-season struggles, allowing three or more goals in four straight games (1-2-1), posting a 3.80 GAA and .867 SV%. The Canadiens enter Wednesday's contest with even -105 odds on the road against a struggling Jets team that has lost four of its last six games (2-2-2).
Annunen played well in relief of Juuse Saros in Monday's 6-5 win over the St. Louis Blues, saving all 13 shots he faced, and will return to the crease on Thursday in the tail end of a back-to-back. The 25-year-old Annunen has seen limited action lately, but has been serviceable when called upon, posting a 2.44 GAA and .918 SV% in nine appearances (4-2-1) since the beginning of December. The Predators enter Thursday's contest as +142 road underdogs against a Washington Capitals team whose three-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday in a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Saros had a rough performance in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 21 shots (.762 SV%) before being replaced by Justus Annunen in the second period of a game that Nashville rallied back into with a 6-5 victory. The 30-year-old Saros has improved after a miserable 2024-25 season, but is currently battling through a rough stretch, allowing three or more goals in eight consecutive games (5-2-1), posting an ugly 4.10 GAA and .877 SV%. The Predators enter Wednesday's contest as +106 home underdogs against the Minnesota Wild, who hold the best record in the NHL since the beginning of November (30-8-7).
Ilya Lyubushkin will return from a two week absence on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues, resulting in Petrovic being a healthy scratch. The 33-year-old Petrovic is averaging 15:34 time-on-ice, recording nine points (2G / 7A), 77 blocks, and 82 hits in 50 games this season.
Alex Petrovic will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Lyubushkin to re-enter the lineup against the St. Louis Blues. The 31-year-old Lyubushkin is averaging 16:10 time-on-ice, recording seven points (1G / 6A), 54 hits, and 67 blocks in 39 games this season.
Elvis Merzlikins has become the go-to goalie for Columbus since Rick Bowness took over as the new Head Coach, but they will turn to Greaves on Wednesday in the tail end of a back-to-back. Despite the decrease in playing time, Greaves has remained reliable since the coaching change, posting a 2.46 GAA and .913 SV% in his last six games (5-1-0). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Wednesday as -147 home favourites against the Chicago Blackhawks, whom they defeated 4-2 less than a week ago.
Schaefer made his NHL debut earlier this season, tallying six points (4G / 2A) in 25 games with the Predators, but has spent the past three weeks in the AHL. The 22-year-old, a first-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has 18 points (6G / 12A) in 21 games with Milwaukee (AHL) this season.
After a miserable stretch after the Holiday break, the Stars enter their final game before the Olympic break on a five-game winning streak. They will try to carry that momentum with Oettinger between the pipes on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 27-year-old Oettinger saved 23 of 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Blues last week. He has won five straight games despite posting a pedestrian 2.77 GAA and .877 SV%. The Stars enter the action on Wednesday as sizable -201 home favourites against a Blues team that has lost seven of their last eight games (6-1-1).
Bobrovsky's miserable season continued on Monday when he allowed five goals on 20 shots (.750 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The 37-year-old Bobrovsky has lost eight of his last 11 games (3-8-0), posting an abysmal 3.83 GAA and .829 SV%. Still, the Panthers, desperate to climb back into the playoff race, enter Wednesday's contest as -134 home favourites against a Boston Bruins team with points in six straight games (4-0-2).
Fox's return to practice on Wednesday is an indication that he is wrapping up his second stint on Long-Term Injured Reserve this season. Still, it is unclear whether he will play on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers in the team's final game before the Olympic Break. The 27-year-old Fox has had trouble staying healthy, but has been highly productive when in the lineup, scoring 28 points (4G / 24A) in 30 games.
Bennett exited Monday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in the first period due to an upper-body injury, but is apparently no worse for wear and will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins. The 29-year-old Bennett is having a tremendous offensive season, pacing for career highs, with 42 points (19G / 23A) through 55 games. Bennett was rewarded for his strong season on Tuesday, being announced as a late addition to Team Canada at the upcoming World Olympics to replace an injured Anthony Cirelli.
Marchand only played four games since returning from an injury before returning to the sidelines because of an injury on Thursday. The 37-year-old Marchand has been a key offensive contributor for the Panthers, scoring 50 points (25G / 25A) in 45 games. He will not play on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins and it is unclear if he will target a return on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Lundell has not played since exiting last Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Utah Mammoth in the second period because of an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old Finnish forward is averaging 19:10 time-on-ice and has 36 points (15G / 21A) through 52 games this season. If he is not able to suit up on Wednesday, his next chance will be against the Tampa Bay Lighting on Thursday in the final day before the Olympic Break.
With Nick Foligno (illness) returning to the lineup on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Greene head to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Greene is averaging 16:29 time-on-ice and has 20 points (7G / 13A) in 56 games this season.
Foligno has not played the past two games for the Blackhawks, but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 38-year-old Foligno is averaging 12:55 time-on-ice and has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 32 games this season.
Hellebuyck's disappointing stretch continued on Monday, allowing four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck has allowed three or more goals in four straight (1-2-1) and has lost six of his last seven (1-3-3), posting a 2.87 GAA and .901 SV%. The Jets enter the action on Wednesday at even -105 odds at home against a Montreal Canadiens team with points in four straight games (3-0-1).
Necas has missed the last two games and will not play in Colorado's final game before the Olympic Break, but is still expecting to gear up for Czechia at the tournament. It's encouraging news for the 27-year-old, who should draw back into the lineup after NHL action resumes on February 25th.
Fernstrom was a third-round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and will gear up for his professional North American debut after being assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 19-year-old Swedish forward had four points (3G / 1A) in 36 games with Orebro HK (SweHL) this season.
