Tarasov will start for the second straight game after an impressive outing in his last contest. On Wednesday, Tarasov exited the game briefly at the end of the second period but returned in the third en route to saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 7-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The Blue Jackets enter Friday's matchup against the Buffalo Sabres as +136 home underdogs.
Johnson is battling an illness and his status is up in the air ahead of Friday's contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The veteran defender has three points (3G / 0A), 84 hits, and 65 blocks in 48 games this season.
Luukkonen will likely return to the crease for the fourth straight game on Friday evening. The 24-year-old Finnish netminder has been outstanding lately, allowing more than three goals only once in his last 15 outings (9-6-0), boasting a terrific .933 SV% and three shutouts. The Sabres are -147 road favourites heading into Friday's tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Mrazek had the night off in Chicago's 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday but will likely return to the crease on Friday night. The Czech netminder had a rough time in his last outing, allowing five goals on 41 shots (.878 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Blackhawks enter action as +237 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets club that is 4-5-1 in their last 10.
Othmann was the 16th overall pick of the Rangers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Despite being limited to only three games with the Rangers, he has excelled in his first professional season, scoring 36 points (14G / 22A) in 44 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.
Lycksell was limited to only 4:36 time-on-ice in his last outing on February 12th, his only action in the last seven games, and has been loaned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. The 24-year-old Lycksell has played five games for the Flyers this season, tallying one assist and nine shots on goal.
Oshie had to be helped off the ice after suffering a non-contact lower-body injury. Head coach Spencer Carbery said that his level of concern for Oshie's injury was "fairly high" and added that he'll be evaluated on Friday. Expect the Capitals to release a detailed timeline in the coming days, but it looks like Oshie is going to be out long-term.
The Kings will turn back to Rittich after Cam Talbot got the nod in each of the team's last two games. Rittich secured a victory his last time out, allowing four goals on 32 shots as Los Angeles held on to defeat the Bruins by a score of 5-4. Rittich owns an impressive .919 SV% and 2.25 GAA on the season to go along with his 8-2-3 record. He draws a solid matchup on Thursday, with the Kings being -160 favourites to pick up the win over the visiting Predators.
Saros will return to the Predators' crease after a rare backing up of Kevin Lankinen in Nashville's last game after he was the first goalie off the ice at an optional skate on Thursday. The 28-year-old has recently become the talk of trade speculation even though he is having one of the worst seasons of his nine-year career, with his 21-21-2 record, 3.02 GAA and .902 SV%. He will head to Los Angeles to take on the Kings on Thursday, who have won four straight and are third in the NHL in shots per game (33.5).
The Golden Knights are already without Mark Stone (upper body) but fortunately will have Marchessault in the lineup on Thursday night. Despite being held without a point in two straight, Marchessault has been extremely productive lately with 15 points (11G / 4A) in his last 13 games.
Grubauer will start for only the second time since returning from an injury that kept him out for several months. The German netminder saved 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders on February 13th, the only contest this season that he has allowed fewer than two goals (6-9-1). Seattle enters action as a +114 home underdog against the Vancouver Canucks.
Demko will return to the crease for the second straight game as the Canucks look to snap a three-game losing skid where they have been outscored 17-10. That said, the California-born netminder played well in a 3-1 losing effort on Tuesday, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%). The Canucks are -126 road favourites in a tilt against their division rivals, the Seattle Kraken.
Adin Hill will tend the twine on Thursday night as he attempts to snap a season-worst three-game losing skid. Uncharacteristically, Hill has allowed three or more goals in four straight games, the first time this season, showcasing an ugly .884 SV%. The Golden Knights will face off against a Maple Leafs club that played last night, a 6-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes, and is riding a five-game winning streak.
The Maple Leafs will turn to Jones for the tail-end of their back-to-back after Ilya Samsonov got the nod in Wednesday's victory over the Coyotes. Jones had all the goal support a goalie could ask for his last time out, stopping 19 of the 21 shots he faced as Toronto cruised to a 9-2 win over the Ducks on Saturday. Jones' record sits at 10-7-1 on the season to go along with a .908 SV%. He and the Maple Leafs find themselves as slight favourites (-115) over the Golden Knights on Thursday.
Tkachuk suffered the injury late in the first period of Thursday's game and did not return. We should expect to receive an update on the injury and a potential timeline for his return in the coming days.
Forsling suffered the injury late in the first period of Thursday's game and did not return. We should expect to receive an update on the injury and a potential timeline for his return in the coming days.
Ullmark will be back between the pipes on Thursday after the Bruins broke their typical goalie rotation on Wednesday, handing Jeremy Swayman back-to-back starts as they travelled to Edmonton to take on the Oilers. Ullmark had a rough outing in his last contest, allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Ullmark and the Bruins are -125 favourites to emerge victorious in Calgary on Thursday.
Rifai and Maxime Lajoie will sit on Thursday as Morgan Rielly and William Lagesson will draw back into the Leafs' lineup. Rifai is pointless through two games with the Leafs this season.
Lajoie and Marshall Rifai will sit on Thursday as Morgan Rielly and William Lagesson will draw back into the Leafs' lineup. Lajoie has no goals and one assist in seven games this season.
Ryan Reaves will take the place of Gregor as the Leafs opt to get fresh legs in their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Gregor has five goals and six assists in 53 games this season.
