Giordano suffered the injury in the first period and did not return. Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game the extent of the injury is unknown. We should expect to receive a more definitive update ahead of the Leafs' game on Saturday against the Rangers.
Gruden returns to the AHL after just being recalled earlier today. Gruden played five games with Pittsburgh earlier this season but has spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, scoring 23 points (13G / 10A) in 41 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Gibson will be back between the pipes on Thursday after getting the tail-end of their back-to-back off on Sunday. Gibson was fantastic in his last start, allowing just two goals on 50 shots before eventually falling to the Kings in a shootout. It was easily one of the best starts of the season for Gibson, despite not securing the victory. He and the Ducks draw a very rare, favourable matchup on Thursday, as they find themselves as -130 favourites to pick up the win in San Jose.
The move looks to be a precautionary one as the Ducks are reportedly close to moving Lyubushkin in a trade. Lyubushkin has 138 blocked shots, 112 hits, and four assists in 55 games this season.
Kaliyev will make way for Brandt Clarke as the Kings are opting to dress seven defensemen on Thursday. He has six goals and eight assists in 44 games this season.
Clarke is on the ice for warmups as the extra defenseman but took part in power-play rushes in this morning's skate, indicating the Kings plan on dressing seven defensemen tonight. Clarke has one goal and four assists in 12 games this season.
Grubauer has started two of the last three games and appeared in relief in the other. Grubauer's return from injury and Joey Daccord's decline in play have directly correlated, with Grubauer seizing the opportunity, posting a .929 SV% and 3-0-0 record since his return. Seattle is a slight -115 home favourite against a Pittsburgh Penguins club that has scored 15 goals in their last three games (3-0-0).
Talbot will be back between the pipes for the Kings for the second straight game on Thursday as he tries to wrestle back control of the starting job from David Rittich. Talbot took the loss in Calgary on Tuesday, allowing three goals on 36 shots in the 4-2 defeat. Despite the result, it was another promising start for Talbot, who's snapped out of his prolonged cold streak with a .949 SV% over his last three contests. He draws a difficult matchup on Thursday with the Kings being +125 underdogs in Vancouver.
Forsberg did not participate at practice on Thursday and was a game-time decision against the Minnesota Wild. Forsberg has five points (2G / 3A), seven hits, and 14 shots in his last three games.
Fleury has not played the last three games for the Lightning and was a game-time decision against the Buffalo Sabres. Fleury played only 5:05 time-on-ice before exiting Tampa Bay's February 22nd tilt against the Washington Capitals with an upper-body injury.
Woll has not played since December 7th due to an ankle injury. After participating in practice the last three weeks and joining the Marlies (AHL) for a conditioning stint, he will make his return to the Maple Leafs' crease on Thursday night. He will be looking to build off his strong start to the season and add to his 8-5-1 record, 2.80 GAA, and .916 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter action as significant -242 home favourites against an Arizona Coyotes club riding a 13-game losing streak.
Hill has established himself as the Golden Knights' clear number-one netminder ahead of Logan Thompson, as Vegas will turn to him for the fourth time in their last five games. Hill was fantastic in Toronto on Tuesday, allowing just two goals on 30 shots, guiding the Golden Knights to a 6-2 victory over the Maple Leafs. He owns a 15-5-2 record on the season along with a league-leading .927 SV%. He will have his hands full again on Thursday with the Golden Knights being +130 underdogs in Boston.
With Joseph Woll (ankle) being activated from Injured Reserve on Thursday, Maxime Lajoie was the odd man out on Toronto's roster and has been reassigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL). The 26-year-old has played scarcely for the Maple Leafs this season, appearing in seven games and picking up one assist, with one SOG and a +1 plus/minus before his demotion.
Martin will make his second start in three games as Carolina heads to Columbus to face his former team in the Blue Jackets on Thursday. The 28-year-old was claimed off waivers from Columbus in January and has been sensational for the Hurricanes with his 3-0-1 record, .925 SV% and 2.00 GAA in four games. He'll take on his old team on the road in Columbus, who have lost three of their last five games and are struggling offensively ranking 22nd in the NHL in goals per game (2.91).
Boqvist will head to the press box on Thursday as a healthy scratch as Andrew Peeke takes his spot in the Blue Jackets lineup. The 23-year-old offensive defenseman has struggled to catch his footing all season as he's battled multiple injuries which has led to a disappointing one goal, eight points and -8 plus/minus through 28 games this season.
Peeke last appeared for the Blue Jackets on January 30th but will make his first appearance in nearly a month as he replaces Adam Boqvist on Columbus' blue line Thursday. The 25-year-old has yet to score this season but has six assists, 21 SOG and a -4 plus/minus in the 20 games that he has dressed.
Tarasov will get his first start in three games on Thursday after yielding the crease to Elvis Merzlikins for the Blue Jackets' previous two games. The 24-year-old has struggled for a second-straight season as his .887 SV% is the fourth worst among starters with nine or more games played which has resulted in his ugly 4-7-2 record and 3.65 GAA. He will take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, who have won five of their last seven games and are seventh in the NHL in shots per game (32.6).
Grushnikov was a second-round pick (No.48 overall) of the Stars in 2021. The 20-year-old Russian defenseman turned pro at the end of his 2023 season with the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) and has five points (1G / 4A) in 45 AHL games since. He was acquired via trade on Wednesday in a move that saw Chris Tanev dealt to the Dallas Stars.
Jarry will return to the crease on Thursday searching for his fourth straight victory. The 28-year-old Jarry saved 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. He has a 2.57 GAA and .912 SV% through 39 games this season (17-17-4). The Penguins enter action as +104 road underdogs against the Seattle Kraken.
Jakub Lauko will draw back into the Bruins lineup on Thursday, resulting in Richard being scratched and ultimately sent down to the Providence Bruins (AHL). Richard scored three points (1G / 2A) while playing the last nine games for the Bruins.
