Hellebuyck did not play on Tuesday but will return to the crease on Thursday in a highly touted divisional matchup against the Dallas Stars. Hellebuyck has won two straight, including saving 29 of 32 shots (.906 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. The Jets are winless in two outings this season against a Stars club with only one win in their last seven games (1-3-3).
Mrazek will start for the third straight game for the Blackhawks on Thursday night. Despite only recording one win in his last 10 outings (1-6-3), Mrazek has played very well, recording a respectable .917 SV%. That said, the Blackhawks are poised for another loss as they enter Thursday's game as +255 home underdogs against a high-scoring Colorado Avalanche club that defeated the Dallas Stars 5-1 on Tuesday.
Forsberg did not participate at practice on Thursday but is hopeful to play in the evening against the Minnesota Wild. Forsberg has five points (2G / 3A), seven hits, and 14 shots in his last three games.
Hanley has played the last seven games for the Stars but will be a healthy scratch on Thursday as Nils Lundkvist makes his return from a concussion. Hanley's presence in the Stars lineup will likely be more limited moving forward with the recent acquisition of Chris Tanev.
Lundkvist has not played since suffering a concussion on February 15th but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday, replacing Joel Hanley. The 23-year-old Lundkvist has 15 points (2G / 13A) in 43 games this season.
Ingram has played both games for the Coyotes since returning from a two-week absence due to an injury and will play again on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ingram allowed three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, extending their season-worst losing skid to 13 games. The Coyotes are significant +202 road underdogs heading into action.
Oettinger was between the pipes for the Stars on Tuesday, allowing five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, and will attempt to rebound on Thursday night. The Stars are -129 home favourites in a battle for Central division supremacy against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. The Stars have fared well against the Jets this season, winning both previous contests, including a 27-save shutout for Oettinger in a 2-0 victory.
Wilson did not participate in practice on Thursday for personal reasons but could be an option for the Capitals on Friday. After being held without a point in eight straight, Wilson has begun to heat up, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in his last four games.
Jensen has been battling a lower-body injury and did not play Monday or Tuesday. In his last contest, Jensen played 17:39 time-on-ice, recording two penalty minutes and three hits.
Milano did not play on Monday or Tuesday due to an illness but will return to the lineup on Friday. Earlier this month, Milano returned from a multi-week absence due to injury and has potted three points (2G / 1A) in the four games he has played since.
Rust did not play on Tuesday and will be out on a week-to-week basis as he recovers from an upper-body injury. He was starting to heat up before his injury, scoring four points (3G / 1A) in two games before his injury. Pittsburgh has recalled Jonathan Gruden as a lineup replacement in the interim.
Bryan Rust was placed on Injured Reserve on Thursday, allowing the Penguins to recall Gruden. 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.
Zub's return to the Senators lines up with the news that Travis Hamonic will be out for several weeks with an injury. The hard-hitting Zub had two points (0G / 2A), four shots, and 10 hits in his last four games before his injury.
Norris collided with the net in the second period and exited Tuesday's contest with an upper-body injury after playing only 6:03 time-on-ice. Norris, who missed most of the previous two seasons with a shoulder injury, received imagining and has been ruled out for the foreseeable future.
Hamonic will miss an extended period after playing only 9:56 in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators. The 33-year-old defenseman has six points (2G / 4A), 51 hits, and 74 blocks in 47 games this season. Artem Zub is expected to return from injury and draw back into the lineup in Hamonic's place.
Johnson played only 3:31 time-on-ice before exiting Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Florida Panthers with an undisclosed injury. The veteran defender has only three points (3G / 0A) in 50 games this season and he been held off the scoresheet in 16 straight.
Luukkonen will likely continue his reign over the Sabres' crease on Thursday, starting for the seventh straight time. He has allowed fewer than three goals in five of his last seven games while posting a dazzling .932 SV%. The Sabres are +135 road underdogs on Thursday against a Tampa Bay Lightning club that has struggled to keep the puck out of their net lately, allowing four or more goals in three of their last six games (2-4-0).
Saros has been terrific lately and is expected to return to the crease on Thursday evening. The talented netminder has allowed two or fewer goals in each contest while riding a four-game winning streak, including saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. The Predators enter action as -116 home favourites in a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Wild.
The Stars acquired Tanev on Wednesday by giving up a 2024 second-round pick, a 2026 fourth-round pick, Artem Grushnikov and a conditional 2026 third-round pick to acquire Tanev. The Flames retained 50 percent of Tanev's $4.5M AAV cap hit, while the Devils retained 25 percent. Tanev is a rugged defenseman, who has racked up 171 blocked shots this season to go along with one goal and 13 assists (14 points) in 56 games. He should bring plenty of stability to the Stars' second pairing.
Fleury has not played the last three games for the Lightning and will be 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.
