Joseph did not play on Tuesday due to an illness but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 27-year-old Joseph is averaging 12:05 time-on-ice, recording five points (2G / 3A) and 67 hits in 35 games this season.
Texier is battling an illness and will not play on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 25-year-old Texier is averaging 12:35 time-on-ice and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 27 games this season.
The Blues will turn to Hofer between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Hofer struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 36 shots (.861 SV%) in a 5-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The 24-year-old Hofer has a 2.87 GAA and .903 SV% through 19 appearances this season (10-6-1). The Blue enter the action on Thursday as +146 home underdogs against a Panthers club coming off a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals.
Paul exited Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators in the first period due to an undisclosed ailment and will not play on Thursday. The 29-year-old Paul is averaging 16:23 time-on-ice and has 28 points (14G / 14A) in 46 games this season.
Cirelli played 22:25 time-on-ice in Tuesdays 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators, recording an assist and showing no signs of injury, but will not play on Thursday due to an upper-body injury. He has not been ruled out of Tampa Bay's upcoming back-to-back this weekend. The 27-year-old Cirelli is averaging 18:58 time-on-ice and has 40 points (19G / 21A) in 51 games this season.
Minnesota has been outscored 9-0 in their previous two games and will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Gustavsson struggled in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 52 shots (.885 SV%) in a 6-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators. After a tremendous start to the 2024-25 campaign, posting an impressive .926 SV% in his first 27 games (18-6-3), Gustavsson has a troubling .873 SV% in his last eight appearances (2-5-0). Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as +165 home underdogs against a Carolina squad amid a two-game losing skid (0-2-0).
Kemell was the 17th overall pick of the Predators in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old Finnish forward has yet to play an NHL game and has 25 points (9G / 16A) in 38 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.
Tampa Bay held on for a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators in their previous outing and will roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes in a rematch on Thursday. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has played well lately, posting a .937 SV% in his last seven games (4-2-1). He has a 2.31 GAA and .917 SV% through 40 games this season (22-15-3). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as -149 home favorites against an Ottawa team with wins in five of their last six (5-1-0).
Dickinson exited Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers after only 7:05 time-on-ice due to a high ankle sprain injury. The 29-year-old Dickinson had trouble leaving the ice and was seen in a walking boot following the game. He has 16 points (7G / 9A) in 53 games this season.
Ristolainen exited Sunday's 2-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche after 12:06 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury and has not played since but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. The 30-year-old defenseman is averaging 20:31 time-on-ice and has 15 points (2G / 13A) in 54 games this season.
Nemec started the season with the Devils but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 22 points (5G / 17A) in 32 games with the Utica Comets. The 20-year-old Slovak defenseman was the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
The Blue Jackets have lost two straight (0-2-0) and will hope for a better result on Thursday, with Merzlikins tending the twine against the Utah Hockey Club. Merzlikins has played well lately, posting a .919 SV% in his last eight games (5-3-0). The 30-year-old netminder has a 2.96 GAA and .894 SV% in 35 games this season (19-13-3). Columbus enters Thursday's contest as +140 home underdogs against a Utah team with points in three of their last four (1-1-2).
Werenski is battling a lower-body injury and could miss a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. Already without Sean Monahan (wrist) and Kirill Marchenko (jaw), the Blue Jackets can ill-afford to be without the elite offensive services of Werenski, who is having a Norris trophy caliber season, with 57 points (17G / 40A) in 53 games.
Daws was excellent in his season debut on Tuesday, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He will likely return to the crease for a second consecutive start on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. In 21 AHL games this season, Daws is 5-14-1 with a 3.40 GAA and .888 SV%. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as slight -100 home underdogs against a Golden Knights squad amid a four-game losing skid (0-2-2).
Pelletier will have to wait at least one more game before making his debut with the Flyers. Their next game will be on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 23-year-old Pelletier averaged 12:38 time-on-ice and had 11 points (4G / 7A) in 24 games with the Flames this season.
Kuzmenko will have to wait at least one more game before making his debut with the Flyers. Their next game will be on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kuzmenko broke onto the NHL scene in the 2022-23 season with a tremendous 74 points (39G / 35A) in 81 games with the Vancouver Canucks. The now 28-year-old has struggled to recapture that scoring prowess, with only 61 points (26G / 35A) in 109 games since.
The Flyers have been outscored 13-2 in their last four games (0-3-1) and will hope for a better fate on Thursday with Fedotov between the pipes against the Washington Capitals. The 28-year-old Fedotov allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders, and has a 3.21 GAA and .881 SV% in 16 appearances this season (4-7-3). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +130 home underdogs against a Capitals team with points in four straight (2-0-2).
Sheary was sent down to Syracuse (AHL) earlier this season, scoring 24 points (9G / 15A) in 31 games, his first stint in the AHL since breaking into the league in the 2015-16 season. The 32-year-old Sheary has 267 points (124G / 143A) in 592 career NHL games.
The Blue Jackets have lost two straight (0-2-0) and will hope for a better result on Thursday, with Merzlikins tending the twine against the Utah Hockey Club. Merzlikins has played well lately, posting a .919 SV% in his last eight games (5-3-0). The 30-year-old netminder has a 2.96 GAA and .894 SV% in 35 games this season (19-13-3). Columbus enters Thursday's contest as +140 home underdogs against a Utah team with points in three of their last four (1-1-2).
