Parker Wotherspoon will draw into the lineup on Thursday, replacing Shattenkirk, who will be a healthy scratch for the third time in the last four games. Shattenkirk was limited to only 13:21 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and has been in that range for the last several weeks while seeing deployment on the third defensive pair.
Kevin Shattenkirk will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Wohterspoon to draw back into the lineup. Wotherspoon last played on February 10th, registering a whopping eight hits in 19:36 time-on-ice.
Connor Ingram suffered an injury on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild and did not complete the contest. Luckily for the Coyotes, Ingram's injury is not expected to be long-term. Villalta has a 2.58 GAA and .913 SV% in 34 games (22-11-1) with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL) this season and will serve as the backup to Karel Vejmelka in the interim.
Vasilevskiy will start for the third straight game on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, a repeat of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. The 29-year-old Vasilevskiy has been extremely consistent lately, allowing three or fewer goals in 11 straight (9-2-0), posting a solid .917 SV%. Tampa Bay is a slight -109 home favourite against a Colorado club that snapped a four-game losing streak on Tuesday with a 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals.
Despite Igor Shesterkin recording a shutout on Monday and having three days before their next game, the Rangers will turn to Quick between the pipes for the fourth time in their last five games. The 38-year-old Quick has been tremendous lately, allowing two or fewer goals in three straight (3-0-0) and posting a stellar .951 SV%. The Rangers, riding a five-game winning streak, are sizeable -245 home favourites against the Montreal Canadiens, the sixth worst offensive team in the league (2.75 GF / GP).
Korpisalo had the night off on Tuesday, a 6-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, but will likely return to the crease on Thursday as the Senators attempt to extend their four-game winning streak. Korpisalo has been excellent lately, winning three straight while allowing three or fewer goals in each and posting a .935 SV%. The Senators are sizeable -202 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks squad that was limited to only 13 shots on goal in their last contest, a 5-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
With Vitek Vanecek recovering from a lower-body injury, Daws was thrust into starting on back-to-back nights earlier this week and will start again on Thursday. Despite an up-and-down campaign, Daws played phenomenally with two games in 24 hours (2-0-0), saving 57 of 60 shots (.950 SV%). Daws will look to continue his hot hand as the Devils are -112 home favourites against a Los Angeles club that was defeated 7-0 by the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and is 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.
Tavares, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner were all absent from practice on Wednesday due to illness but could be ready to go after returning to practice on Thursday. Tavares has six points (3G / 3A) in his last four games after being held without a point in his previous nine.
Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander were all absent from practice on Wednesday due to illness but could be ready to go after returning to practice on Thursday. Marner has six points (2G / 4A) in his last four games.
Nylander, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner were all absent from practice on Wednesday due to illness but could be ready to go after returning to practice on Thursday. Nylander has five points (3G / 2A) in his last four games.
The veteran winger has not played a game yet this season after being placed on injured reserve in mid-October. After several down seasons, Arvidsson has refound his game as a Los Angeles King, scoring 108 points (46G / 62A) in 143 games over the previous two seasons. He returned to practice last week and could make his season debut as early as Thursday night after being activated off the Injured Reserve on Thursday.
Poulter has signed a two-year, entry-level contract worth $1.625 million ($812,500 AAV) with the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. The 22-year-old undrafted goaltender has spent the entire season between Utica's (AHL) pipes and has an impressive 14-6-1 record, 2.68 GAA and .909 SV%.
Guenette made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with the Senators. The 22-year-old Guenette was the Senators' seventh-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has 23 points (4G / 19A) in 41 games with the Belleville Senators (AHL) this season.
Guentzel left Wednesday's contest vs. Florida late in the third period after 18:30 TOI due to an upper-body injury and is being evaluated post-game. The 29-year-old is one of the Penguins' top trade pieces coming into the March deadline and will hope to have him back as they are in the middle of a back-to-back with a game on Thursday. He is currently tied for the team lead in points with 52 (22G/30A) in 50 games played this season.
Hellebuyck snapped a three-game losing skid in his last outing, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and will return to the crease on Wednesday night. The 30-year-old Hellebuyck has been amongst the league leaders all season, boasting a stellar 2.19 GAA and .925 SV% through 37 games (24-10-3). He is poised for a strong performance on Wednesday as the Jets are overwhelming -444 home favourites against the league's lowest-scoring team, the San Jose Sharks (2.08 GF / GP).
Couturier becomes the Flyers' 20th captain in franchise history and the first since Claude Giroux was traded in the 2021-22 season. The 12-year-veteran has spent his entire career in Philadelphia, amassing 191 goals and 302 assists in 771 regular season games, and has been an alternate captain for the team since the 2019-20 season. The team also announced Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton will be the team's full-time alternate captains moving forward.
The New York Rangers will continue to dip into their wealth of minor talent as they called up their eighth forward of the season from Hartford (AHL) in Alex Belzile on Wednesday. The 32-year-old winger last appeared in the NHL in 2022-23 with Montreal where he had 14 points (6G/8A) in 31 games. He will serve as a 13th forward for the time being for the Rangers.
Gallagher was handed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of New York's Adama Pelech on January 25th and was suspended for five games. The 31-year-old's frustration boiled over as he is in the midst of another disappointing season with only eight goals, eight assists 103 SOG, 47 PIMs and a -21 plus/minus in 48 games played this season.
Theodore has not played since mid-November after undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. Theodore was pacing for the most productive season of his career with 18 points (4G / 14A) in 20 games and will likely draw back onto the top powerplay unit upon his return. Head coach Bruce Cassidy stated "I think next week is probably more realistic" in regards to his return.
