Doughty made his season debut on Wednesday, returning from a 47-game absence due to ankle surgery, and could miss Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning as he acclimates back to game-speed. Over the last two seasons, Doughty averaged nearly 26:00 TOI/GP. In 82 games in 2023-24, he had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIMs, and a +15 plus/minus.
The Jets will likely turn to Hellebuyck between the pipes on Thursday in a meeting with the Boston Bruins. Hellebuyck was stellar, as he has been all season, in his most recent outing, saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. The 31-year-old Hellebuyck is sporting a terrific 2.00 GAA and .927 SV% through 40 games this season (31-7-2). The Jets enter Thursday's contest as -145 road favorites against a Bruins squad coming off a 7-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
The Kings failed to score on Wednesday, losing 3-0 to the Florida Panthers, and will turn to Rittich between the pipes on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Rittich struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 32 shots (.844 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Czech netminder has a 2.65 GAA and .884 SV% in 22 appearances this season (11-10-0). The Kings enter Thursday's contest as +130 road underdogs against a Lightning squad with losses in four of their last five games (1-4-0).
Fasching has not played since January 5th due to an upper-body injury and will spend some time in the AHL on a conditioning stint. Before his injury, the 29-year-old Fasching averaged 8:56 time-on-ice and had yet to score a point through 19 games this season.
Alex Wennberg is battling an upper-body injury and will not play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, creating an open roster spot for Grundstrom to slide into the lineup. The 27-year-old Grundstrom has five points (1G / 4A) in 33 games this season.
Wennberg is battling an upper-body injury and will not play on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 30-year-old forward is averaging 18:14 time-on-ice and has 23 points (8G / 15A) in 52 games this season. Carl Grundstrom will draw into San Jose's lineup as Wennberg's replacement.
Nichushkin was listed as day-to-day after suffering his injury on January 1st but suffered a setback last week, downgrading his status to week-to-week. Assuming no further setbacks, Nichushkin will miss five more games before returning against the Nashville Predators on February 22nd when the NHL resumes from its two-week hiatus for the Four Nations tournament. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.
Granlund did not practice on Wednesday but will be available for Thursday's game against the Seattle Kraken. The 32-year-old Granlund has had a productive second season in San Jose, tallying 44 points (15G / 29A) in 51 games. He has seven points (3G / 4A) in his last five contests.
Stecher has played six straight but will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 30-year-old Stecher is averaging 13:51 time-on-ice and has six points (3G / 3A) in 43 games this season.
Skinner was not available in Monday's 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, attending to the birth of his child, but he will return to the crease on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 26-year-old Skinner was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 39 of 41 shots (.951 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Skinner has been terrific lately, posting a .920 SV% in his last 19 games (13-5-1). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -258 home favorites against a Red Wings squad riding a three-game winning streak.
The Golden Knights surrendered a two-goal lead in an eventual 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday and will revert to Samsonov between the pipes on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 30-year-old Samsonov has a 2.78 GAA and .893 SV% in 19 games (12-6-1). He has lost three of his last four outings (1-3-0), posting an ugly .852 SV%. The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -290 home favorites against a Blue Jackets squad with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10.
Seattle has been outscored 10-6 during a two-game losing skid and will turn to Daccord between the pipes on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old Daccord has a solid 2.45 GAA and .916 SV% in 33 appearances this season (17-12-2). Seattle enters Thursday's contest as sizeable -191 home favorites against a Sharks squad coming off a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Blue Jackets are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Kings when Merzlikins saved 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%). Merzlikins will return to the crease on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights, looking to improve his 2.95 GAA and .894 SV% through 32 games (18-11-3). The 30-year-old netminder has been solid lately, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (5-1-0), posting a .925 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter the action on Thursday as +252 road underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has lost six of their last eight (2-4-2).
Florida acquired Boqvist in the offseason with hopes of having him rediscover the offensive pedigree that led him to being the eighth-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Unfortunately for both parties, Boqvist struggled to establish himself with the Panthers, averaging 12:51 time-on-ice and scoring six points (2G / 4A) while being limited to only 18 games.
Grubauer struggled on Tuesday night, allowing five goals on 22 shots (.773 SV%) in a 6-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, a common trend in his tenure with the Seattle Kraken. Before joining the expansion Kraken in the 2021-22 season, Grubauer has an impressive 2.34 GAA and .920 SV% in 214 career games (109-61-21). Since joining Seattle, he has been consistently unreliable, posting a 3.10 GAA and .890 SV% in 151 games (54-76-12). The 33-year-old Grubauer has not played an AHL game since the 2014-15 season with the Hershey Bears.
Jones has played seven games with the Bruins this season but has primarily spent the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 26-year-old forward has 11 points (8G / 3A) in 26 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL) this season.
Burke played six games with the Golden Knights this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The undrafted 27-year-old has 13 points (7G / 6A) in 34 games this season with the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL).
Seattle has been outscored 10-6 during a two-game losing skid and will turn to Daccord between the pipes on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old Daccord has a solid 2.45 GAA and .916 SV% in 33 appearances this season (17-12-2). Seattle enters Thursday's contest as sizeable -191 home favorites against a Sharks squad coming off a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Evans was a game-time decision over the weekend but did not miss any time and will now miss Thursday's game vs. San Jose with an upper-body injury. The 23-year-old Evans has 21 points (5G / 16A) in 50 games this season and is now considered day-to-day. Cale Fleury will draw into the lineup as Evans' replacement.
Fleury played two games with Seattle earlier this season but has primarily been in the AHL, recording 16 points (6G / 10A) in 28 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The 26-year-old defenseman has two points (1G / 1A) in 65 career NHL games. Ryker Evans (undisclosed) will be the odd man out of the lineup to accommodate Fleury's return.
