MacEwen has three points (2G / 1A) in 21 games this season and has only one point (0G / 1A) in his previous 19 contests. He returns to the Belleville Senators (AHL), where has has nine points (5G / 4A) in 14 contests this season.
Hintz exited Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs due to an undisclosed injury early in the first period after only 2:27 time-on-ice. The Stars, already without top-six forwards Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment, can ill-afford to lose Hintz's production for an extended period of time. The 28-year-old Hintz only has 27 points (19G / 8A) in 41 games this season but has been more productive lately, with 11 points (8G / 3A) in his last 14 games.
The red-hot Stars are 8-1-0 in their past nine games and will roll with Oettinger between the pipes on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. Oettinger was excellent in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%). The 26-year-old netminder has allowed two or fewer goals in five of his last six games (6-0-0), posting a stellar .930 SV%. The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -214 home favorites against a Canadiens club they defeated 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday.
Nathan Walker is expected to draw back into the Blues' lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, sending Saad to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Saad is averaging 14:37 time-on-ice and has 16 points (7G / 9A) in 39 games this season.
With Tyler Motte (upper body) sidelined, Fischer will return to Detroit's lineup for the first time since December 27th. The 27-year-old Fischer is averaging 11:28 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 31 games this season.
The Red Wings strayed away from Cam Talbot in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks, snapping their season-best seven-game winning streak, but will return to him between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Talbot was excellent in his previous outing, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. The 37-year-old Talbot has a 2.98 GAA and .903 SV% in 23 appearances this season (10-9-2). The Red Wings enter Thursday's contest as +203 road underdogs against a Panthers squad with points in four of their last five (3-1-1).
Shore began the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL but has been a regular in Minnesota's lineup the past several weeks. The 30-year-old forward is averaging 8:13 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in 25 games this season.
Before this season, Jones had only played two career NHL games but has found himself as a regular in Minnesota's lineup the past several weeks. The 25-year-old forward is averaging 8:23 time-on-ice and has zero points in 26 games this season.
Lauko has not played since December 14th but is likely nearing his return to the lineup after being activated from LTIR. The 24-year-old Czech forward is averaging 10:00 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 24 games this season.
Neighbours is battling an upper-body injury and could miss his first game of the season. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 16:26 time-on-ice and has 21 points (11G / 10A) in 45 games this season. He scored 27 goals 77 games last season but only has one goal in his past 13 contests.
Alexandre Texier will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Bolduc to re-enter the lineup. The 21-year-old Bolduc is averaging 12:20 time-on-ice and has 15 points (5G / 10A) in 37 games this season.
Zack Bolduc will draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, sending Texier to the press box as a healthy scratch. Texier is averaging 12:27 time-on-ice and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 24 games this season.
The Predators snapped a two-game losing skid on Tuesday with Justus Annunen between the pipes in a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights but will return to Saros on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Saros struggled in his most recent outing, allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. The 29-year-old Saros has a 2.78 GAA and .903 SV% in 33 appearances this season (9-18-6). The Predators enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -253 home favorites against a Blackhawks club amid a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).
The Blues will turn to Hofer between the pipes on Thursday when they host the Calgary Flames. The 24-year-old Hofer was excellent in his previous outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. He has a 2.86 GAA and .902 SV% in 15 games this season (9-4-1). The Blues enter Thursday's contest as -137 home favorites against a Flames squad that they defeated 2-1 on Tuesday.
The Jets have outscored their opposition 9-1 during a two-game winning streak and will likely roll with Hellebucyk between the pipes on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. Hellebuyck has been tremendous all season and is essentially a shoo-in for the Vezina trophy at the midway point of the season, posting an immaculate 1.99 GAA, .929 SV%, and six shutouts in 35 games (27-6-2). The Jets enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -206 home favorites against a Kraken team coming off a 4-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Sharks snapped the Detroit Red Wings' seven-game winning streak with a 6-3 win on Tuesday and will attempt to snap the Blue Jackets' five-game winning streak on Thursday with Georgiev tending the twine. The 28-year-old Georgiev has allowed three or fewer goals in three straight (1-2-0), posting a .916 SV%. He has a 3.44 GAA and .879 SV% in 26 appearances this season (10-13-0). The Sharks enter the action on Thursday as +149 road underdogs against the Blue Jackets.
Olle Lycksell will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the New York Islanders, allowing Farabee to re-enter the lineup. The 24-year-old Farabee is averaging 15:20 time-on-ice and has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 42 games this season.
Lycksell played the previous three games for the Flyers but will return to being a healthy scratch on Thursday against the New York Islanders, with Joel Farabee drawing back into the lineup. The 25-year-old Lycksell has spent most of the season in the AHL, tallying 24 points (9G / 15A) in 25 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
The Flyers will attempt to extend their point streak to four games (2-0-1), with Ersson tending the twine on Thursday against the New York Islanders. Ersson has played well lately, allowing three or fewer goals in five straight outings (4-1-0), posting a terrific .939 SV%. The 25-year-old netminder has a 2.87 GAA and .887 SV% in 22 appearances this season (11-7-2). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +120 road underdogs against an Islanders club that has only scored twice in their last two games (1-1-0).
McCabe has not played since being injured in a fight with Philadelphia's Garnet Hathaway on January 5th. The 31-year-old McCabe has been a steadying force on Toronto's blue line and is averaging 20:52 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (1G / 10A), 68 blocks, and 72 hits in 36 games this season.
