Philp will skate on the fourth line as the Oilers opt for a more traditional lineup tonight of six defencemen and seven forwards. It's just his fourth NHL game of the season. Philp has nine goals and eights assists in 28 AHL games this season.
Ekholm has been a staple on Edmonton's blue line this season, averaging 22:51 time-on-ice, and will thankfully be available on Wednesday night. The 34-year-old defenseman has 18 points (6G / 12A) and 62 blocks in 43 games this season.
Jacob Bryson will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Samuelsson to return from a multi-game absence due to an illness. The 24-year-old Samuelsson is averaging 18:21 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 26 games this season.
The Hurricanes have struggled to find victories with Pyotr Kochetkov between the pipes lately, so they will turn to Tokarski for the third time in the past six games. The 35-year-old Tokarski was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 14 shots he faced for his third career shutout in a 2-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks. He has a 2.00 GAA and .907 SV% in five games this season (4-1-0). The Hurricanes enter Wednesday's contest as -197 road favorites against a Buffalo Sabres club coming off a 6-2 los
Luukkonen returns to the crease on Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 25-year-old Finnish netminder struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, but recorded a 35-save shutout in his previous contest, a 4-0 win over the Ottawa Senators. The Sabres enter Wednesday's contest as +159 home underdogs.
Laferriere played only 9:52 time-on-ice in the Kings' 1-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday and will not play on Thursday due to an upper-body injury. The 23-year-old forward is averaging 16:27 time-on-ice and has 26 points (13G / 13A) in 41 games this season.
DeMelo has been a regular in Winnipeg's lineup the past two weeks, averaging 15:21 time-on-ice in six games. The 26-year-old defenseman has been loaned to the Manitoba Moose (AHL), as Haydn Fleury and Colin Miller are both nearing returns from injuries.
Utah HC has lost four of their last five and will turn to Vejmelka between the pipes on Thursday against a New York Rangers team with points in five straight (3-0-2). Vejmelka struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has a 2.48 GAA and .912 SV% in 27 appearances this season (10-12-3).
With Tristan Jarry placed on waivers, Pittsburgh has recalled Blomqvist from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). The 23-year-old Blomqvist has a 2.93 GAA and .912 SV% in 12 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season (6-4-2). He was serviceable in a small sample at the NHL level earlier this season, posting a 3.60 GAA and .904 SV% in eight games (3-5-0).
Gatcomb made his NHL debut on Tuesday, playing 7:27 time-on-ice, filling in for Jean-Gabriel Pageau (illness). Gatcomb is an undrafted forward out of the University of Connecticut. The 25-year-old has 17 points (9G / 8A) in 34 games with the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL) this season.
Helenius has not played the previous five games for the Kings and was loaned to the Ontario Reign (AHL) on Tuesday before being recalled on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Helenius is averaging 8:33 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 21 games this season.
Lyon has battled several injuries this season and has not played since exiting a game after the first period on January 7th. The 32-year-old Lyon has a 2.71 GAA and .902 SV% in 16 games this season (8-5-0). The Red Wings have a back-to-back on January 18th and 19th, which could be a potential target for Lyon's return.
Motte was limited to 7:15 time-on-ice before exiting Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks with an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Motte has been in and out of the lineup this season but had played eight straight games. He has four points (2G / 2A) and 35 hits in 27 games this season.
Kuzmin was a third-round pick, 82nd overall, of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game. He has four points (1G / 3A) in 21 games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) this season.
Phillips played 33 games with the Blackhawks last season, scoring six points (0G / 6A), but has been limited to only three games with them this season, scoring one point (1G / 0A). The 23-year-old Phillips was a fifth-round pick of the Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying eight points (1G / 7A) in 28 games with the Rockford IceHogs.
Ekholm has been a staple on Edmonton's blue line this season, averaging 22:51 time-on-ice, his highest total in three seasons. The 34-year-old defenseman has 18 points (6G / 12A) and 62 blocks in 43 games this season.
Tavares is producing at another near point-per-game pace with 42 points (20G / 22A) in 43 games this season. That said, the veteran forward has been held off the scoresheet in three straight. An update on Tavares should be provided before the Maple Leafs return to action at home on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.
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.
