Helenius will slot in for captain Anze Kopitar, who is out with an undisclosed injury. It's a season debut for Helenius, who appeared in 50 games with the Kings last season, tallying 4 goals and 3 assists.
Anze Kopitar is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and was not at practice on Wednesday. In the self-proclaimed final season of his career, the 38-year-old Kopitar is off to a hot start with four points (0G / 4A) in his first four games.
Andersen will get the nod against his former team when the Hurricanes travel to Anaheim to take on the Ducks on Thursday. Freddie picked up the win in his last start, stopping 20 of the 23 shots he faced in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Flyers. He's a great bet to stay in the win column on Thursday as the Hurricanes enter action at -190 on the money line.
The Canucks are off to a 1-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season but have received stellar play from Demko, who will return to the crease on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old Demko has an impressive 1.54 GAA and .944 SV% through two games this season (1-1-0). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +146 road underdogs against an undefeated Stars team that is outscoring its opposition 15-10 through three games this season (3-0-0).
Lycksell will be the odd-man out when the Senators host the Kraken on Thursday. Arthur Kaliyev will dress in his place.
Kaliyev will make his Senators debut on Thursday when they host the Kraken. The 23-year-old winger appeared in 14 games for the Rangers last season, tallying three goals and one assist.
Brodzinski will be the odd-man out when the Rangers travel to Toronto on Thursday to take on the Maple Leafs. Juuso Parssinen will dress in his place.
Parssinen picked up an assist in his only other appearance of the season while seeing less than 10 minutes of ice time. Jonny Brodzinski will sit in his place.
Grubauer will occupy Seattle's crease for the first time this season when the team visits the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. The 33-year-old Grubauer has shown little value since joining Seattle in the 2021-22 season, posting an ugly 3.07 GAA and .890 SV% in 156 combined appearances (57-78-12). Grubauer had a career-worst 3.49 GAA and .875 SV% in 26 games last season (8-17-1), in addition to a seven-game stint where he was demoted to the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL). Seattle enters the action on Thursday as +127 road underdogs against an Ottawa Senators team coming off an 8-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres last night.
Koepke exited Monday's contest against the New York Islanders after only 2:50 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old Koepke recorded his first point of the season, an assist, before suffering the injury.
Fleury departed Saturday's game after taking a shot off the "side of the kneecap" according to head coach Scott Arniel. The 29-year-old Fleury did not play in Winnipeg's following game but appears set to return on Thursday.
Hellebuyck, the two-time reigning Vezina Trophy winner, has played only two games this season, both with contrasting results. The 32-year-old netminder allowed five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Dallas Stars, which he followed up by saving 30 of 32 (.938 SV%) in his next outing, a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Hellebuyck and the Jets will look for more consistency on Thursday, entering their contest against the Philadelphia Flyers as -134 road favourites.
Borgen showed no signs of an injury in Tuesday's 2-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, playing a season-high 20:32 time-on-ice, but did not participate in practice on Wednesday. His status for Thursday's game against the New York Rangers was up in the air, but it appears he will be able to suit up after taking full part in warmups.
The Rangers will turn to the red-hot Shesterkin for the fifth time already this season when they travel to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Shesterkin was unfortunate to be tagged with the loss despite another stellar outing in his last start, allowing just a single goal on 21 shots in a 2-0 loss to the Oilers. The former Vezina Trophy winner owns a ridiculous .972 SV% and 0.76 GAA through his first four starts of the season. The Rangers enter action on Thursday at +120 on the money line.
The Oilers will turn to Skinner between the pipes for the third time this season when they travel to Long Island on Thursday. Skinner was spectacular in his last outing, stopping all 30 shots he faced in a 2-0 shutout win over the Rangers on Tuesday. He's a good bet to stay in the win column on Thursday, as the Oilers enter action at -165 on the money line.
Johnson played three games with the Sabres but has been reassigned to the Rochester Americans (AHL), where he spent most of the 2024-25 season. The Sabres recalled Zach Metsa in a corresponding move.
Metsa is an undrafted 26-year-old defenseman that has yet to make his NHL debut. He has spent the previous three seasons primarily in the AHL playing for the Rochester Americans, including scoring 46 points (7G / 39A) in 69 games last season.
Olivier-Joseph split time last season between the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins, averaging 15:16 time-on-ice and scoring three points (0G / 3A) in 47 games. The 26-year-old defenseman will add some depth to the Canucks' blueline as he inches closer to his season debut.
Tkachuk exited Monday's game against the Nashville Predators after only 13:53 time-on-ice. The Senators announced on Thursday that Tkachuk underwent successful surgery on his right thumb and will be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks, a devastating blow for the team's offense. The 26-year-old Tkachuk scored points (0G / 3A) through three games this season prior to his injury.
Kemell was the 17th overall pick of the Predators in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old Finnish forward played two games for the Predators this season but has been reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL).
