Kempe was a late scratch in Monday's win over the New York Rangers due to a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old forward has found instant chemistry since Artemi Panarin joined the team, scoring 12 points (6G / 6A) in 10 games.
The Flyers have relied heavily on Dan Vladar since returning from the Olympic break, but they will turn to Ersson, who has played well lately, on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old Ersson saved 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals, and has saved 47 of the last 50 shots he's faced (.940 SV%) across three appearances (2-0-0). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +149 road underdogs against a Kings team coming off a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers.
Stenlund will draw right back into the lineup after missing Monday's game in Dallas with a lower-body injury. Brandon Tanev will sit in his place.
Tanev will immediately exit the lineup after drawing in for Monday's game in Dallas. Kevin Stenlund will dress in his place.
Vasilevskiy will get the nod between the pipes for the 47th time this season when the Lightning travel to Vancouver on Thursday. The former Vezina Trophy winner secured his league-leading 31st victory of the season on Tuesday, stopping 16 of the 18 shots he faced in a 6-2 win in Seattle. Vasilevskiy boasts an impressive .913 SV% and 2.30 GAA on the season. He's a good bet to stay in the win column on Thursday, as the Lightning enter action at -330 on the money line.
Nedeljkovic has played well lately, but had a rough night in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. With Yaroslav Askarov (lower body) sidelined, the Sharks have relied heavily on the 30-year-old Nedeljkovic, who has a 2.32 GAA and .923 SV% in his last 10 games (6-3-1). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as +121 home underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team with just one loss in their last 11 games (10-1-0).
Vejmelka will make his league-leading 53rd start of the season tonight after a rare night off on Monday. Utah's workhorse netminder has struggled a bit of late, going 0-2-1 with an .842 SV% in his last three starts. Despite the small cold streak, he still owns an impressive 30-18-3 record on the season. Vejmelka will be tested once again this evening, as the Mammoth enter action as slight underdogs at +110 on the money line.
Kapanen has already missed 41 games this season due to a myriad of ailments but thankfully will be available for Thursday's game against the Florida Panthers. The 29-year-old Finnish forward was not at Edmonton's morning skate on Thursday. He has 15 points (7G / 8A) in 28 games this season.
Juuse Saros (upper-body) is unavailable for Thursday's game against the Kraken, so the Preds recalled Murray to serve as Justus Annunen's backup. Murray is yet to appear in an NHL game this season. He owns a 17-17-2 record and a .908 SV% across 37 AHL starts.
Saros was originally the projected starter for Thursday's game against the Kraken, but is ultimately unavailable due to an upper-body injury. He is considered day-to-day. Justus Annunen will get the start on Thursday while Matt Murray serves as his backup.
Annunen will get a surprise start on Thursday, as starter Juuse Saros is unavailable due to an upper-body injury. Annunen was unfortunate to take the loss in his last start, allowing two goals on 29 shots in a 3-1 loss in Edmonton on Sunday. The 25-year-old netminder owns a 6-9-2 record and an .888 SV% on the season. Annunen and the Predators enter action on Thursday at -135 on the money line.
Daccord will make his 41st start of the campaign when the Kraken head to Nashville to take on the Predators on Thursday. Daccord turned in a solid performance in his last outing, allowing just two goals on 25 shots in a 6-2 win over the Panthers on Sunday. The 29-year-old netminder owns a 19-16-5 record and .901 SV% on the season. Daccord and the Kraken enter action on Thursday at +115 on the money line.
Grzelcyk will slot right back into the Hawks lineup after serving as a healthy scrtach for the first time this season on Tuesday. Sam Lafferty will sit in his place.
Lafferty will take a seat on Thursday as the Blackhawks opt to dress an extra defenceman. Matt Grzelcyk will dress in his place.
Knight will get the call between the pipes for the 46th time this season when the Blackhawks travel to Minnesota on Thursday. Knight was tagged with his ninth overtime loss of the season in his last start, allowing four goals on the 37 shots he faced against the Wild on Tuesday. He brings a 17-19-9 record and a .907 SV% into Tuesday night's rematch, where the Blackhawks enter action at +185 on the money line.
Kaprizov was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Wild only announcing his absence minutes before warmups. The Wild added that he is day-to-day with the injury, and we should get an update on his status ahead of their game against the Stars on Saturday.
Leonard will be take a seat on Thursday in order to make way for Andrew Copp's return from a lower-body injury. Leonard has two goals and two assists in 11 games this season.
Already without Dylan Larkin (lower body), the Red Wings' depth at center has struggled even more with Copp sidelined for the last week. That said, Red Wings' Head Coach Todd McLellan had reassuring news on Wednesday, indicating that Copp will play on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens.
