Helleson will slot right back into the lineup after sitting out Monday's game against the Maple Leafs. Helleson will take the place of Pavel Mintyukov, who is out with a lower-body injury.
Dellandrea will slot into the lineup in place of Igor Chernyshov, who is out with an illness. Dellandrea has two goals and nine assists in 42 games this season.
Mintyukov just recently returned to the lineup after missing time with a lower-body injury, but will be sidelined again on Wednesday. The 22-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:26 time-on-ice and has 20 points (8G / 12A) in 68 games this season.
Chernyshov recently made his return from a multi-game absence due to concussion, but will return to the sidelines on Wednesday due to an illness. The 20-year-old Chernyshov has been productive in a small sample size during his first NHL season, scoring 14 points (5G / 9A) in 20 games.
Dostal has played well lately, but is coming off a 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers despite saving 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%). The 25-year-old Czech goalie will look to begin April the way he ended March, with a solid 2.60 GAA and .914 SV% in his last five games (3-1-1). The Ducks enter Wednesday's contest as slight -107 road favourites against a San Jose Sharks team that has gone 2-0-1 in its last three games, keeping itself within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
Blackwood is coming off a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, allowing three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%), and will look to rebound on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old Blackwood has been protected defensively lately, facing fewer than 25 shots in 10 consecutive appearances (5-3-0), which has translated to a pedestrian 2.77 GAA and .868 SV%. Colorado enters Wednesday's contest as an enormous -450 home favourite against a Vancouver team that has been outscored 29-11 during a six-game losing streak (0-6-0).
Forsberg will make his 26th start of the season when the Kings host the Blues on Wednesday. The 33-year-old netminder will be looking to secure his first victory since March 9th after going winless in his last three appearances. Forsberg carries an 11-11-5 record and a .902 SV% into Wednesday night's matchup, where the Kings enter action at -140 on the money line.
Jiricek was drafted sixth-overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but has had trouble being a permanent fixture at the NHL level. The 22-year-old defenseman has been traded twice in the last two years, with stints in Columbus, Minnesota, and now Philadelphia. He has yet to play a game with the Flyers, but has been effective at the AHL level, scoring 10 points (2G / 8A) in 10 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Hovorka made his NHL debut earlier this season, recording a -3 plus/minus in 11:27 time-on-ice. The undrafted 24-year-old Czech defenseman has 16 points (4G / 12A) this season in 53 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).
Bjornfot was drafted 22nd overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft but has struggled to make his presence felt at the NHL level. The 24-year-old defenseman has 12 points (4G / 8A) in 32 games this season with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).
Dellandrea has battled some injuries this season and has been sidelined since early January due to a lower-body injury, but he has been an effective bottom-six forward when healthy. The 25-year-old Dellandrea is averaging 14:24 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (2G / 9A) and 117 hits in 42 games this season. He signed a two-year contract worth $1.625 million AAV ($3.25M total) three weeks ago.
Strbak is a Slovak-born defenseman that was just awarded a three-year, entry-level contract after completing his third season of collegiate hockey. The 20-year-old 45th-overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft had 18 points (3G / 15A) in 37 games this season with Michigan State University.
Frederic has not played in nearly two weeks due to an undisclosed injury, but he will return on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 28-year-old Frederic is averaging 10:45 time-on-ice, recording six points (4G / 2A), a -16 plus/minus, and 170 hits in 67 games this season.
The Blues have predominantly relied on Joel Hofer in recent weeks as they've made their late-season push for a playoff spot, but after a poor performance in Monday's 5-4 loss to the San Jose Sharks, the team will revert to their veteran netminder, Jordan Binnington. The 32-year-old Binnington was solid in his most recent outing, albeit lightly tested, saving 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had an impressive 1.62 GAA and .921 SV% in five games (4-1-0) in March. The Blues enter Wednesday's contest as +124 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that is also battling for a Wild Card spot despite losing five of their last six games (1-2-3).
Mangiapane has not played in nearly two weeks, but could be an option during Chicago's upcoming three-game road trip. The Edmonton Oilers signed Mangiapane in the off-season to provide some depth scoring, but after tallying just 14 points (7G / 7A) and a -19 plus/minus in 52 games, he was dealt to the Blackhawks in a trade. Through seven games with Chicago, the 29-year-old Mangiapane has two points (1G / 1A) and a -3 plus/minus.
Gudas returned from a one-game absence due to an injury on Monday, playing 7:05 time-on-ice and recording 17 penalty minutes in a 5-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he will return to the sidelines on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks. The 35-year-old Czech defenseman is averaging 16:18 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (2G / 11A), and 160 hits in 55 games this season.
With Cutter Gauthier (upper body) out of the lineup on Wednesday, the Ducks will turn to Gaucher to draw in for his NHL debut. The 22-year-old Gaucher was drafted 22nd-overall by the Ducks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He has 26 points (12G / 14A) in 57 games this season with the San Diego Dulls (AHL).
With Victor Mancini (undisclosed) sidelined on Wednesday, Joseph will re-enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Joseph is averaging 13:26 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 27 games this season.
With Evander Kane (undisclosed) out of the lineup on Wednesday, Sasson will re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Sasson is averaging 11:36 time-on-ice and has 15 points (11G / 4A) in 60 games this season.
Askarov has battled through injuries recently and completed his first full game in nearly three weeks on Tuesday, saving 22 of 26 shots (.846 SV%) in a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Blues. Askarov was far from stellar in his return to action, but came up big when called upon, helping the Sharks stay within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Sharks will need Askarov to make timely saves again on Wednesday, entering the action as slight -103 home underdogs against an Anaheim Ducks team on a two-game losing streak (0-1-1).
