Eklund was absence from practice on Wednesday and his status for Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins is up in the air. The 23-year-old Swedish forward has 38 points (11G / 27A) in 58 games this season, but has been held off the scoresheet in three straight.
With Spencer Knight returning from a multi-game absence due to an illness, Chicago has reassigned Commesso to Rockford (AHL). The 23-year-old Commesso has spent most of the season in the AHL, but has been serviceable in limited action with the Blackhawks, posting a 2.31 GAA and .918 SV% in three games (2-1-0).
With Timothy Liljegren drawing into Washington's lineup for his team debut on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, Chisholm will be sent to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Chisholm is averaging 13:44 time-on-ice and has seven points (1G / 6A) in 26 games this season.
Washington acquired Timothy Liljegren from San Jose for a 2026 4th round pick before the trade deadline and will make his Capitals debut on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Liljegren was acquired mid-season by the San Jose Sharks in 2024-25, but his stay was short lived after being dealt to the Washington ahead of the 2025-26 deadline. The 26-year-old defenseman averaged 20:08 time-on-ice and scored 11 points (1G / 10A) in 43 games with San Jose this season.
Caufield was limited to 10:27 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, leaving the game due to an illness, but is fighting to be in the lineup when the team returns to action on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old Caufield is pacing for career-bests in all major offensive categories this season, scoring 64 points (37G / 27A) through 63 games.
Fowler had a brief stint with Montreal earlier this season in an attempt to rejuvenate a weak crease, but the team's struggles have continued, which may have awarded Fowler another opportunity. The 21-year-old Fowler has been playing with Laval (AHL) since mid-January, but he was serviceable in limited action with Montreal, posting a 2.62 GAA and .902 SV% in 10 games (4-4-2). He was recalled by Montreal on Wednesday and will return to the crease against a surging Ottawa Senators team that is 7-1-2 in its last 10 games.
Schmaltz has become a reliable top-six forward in recent seasons and has been awarded a massive eight-year contract extension. The 30-year-old forward has scored over 50 points and at least 20 goals in each of his previous four seasons. He currently is pacing for career bests in all major offensive categories this season, with 59 points (24G / 35A) through 65 games.
Thompson has played exceptionally since returning from the Olympic break, but a lack of offence from Washington has limited him to a 2-3-0 record, despite posting a solid 2.23 GAA and .914 SV% in five outings. The 29-year-old Thompson will return to the crease on Wednesday against a Philadelphia Flyers team that he was nearly perfect against less than three weeks ago, saving 24 of 25 shots (.958 SV%) in a 3-1 victory. The Capitals enter Wednesday's action as -127 road favourites against the Flyers.
Knight has not played since March 3rd due to illness, and the Blackhawks have been alternating between Arvid Soderblom and Drew Commesso. Knight is healthy and will be back with the Blackhawks on Thursday vs. Utah.
Ullmark has battled some adversity in recent games, allowing four or more goals twice in his last three, but has salvaged a 2-0-1 record despite posting a subpar 3.29 GAA and .872 SV%. That said, the 32-year-old Swedish goalie has played reasonably well since returning from a multi-week personal leave of absence in late January, posting a 2.41 GAA and .896 SV% in seven games (5-0-2). The Senators enter Wednesday's contest as -190 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team with points in three straight games (2-0-1).
Ersson has not played much since returning from the Olympic break, limited to just one start, but he was solid in that outing, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers. That said, consistency has been an issue with Ersson, who has an ugly 3.54 GAA and .863 SV% in his last 10 appearances (3-4-1). The Flyers enter the action on Wednesday as slight +108 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that is coming off a 7-3 win over the Calgary Flames to snap a three-game losing streak.
Garnet Hathaway will re-enter Philadelphia's lineup on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals, resulting in Glendening being a healthy scratch. The 36-year-old Glendening has one assist and is averaging 11:16 time-on-ice through two games with Philadelphia.
Luke Glendening will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals, allowing Hathaway to re-enter the lineup. The 34-year-old Hathaway is averaging 10:10 time-on-ice, recording two points (1G / 1A), 59 penalty minutes, and 198 hits in 53 games this season.
Thomas tallied two assists before leaving Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders in the third period due to an upper-body injury, but he should be ready to suit up when St. Louis returns to action on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 26-year-old Thomas is producing at an impressive rate after starting the 2025-26 season off slowly, scoring 12 points (5G / 7A) during a seven-game point streak.
Powell was a fifth-round pick of the Flyers in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, who has yet to make his professional debut. The 21-year-old forward spent the 2025-26 season playing collegiate hockey with Arizona State University, scoring 12 points (7G / 5A) in 34 games.
Ersson has not played much since returning from the Olympic break, limited to just one start, but he was solid in that outing, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers. That said, consistency has been an issue with Ersson, who has an ugly 3.54 GAA and .863 SV% in his last 10 appearances (3-4-1). The Flyers enter the action on Wednesday as slight +108 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that is coming off a 7-3 win over the Calgary Flames to snap a three-game losing streak.
Caufield was limited to 10:27 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, leaving the game due to an illness, but is anticipated to be in the lineup when the team returns to action on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old Caufield is pacing for career-bests in all major offensive categories this season, scoring 64 points (37G / 27A) through 63 games.
Fowler had a brief stint with Montreal earlier this season in an attempt to rejuvenate a weak crease, but the team's struggles have continued, which may have awarded Fowler another opportunity. The 21-year-old Fowler has been playing with Laval (AHL) since mid-January, but he was serviceable in limited action with Montreal, posting a 2.62 GAA and .902 SV% in 10 games (4-4-2).
Initially hopeful to be an option on Detroit's four-game road trip, Larkin's return seems to be delayed until at least March 16th, when the team returns home to host the Calgary Flames. Andrew Copp (lower body) also suffered an injury on Tuesday, adding to the Red Wings' current lack of center depth.
Already without Dylan Larkin (lower body), the Red Wings' depth at center took another hit on Tuesday, with Copp exiting Detroit's 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers after just 10:01 time-on-ice. The 31-year-old Copp recorded an assist before leaving the game, giving him four points (0G / 4A) in his last five outings. The severity of Copp's injury remains unclear, but he is not expected to play on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
