Del Gaizo has split time this season between Nashville and Milwaukee (AHL). The 25-year-old defenseman has already played a career-high 21 games with Nashville this season, scoring three points (0G / 3A).
The Canadiens have outscored the opposition 9-2 during a two-game winning streak and will roll with Montembeault between the pipes on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old Montembeault was tremendous in his previous outing, saving all 20 shots he faced, recording his fourth shutout of the season in an impressive 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old Montembeault has a 2.90 GAA and .899 SV% in 44 games this season (20-21-3). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -210 home favorites against a Sharks club amid a six-game losing skid (0-4-2).
The Capitals are coming off a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames and will switch to Lindgren between the pipes on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. Lindgren was serviceable in his most recent outing, saving 22 of 25 shots (.880 SV%) in a 7-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. The 31-year-old goalie has a 2.64 GAA and .899 SV% in 26 games this season (13-9-3). The Capitals enter the action on Thursday as -157 home favorites against a Blues team with points in four straight (3-0-1).
Tampa Bay has been firing on all cylinders lately, outscoring their opposition 28-12 during a six-game winning streak. They will likely roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has been outstanding lately, returning to Vezina form, posting an immaculate 1.79 GAA and .944 SV% in his last nine games (7-1-1). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as sizeable -211 home favorites against a Calgary squad with points in three straight games (2-0-1).
The struggling Penguins have been outscored 22-9 during a four-game losing skid and will turn to Nedeljkovic between the pipes on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 29-year-old Nedeljkovic had a forgetful night on Tuesday, allowing six goals on 38 shots (.842 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the Flyers. The Penguins enter Thursday's rematch as slight -106 home favorites against a Flyers squad riding a three-game winning streak.
Hudson Fasching (upper body) will return from a multi-week absence, sending Engvall to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Engvall is averaging 11:07 time-on-ice and has eight points (4G / 4A) in 40 games this season.
Fasching has not played an NHL since January 5th due to an upper-body injury and will draw back into the lineup after a brief conditioning stint in Bridgeport (AHL). Before his injury, the 29-year-old Fasching averaged 8:56 time-on-ice and had yet to score a point through 19 games this season.
Bunting had become a fixture on Pittsburgh's top powerplay unit but will unfortunately be sidelined indefinitely after undergoing an appendectomy. The 29-year-old Bunting has 29 points (14G / 15A) and a -18 plus/minus rating in 58 games this season.
Luostarinen did not play against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, tending to the birth of his child. The 26-year-old Luostarinen is averaging 15:17 time-on-ice and has 20 points (8G / 12A) in 58 games this season.
With Ottawa battling a series of key injuries up front, Jenik drew into the lineup on Wednesday, playing 7:51 time-on-ice in a 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 24-year-old Czech forward has six points (2G / 6A) in 24 career NHL games.
With Ottawa battling several key injuries up front, Crookshank made his season debut on Wednesday, playing 14:04 time-on-ice in a 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 25-year-old fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft had spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 33 points (18G / 15A) in 48 games with the Belleville Senators.
Gaunce has 28 points (13G / 15A) in 182 career NHL games but has primarily been an AHL player this season, limited to only five contests with Minnesota. The 30-year-old forward has 29 points (15G / 14A) in 35 games with Iowa (AHL) this season.
The Panthers had Spencer Knight between the pipes in the previous outing, a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators, but will likely switch to Bobrovsky on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has been tremendous lately, posting a 1.74 GAA and .933 SV% in his previous seven games (5-2-0). The Panthers enter the action on Thursday as -125 home favorites against an Oilers squad amid a four-game losing skid.
The Red Wings have won two straight and will likely ride with Talbot between the pipes on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Talbot was solid in his previous outing, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. The 37-year-old Talbot has a 2.85 GAA and .905 SV% in 33 appearances this season (17-11-3). The Red Wings enter Thursday's contest as -150 home favorites against a Blue Jackets squad coming off an impressive 6-4 win over the Dallas Stars.
The Hurricanes have been outscored 10-3 in their previous two games (0-2-0) and will likely turn to Kochetkov between the pipes on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Kochetkov struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 21 shots (.810 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 25-year-old netminder has a 2.55 GAA and .902 SV% in 35 appearances this season (20-11-3). The Hurricanes enter the action on Thursday as sizeable -225 home favorites against a Sabres club that has outscored their opposition 11-4 during a two-game winning streak.
Bains will sit to make way for the return of Quinn Hughes (lower-body) as Vancouver opts to dress seven defencemen. Bains has one goal and zero assists in 12 games this season.
Burroughs will fill in for Drew Doughty, who was a late scratch due to a lower-body injury. Burroughs has zero goals and two assists in 27 games this season.
Hughes was expected to be out after not taking part in line rushes during warmups, but it now appears he will play as Vancouver opts to dress seven defencemen. Hughes missed Vancouver's final four games before the break for the 4Nations Face-Off and has not played two straight since the NHL resumed it's activities, but will return on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 25-year-old Hughes is amid another Norris trophy caliber season, posting 59 points (14G / 45A) in 47 games.
Doughty was a surprise scratch on Wednesday, with the Kings not announcing his absence prior to warmups. He is considered day-to-day with the injury.
The Kings will turn to Rittich between the pipes on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks for his first start since the NHL resumed its' schedule following the break for the 4Nations Face-Off. The 32-year-old Rittich has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.59 GAA and .890 SV% in 25 games this season (12-11-1). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as -172 home favorites against a Canucks squad that has scored two or fewer goals in four straight (2-2-0).
