Timothy Liljegren (upper body) will return from a three-game absence on Thursday against the New York Rangers, resulting in Dickinson returning to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 19-year-old Dickinson was the 11th-overall pick by San Jose in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut this season, recording zero points and a -4 plus/minus through five games.

Liljegren has not played since last Tuesday, missing three games due to a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 26-year-old Liljegren has zero points and a -2 plus/minus through three games this season. Sam Dickinson will exit the lineup to accommodate Liljegren's return.

The Penguins have received strong tandem goaltending from Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs, helping guide them to an impressive 5-2-0 start to the season. The 30-year-old Jarry will return to the crease on Thursday against the Florida Panthers, looking to build on a solid 2.35 GAA and .922 SV% through three games (2-1-0). The Penguins enter the action on Thursday as +168 road underdogs against a Panthers team that snapped a three-game losing skid in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins.

The Ducks are off to a serviceable 3-2-1 start in the 2025-26 season and hope Mrazek can rebound in his second outing of the season. The 33-year-old Czech goalie had a forgetful performance in his only outing of the season, allowing six goals on 23 shots (.739 SV%), but managed to salvage a 7-6 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks. The Ducks enter the action on Thursday as slight -100 road underdogs against a Bruins team amid a five-game losing skid.

Expected to be Philadelphia's backup, or at best, a time-share goalie with Samuel Ersson, Vladar has made an early-season case for extra playing time and returns to the crease on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The 28-year-old Vladar has been near-perfect early in the 2025-26 season, posting an outstanding 1.75 GAA and .929 SV% in four games (3-1-0). That said, in five previous NHL seasons, Vladar has had a save percentage above .900 only once. The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +138 road underdogs against a struggling Senators team that has been outscored 33-22 this season (2-4-1).

Mailloux was a healthy scratch in the Blues' previous two games, replaced by Matthew Kessel, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. The 22-year-old Mailloux has zero points and a -7 plus/minus through four games this season.

Sundqvist suffered a lower-body injury at practice days before the season opened and has been sidelined since. The 31-year-old Sundqvist has 164 points (62G / 102A) in 493 career games. He will make his season debut on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth.

The Blues have outscored their opposition 9-4 in Jordan Binnington's last three starts (2-0-1), but they will turn to a struggling Hofer on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth, hoping he can elevate his game. The 25-year-old Hofer has an ugly 5.01 GAA and .824 SV% in two games (1-1-0), stats that vastly contrast his career average of 2.77 GAA and .905 SV% in 71 games (36-23-5). The Blues enter Thursday's contest as slight -115 home favorites against a Mammoth team riding a four-game winning streak.

The Blackhawks are off to a solid 3-2-2 start to the 2025-26 season and will likely roll with Knight between the pipes on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. In his first full season as an undisputed starting goalie, Knight has been tremendous for the Blackhawks, boasting a 1.96 GAA and .937 SV% in five games (2-2-1). Still, Chicago enters the action on Thursday as a sizable +262 road underdog against a Tampa Bay team that surprisingly trails the Eastern Conference standings with a 1-3-2 record.

Hampus Lindholm did not play on Sunday, supposedly given an extra day of maintenance after returning from an injury, but was out of the lineup on Tuesday and could miss a third consecutive game on Thursday. Jordan Harris will exit the lineup if Lindholm is able to return.

The Bruins have been liberal with their crease this season, giving Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo significant exposure. Korpisalo will tend the twine on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks, looking to improve on an uninspiring 3.36 GAA and .865 SV% in three games (1-2-0). The Bruins enter Thursday's contest as slight -108 home favorites against a Ducks team that exploded offensively in their most recent game, a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators, after scoring only two goals in their previous two games (0-1-1).

The Sharks (0-4-2) continue their search for their first victory in the 2025-26 season, and will turn to Nedeljkovic to tend the twine on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 29-year-old Nedeljkovic has a pedestrian 3.69 GAA and .890 SV% through three games this season (0-2-1). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as sizable +242 road underdogs against a Rangers team that has been outscored 9-1 at home (0-4-0).

Six game into his NHL career, Shabanov has been effective in a sheltered role, scoring three points (1G / 2) while averaging only 11:43 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old Russian forward is coming off a sensational season with Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) where he had 23 goals and 67 points in 65 games played. He will not play on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.

With Chris Tanev (upper body) placed on Injured Reserve, the Maple Leafs have recalled Mermis from the AHL. The 31-year-old Mermis is no stranger to the NHL, with 13 points (4G / 9A) in 78 career games.

Tanev was limited to only 5:57 time-on-ice in Toronto's 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, exiting the contest due to an upper-body injury. The 35-year-old Tanev has one point (0G / 1A) and eight blocks through seven games this season. He will be out of the lineup for at least two games after being placed on Injured Reserve.

Wood was with the Predators to start the season but was a healthy scratch in their first game and ultimately reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) shortly after. The 20-year-old forward scored one point (0G / 1A) in his first six NHL games last season.

Kucherov has missed Tampa Bay's previous two games due to an illness, but he will likely draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The NHL's Art Ross Trophy winner from a season ago is yet to find his stride in 2025-26, recording three points (2G / 1A) and a -8 plus/minus through four games.

The Bruins have been liberal with their crease this season, giving Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo significant exposure. Korpisalo will likely tend the twine on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks, looking to improve on an uninspiring 3.36 GAA and .865 SV% in three games (1-2-0). The Bruins enter Thursday's contest as slight -108 home favorites against a Ducks team that exploded offensively in their most recent game, a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators, after scoring only two goals in their previous two games (0-1-1).

Sandin was limited to only 15:01 time-on-ice in in Washington's most recent outing, likely nursing his upper-body injury, and did not practice on Thursday or travel with Washington on their upcoming road trip. The 25-year-old Sandin is averaging 19:24 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) through seven games this season. He is considered day-to-day for the time being despite not travelling with the team.

James has enjoyed an electric start in Syracuse (AHL) with five points in four games played and earned himself his first career promotion to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. The 23-year-old forward is a former sixth-round pick (173rd overall) and will make his NHL debut after spending the last four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA).