Brunicke was a healthy scratch in Pittsburgh's most recent game in an attempt to help him acclimate to the NHL, but he will be back in the lineup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 19-year-old defenseman has one goal through three games.

With Jeffrey Viel making his season debut on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights, Khusnutdinov will head to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Khusnutdinov is averaging 10:32 time-on-ice, recording zero points a -2 plus/minus through four games this season.

Benjamin Kindel will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings, allowing Acciari to re-enter the lineup. The 33-year-old Acciari is averaging 13:04 time-on-ice and has seven hits through three games this season.

The Penguins are off to a 2-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season and will continue to alternate their goalies, turning to Silovs on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. Silovs has shown a mixed bag in his two games as a Penguin. He opened the season with a spectacular 25-save shutout in a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers, but followed it up by allowing six goals on 30 shots (.800 SV%) against the same Rangers team four days later. The Penguins enter the action on Thursday as +172 road underdogs against a Kings team that has been outscored 16-12 through four games this season (1-2-1).

With Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) sidelined, the Kings will turn to Forsberg on Thursday when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Forsberg was acquired by the Kings in the offseason and struggled in his debut last week, allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 6-5 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Forsberg has a 3.05 GAA and .904 SV% in 191 career games (75-81-14). The Kings enter the action on Thursday as -193 home favorites against the Penguins.

Adin Hill (lower body) was back at practice on Thursday, but the Golden Knights will roll with Schmid between the pipes on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 25-year-old Schmid has been impressive early in his Golden Knights' tenure, posting a 1.80 GAA and .929 SV% through two appearances (2-0-0). The Golden Knights enter the action on Thursday as sizable -227 home favorites against a Bruins team outscoring their opposition 13-4 through four games this season (3-1-0).

The Penguins are off to a 2-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season and will continue to alternate their goalies, turning to Silovs on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. Silovs has shown a mixed bag in his two games as a Penguin. He opened the season with a spectacular 25-save shutout in a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers, but followed it up by allowing six goals on 30 shots (.800 SV%) against the same Rangers team four days later. The Penguins enter the action on Thursday as +172 road underdogs against a Kings team that has been outscored 16-12 through four games this season (1-2-1).

Kindel was Pittsburgh's 11th-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and will serve has a healthy scratch for the first time in his young career. Through four games, the 18-year-old has one point (1G / 0A) and is averaging 14:20 time-on-ice.

Viel is an undrafted 28-year-old forward that has spent most of his career playing in the AHL. He played five games with Boston last season but spent most of the 2024-25 campaign with the Providence Bruins (AHL), where he scored 37 points (13G / 24A) in 68 games.

Iorio was Washington's 55th-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft but had trouble solidifying an NHL role with the team, limited to nine total games. The 22-year-old had 20 points (5G / 15A) in 67 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) last season and will try to establish himself with a young Sharks team. He is expected to meet the Sharks in Utah for their game on Friday.

Liljegren showed no signs of an injury in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, playing 20:48 time-on-ice, but did not practice on Wednesday and has officially been ruled out for Friday's game against the Utah Mammoth after being placed on Injured Reserve. The 26-year-old Liljegren has zero points and a -2 plus/minus through three games this season.

Despite being absent from practice on Thursday to tend to personal matters, Terry will likely play in the evening against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old Terry has been suiting up on a line with Frank Vatrano and Mikael Granlund. Terry has three points (0G / 3A) through three games.

The Ducks are off to a 2-1-0 start to the season, riding a two-game winning streak, and will turn to Dostal on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. After a strong 2024-25 season, earning himself the starting gig in Anaheim, Dostal will look to improve on his 3.08 GAA and .893 SV% through two games this season (1-1-0). The Ducks enter the action on Thursday as +170 home underdogs against a Hurricanes team that remains undefeated this season (3-0-0).

Raymond exited Monday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after only 7:58 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. He did not play on Wednesday, but has skated on his own prior to practice. His status for Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning is uncertain. The 23-year-old Raymond was off to a strong start to the season, with three points (2G / 1A) in three games.

Scoring only eight goals in their first three games (1-2-0), the Canucks are shaking things up ahead of the contest on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Lekkerimaki will be a healthy scratch and Braeden Cootes was reassigned to Seattle (AHL), paving the way for Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson to make their season debuts. The 25-year-old Karlsson has six points (3G / 3A) in 27 career NHL games.

Scoring only eight goals in their first three games (1-2-0), the Canucks are shaking things up ahead of the contest on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Lekkerimaki will be a healthy scratch and Braeden Cootes was reassigned to Seattle (AHL), paving the way for Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson to make their season debuts. The 25-year-old forward has seven points (3G / 4A) in 29 career NHL games.

Scoring only eight goals in their first three games (1-2-0), the Canucks are shaking things up ahead of the contest on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Lekkerimaki will be a healthy scratch and Braeden Cootes was reassigned to Seattle (AHL), paving the way for Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson to make their season debuts. The 21-year-old Lekkerimaki has one point (1G / 0A) in three games this season.

Hellebuyck, the two-time reigning Vezina Trophy winner, has played only two games this season, both with contrasting results. The 32-year-old netminder allowed five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Dallas Stars, which he followed up by saving 30 of 32 (.938 SV%) in his next outing, a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Hellebuyck and the Jets will look for more consistency on Thursday, entering their contest against the Philadelphia Flyers as -134 road favourites.

Mackenzie Blackwood is nearing his return, currently on a conditioning stint with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), but Wedgewood remains the option between the pipes for the Avalanche on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has been stellar, posting an impressive 1.72 GAA and .935 SV% in four games (3-0-1). Colorado is a -160 road favorite on Thursday against a Columbus team off to a 1-2-0 start.

The Canucks are off to a 1-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season but have received stellar play from Demko, who will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old Demko has an impressive 1.54 GAA and .944 SV% through two games this season (1-1-0). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +146 road underdogs against an undefeated Stars team that is outscoring its opposition 15-10 through three games this season (3-0-0).