MacEwen will play for the first time since December 7th as he will draw into the Senators' lineup as a fresh body on the back end of a back-to-back, replacing Rourke Chartier. The 27-year-old MacEwen has played 10 games this season, recording one point (0G / 1A), 25 penalty minutes, and 15 hits.
Smith has not played the last two games but will be allowed to return to the lineup on Friday as Nico Sturm is battling a mid-body injury. Smith has been held off the scoresheet in nine straight games while averaging 6:39 time-on-ice.
The Bruins coaching staff is implementing some load management tactics for 19-year-old rookie Poitras as he is expected to sit for the second time in the last four games. After posting seven points (4G / 3A) in his first 11 games, Poitras' game has fallen off slightly, posting only five (1G / 4A) in his last 15 games.
Johnson will take the place of MacKenzie Entwistle (illness) on Thursday. Johnson has two goals and zero assists in 17 games this season.
Watson will sit on Thursday as Conor Sheary (upper-body) makes his return to the lineup. Watson has one goal and zero assists in 15 games this season.
With Evgeny Kuznetsov set to miss Thursday's game with an illness, Phillips will retake his spot in the lineup after sitting out each of the last two games. Phillips has just one goal to go along with four assists in 18 games with the Capitals this season. He'll start the game alongside Joe Snively and T.J. Oshie on Washington's third line.
Staal will retake his place in the lineup on Thursday after sittoung out Tuesday's overtime loss to the Predators. The veteran blue-liner is yet to register a point across 11 appearances this season.
Zamula will take a seat in favour of Marc Staal on Thursday. The young defenseman has one goal and three assists in 21 games with the Flyers this season.
Staal was a healthy scratch for the Flyers previous game but will continue his carousel of playing by stepping back into Phildaelphia's lineup Thursday vs. Washington instead of Egor Zamula. The 36-year-old Staal is in his 17th NHL season and has yet to pick up a point in 11 games played while amassing six PIMs and three SOG.
Zamula has dressed in the Flyers last three games but will head to the press box Thursday vs. Washington as Marc Staal steps back into Philadelphia's lineup. The 23-year-old defender will get the night off but has been having an impressive season as he's set career highs in games played (21), goals (1), PIMs (12) and SOG (19) already while having a +9 plus/minus.
Gadjovich had been a healthy scratch for the Panthers' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup for Anton Lundell (illness) Thursday vs. Vancouver. The 25-year-old bruising left-winger has yet to score in 2023-24, but has an assist, 10 SOG, 43 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in nine games played so far.
Balinskis had been in the Panthers' lineup for the last two games after recalled from the minors earlier in the week but will be a healthy scratch Thursday at Vancouver as Dmitry Kulikov takes his place. The 27-year-old defensemen is in his first NHL season and first North American season after spending his early career in the Czechia league and the KHL. He has a goal and an assists to go along with six PIMs in 17 games played with Florida in 2023-24.
Kulikov will re-enter the Panthers' lineup for the first time since December 8th as Uvis Balinskis will be a healthy scratch. Kulikov has eight points (0G / 8A) in 25 games this season and will likely skate on the third defensive pair next to Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Aman has played nine straight games for the Canucks but will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Pius Suter to make his return from a lower-body injury. Aman was averaging 10:43 time-on-ice and had two points (0G / 2A) in nine games.
Miller had played all 26 games for the Rangers before Tuesday's matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, which he missed due to personal reasons. Miller has 12 points (5G / 7A), 34 blocks, and 24 hits this season, skating primarily alongside Jacob Trouba.
Jonsson-Fjallby will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as the Jets are opting to dress seven defensemen. Jonsson-Fjallby has no goals and one assist in nine games this season, playing primarily on the Jets' fourth line.
MacDonald well sit on Tuesday as Luke Kunin (upper-body) is set to return to the lineup. MacDonald has four goals and one assist in 13 games this season.
DeSimone will play in Vegas on Tuesday, marking his first appearance since November 20th. He has no goals and four assists in eight games this season.
Solovyov will sit in favour of Nick DeSimone on Tuesday night. Solovyov has zero goals and two assists in six games this season.
Chaffee has just two NHL games to his name, both of which came in the 2021-22 with the Minnesota Wild. He has impressed with Syracuse (AHL) this season, registering nine goals and ten assists in 21 games.
