Clarke will take the place of Jordan Spence, who is listed as a scratch on Thursday. Clarke is expected to skate alongside Andreas Englund on the team's third defensive pair.

Despite being pulled after giving up five goals on just 17 shots in Tuesday's 7-0 thrashing at the hands of the Sabres, Rittich will be back between the pipes for the Kings on Thursday. This might be the strongest indication that it really is Rittich's starting job at this point, though to be fair, Cam Talbot didn't fare much better on Tuesday. Rittich owns a 6-2-3 record on the season to go along with a .919 SV% and a 2.23 GAA. He and the Kings have even odds to pick up the win in New Jersey on Thursday.

Jeannot was activated off Injured Reserve earlier this week and made his return to the lineup on Tuesday, but was limited to only 5:44 time-on-ice before re-aggravating his lower-body injury. The 26-year-old bruising winger has filled in his bottom-six role well this season with 12 points (6G/6A), 52 SOG, 61 PIMs, and a -11 plus/minus in 41 games played before the injury.

Rittich will continue his reign over the Kings' crease and start his fourth straight game on Tuesday evening. The Czech netminder is riding a two-game winning streak and is coming off a tremendous performance in his last outing, saving all 26 shots he faced in a 4-0 shutout victory over the typically high-scoring Edmonton Oilers. The Kings are -131 road favourites against a Buffalo Sabres club that has scored only two goals in their last two games (0-2-0).

Rittich will continue his reign over the Kings' crease and start his fourth straight game on Tuesday evening. The Czech netminder is riding a two-game winning streak and is coming off a tremendous performance in his last outing, saving all 26 shots he faced in a 4-0 shutout victory over the typically high-scoring Edmonton Oilers. The Kings are -131 road favourites against a Buffalo Sabres club that has scored only two goals in their last two games (0-2-0).

Jeannot has been out since January 6th due to a lower-body injury but was activated off Injured Reserve on Tuesday and will rejoin Tampa Bay's lineup. The 26-year-old bruising winger has filled in his bottom-six role well this season with 12 points (6G/6A), 52 SOG, 61 PIMs, and a -11 plus/minus in 41 games played prior to the injury.

Turcotte was reassigned to the Ontario Reign of the AHL in correspondence with the All-Star and, after being recalled on Thursday, will likely draw back into the lineup in the Kings' first game back. In his last outing, Turcotte scored two points (1G / 1A) while playing 10:02 time-on-ice.

Clarke played three games in a row towards the end of January, his longest stretch of the season, but has been out of the lineup since January 26th. In six games this season, Clarke has one point (0G / 1A) while averaging 16:15 time-on-ice.

Charlie Lindgren started in the Capitals' return from the All-Star break on Tuesday but did not finish the contest. Kuemper entered the game in relief of Lindgren, saving 15 of 17 shots (.882 SV%) in an eventual 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Kuemper has been wildly inconsistent this season, highlighted by his performances in his last two starts, in which he allowed five goals in one contest and recorded a shutout in the other. As such, the Capitals are sizeable +237 road underdogs heading into action against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.

Jeannot has not played since January 6th, missing nine games with an upper-body injury, but returned to practice on Monday. The 26-year-old Jeannot had been held off the scoresheet in eight straight games while recording only seven shots on goal before his injury.

Kaliyev will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday in order to make room for the return of Quinton Byfield (illness). Kaliyev has enjoyed a rather productive season considering his limited usage, registering six goals and eight assists in 38 games with an ATOI of 13:10.

Lewis recorded an assist, snapping a 15-game pointless streak, on Sunday while playing 11:36 time-on-ice. Lewis will skate with Alex Turcotte and Carl Grundstrom on the Kings' fourth line after being a game-time decision on Wednesday against the Nashville Predators.

Rittich will start for the second straight game as the reeling Kings look for a solution to their losing woes. The Kings have lost 14 of their last 16 (2-9-5), and their only two wins have come with Rittich between the pipes. Rittich has played well for the Kings, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six outings (2-1-2), posting a respectable .916 SV%. The Kings are -115 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team riding a two-game losing skid.

Ty Emberson will be the odd man out on Wednesday, allowing Burroughs to re-enter the Sharks' lineup. Before missing Tuesday's game against the Seattle Kraken, Burroughs played six straight, recording one goal, seven shots, and 13 hits.

Lewis recorded an assist, snapping a 15-game pointless streak, on Sunday while playing 11:36 time-on-ice. Lewis has spent most of the season playing on a line with Carl Grundstrom and Blake Lizotte and it will be a game-time decision on Wednesday against the Nashville Predators.

After missing two straight games with an illness, Byfield will draw back into the lineup for the Kings on Wednesday evening. Before his injury, Byfield was riding a three-game point streak, with four points (2G / 2A) while playing on the top line, as he has for most of the season, with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.

Rittich will start for the second straight game as the reeling Kings look for a solution to their losing woes. The Kings have lost 14 of their last 16 (2-9-5), and their only two wins have come with Rittich between the pipes. Rittich has played well for the Kings, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six outings (2-1-2), posting a respectable .916 SV%. The Kings are -115 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team riding a two-game losing skid.