After a tremendous start to his rookie season, Wallstedt has not been able to sustain his stellar play but is riding another hot stretch. The 23-year-old Swedish goalie has a terrific 2.17 GAA and .922 SV% in five appearances since the beginning of March (0-2-2). Minnesota enters the action on Thursday as a -156 road favourite against a Florida Panthers team that is 2-3-0 in its last five games.
Foligno has not played since late February, but he will make his return from a lower-body injury on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 34-year-old forward is averaging 12:57 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (6G / 5A), 58 penalty minutes, and 151 hits in 48 games this season.
Despite battling a lower-body injury, Mantha will continue his tremendous season, suiting up for Thursday's game against the Ottawa Senators. The 31-year-old Mantha has a career-high 53 points (26G / 27A) in 71 games this season. His previous career high was at age 24 with the Detroit Red Wings, when he scored 48 points (25G / 23A) in 67 games.
Grebenkin has not play in nearly a week and is expected to be sidelined for at least one more as he tends to an upper-body injury. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 11:17 time-on-ice and has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 55 games this season.
After starting his tenure with the Penguins on a positive note, Skinner has struggled in recent games, but hopes to rebound on Thursday, tending the twine against the Ottawa Senators. The 27-year-old goalie has allowed four or more goals in five of his last nine games (2-2-5), posting an ugly 3.69 GAA and .866 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +131 road underdogs against a red-hot Senators team that is 6-1-0 in their last seven games.
Dobes has become the most reliable netminder for the Canadiens over the past few weeks and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In his last six games (4-2-0), the 24-year-old Czech goalie has dazzled with a solid 2.20 GAA and .926 SV%. The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as slight -112 home favourites against a Blue Jackets team that is 5-1-0 in their last six games.
Amid a five-game losing streak (0-4-1), Seattle will try to right their ship by turning to Grubauer on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 34-year-old Grubauer didn't provide much optimism in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 25 shots (.800 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the same Lightning team. Since returning from the Olympic break, Grubauer has a 3.49 GAA and .875 SV% in five appearances (1-3-0). Seattle enters Thursday's contest as sizable +248 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay team on a five-game point streak (4-0-1).
As the Senators continue their late-season push for a playoff spot, they will turn to Ullmark to tend the twine on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Swedish goalie was terrific in his previous game, saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in a crucial 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Since returning from a lengthy personal leave of absence in late January, Ullmark has a 2.31 GAA and .902 SV% in 13 games (9-2-2). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -145 home favourites against a Penguins team that has been outscored 11-3 in their last two games (0-2-0).
Thomson made his season debut in Monday's 2-1 win over the New York Rangers, but only lasted 4:25 time-on-ice before exiting the game with a lower-body injury. The 25-year-old Thomson has nine blocks, 23 hits and five assists in 19 career NHL games, but had not played in the league since a two-game stint with Ottawa in 2022-23.
Ottawa's blueline has been decimated by injuries lately, as Gilbert, out for the next few weeks, has been added to that growing list. The 29-year-old Gilbert is averaging 11:22 time-on-ice and has one assist in six games this season.
Chabot exited Monday's 2-1 win over the New York Rangers after only 10:21 time-on-ice because due to an injury. He has since undergone surgery to address the issue and will effectively be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season and beyond. The 29-year-old defenseman has 31 points (7G / 24A) in 55 games this season.
Matthew Kessel will re-enter the Blues' lineup on Thursday, sending Holl to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 34-year-old Holl is averaging 15:47 time-on-ice and has one assist in five games this season.
Justin Holl will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Kessel to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Kessel is averaging 12:30 time-on-ice and has three points (2G / 1A) in 27 games this season.
Oettinger only lasted one period in the Stars' previous game, being relieved by Casey DeSmith after allowing four goals on eight shots (.500 SV%) in an eventual 6-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils. That said, before that poor performance, the 27-year-old Oettinger was on an excellent run, posting a dazzling 1.81 GAA and .930 SV% in eight games (6-0-2). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -125 road favourites against the New York Islanders, who have lost three of their last four games (1-3-0).
While Juuse Saros was out with a lower-body injury for several games last week, Annunen shone for the Predators and proved himself to be a reliable option between the pipes. The 26-year-old Annunen saved 39 of 40 shots (.975 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, giving him a stellar 2.34 GAA and .921 SV% in 15 appearances since the beginning of December (7-5-1). The Predators enter Thursday's contest as slight -107 home favourites against a New Jersey Devils team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (4-2-0).
With Robert Thomas (upper body) out of the lineup on Thursday, Walker will draw back in for the first time in two weeks. The 32-year-old Walker is averaging 12:04 time-on-ice and has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 41 games this season.
Thomas was limited to only 14:08 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Washington Capitals. He was absent from practice on Wednesday and will not play on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old Thomas is averaging 18:56 time-on-ice and has 46 points (16G / 30A) in 53 games this season.
Hofer has emerged as the go-to option between the pipes for the Blues, and he will return to the crease on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, fresh off of saving all 21 shots he faced for his sixth shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the San Jose Sharks. The 25-year-old Hofer has two shutouts in his last five games and has been near perfect since returning from the Olympic break, going 6-0-2 with an absurd 1.34 GAA and .955 SV%. The Blues enter Thursday's contest as -142 home favourites against a free-falling Sharks team that has been outscored 27-11 during a five-game losing streak (0-5-0).
Hellebuyck was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, reliable efforts from the three-time Vezina-winning goalie have not been a regularity this season. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck has allowed three or more goals in seven of 13 games since returning from the Olympic break (5-4-4), posting a pedestrian 2.98 GAA and .890 SV%. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +157 home underdogs against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, who have outscored their opposition 13-5 in their last three games (3-0-0).
Hellebuyck was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, reliable efforts from the three-time Vezina-winning goalie have not been a regularity this season. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck has allowed three or more goals in seven of 13 games since returning from the Olympic break (5-4-4), posting a pedestrian 2.98 GAA and .890 SV%. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +157 home underdogs against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, who have outscored their opposition 13-5 in their last three games (3-0-0).
