Okhotyuk had yet to appear in any of the Sharks first three games and has now been loaned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) for a conditioning assignment. The 22-year-old defensive defensemen was acquired in 2022-23 in the deal that saw Timo Meier head to New Jersey. He had a goal, six SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 10 games last season with New Jersey.
Acciari missed the Penguins' morning skate Thursday as he was being evaluated for an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day until Pittsburgh releases more information. The 31-year-old bruising winger was signed to a three-year, $6 million contract ($2,000,000 AAV) during the offseason and has yet to pick up a point through four games in 2023-24.
Letting did not participate in the Penguins' practice Thursday and is being evaluated for a lower-body injury. The 36-year-old defensemen is in his 18th season with the Penguins and has three assists, six SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in four games played so far in 2023-24. Pittsburgh should be releasing more information on the injuries in the upcoming day or two.
Martinez has missed all four of Vegas' wins to start the 2023-24 season due to an upper-body injury but is expected to make his season debut Thursday vs. Winnipeg. The 36-year-old veteran defensemen is entering his 15th NHL season and had three goals, 11 assists, 76 SOG, 29 PIMs and a +30 plus/minus in 77 games played in 2022-23.
Daccord draws his second start of the year after impressing in his season debut on Saturday. The 27-year-old netminder stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced before falling to the Blues in a shootout. Daccord has made just 20 starts in his career across parts of five seasons with the Kraken and Senators, but he could be in line for an increased workload if he continues to outperform Philipp Grubauer. He will need to be at the top of his game against the Hurricanes tonight if he’s going to secure the Kraken’s first victory of the season.
Ingram has served as backup goalie to Karel Vejmelka in two of three games this season but will return to the pipes on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. In his only game thus far, Ingram came short of securing a victory for the Coyotes despite allowing only two goals on 28 shots in a 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers. Early on, the Coyotes seem committed to a two-goalie system but any false step could give more security to the other. The Coyotes are slight -102 road underdogs against a Blue team that has only scored two goals in their first two games (1-0-1).
Shore failed to pick up a point in his only game for Coachella Valley (AHL) thus far this season but has been recalled to Seattle Thursday. The 29-year-old was signed to a one-year, two-way deal in the offseason worth $775,000 after scoring a goal and nine points with the Oilers in 47 games played in 2022-23. It will mark his ninth NHL season with his fifth different team when he makes his Seattle debut.
Georgiev is tied for the league lead with three wins (3-0-0) early in the season and will look to add another as the Avalanche host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night. Georgiev has been nothing short of terrific in his first three games, recording a near-perfect 1.30 GAA and .958 SV%. Last season, Georgiev posted a 1.00 GAA and .950 SV% in two games against the Blackhawks (2-0-0). Despite the Blackhawks' impressive 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, Georgiev and the Avalanche are massive -347 home favourites and should walk away with a victory at ease tonight.
Labanc's camp was informed earlier in the day that he would be placed on waivers but have changed their minds and will now be putting him in the Sharks' lineup for his season debut. He had 15 goals, 18 assists, 129 SOG, 36 PIMs and a -17 plus/minus through 72 games in 2022-23 but has yet to see NHL action this season through San Jose's first three games. He will make his season debut Thursday as the Sharks take on Boston and is expected to play on San Jose's second line alongside Thomas Bordeleau and Filip Zadina.
Talbot and the Kings will look to record consecutive wins for the first time this season after an impressive 26-save, 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Mark Scheifele scored with fewer than 80 seconds left to spoil Talbot's shutout bid on Tuesday and spoil an otherwise perfect performance. After two games this season, Talbot has a 2.51 GAA and .921 SV% and looks to be the goalie-of-choice for Todd McLellan and the Kings' coaching staff. Tonight, the Kings are very slight -106 road favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that is coming off a dominant 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
Thompson will likely start for the Golden Knights on Thursday after serving as backup to Adin Hill for three of their four first games (4-0-0). This could be an indication of Thompson's usage going forward, as the Golden Knights seem content with giving their $4.9 million goalie, Hill, the priority in the crease. The defending Stanely Cup Champions have been stout defensively regardless of who has manned their net, outscoring their opposition by a lopsided 14-5 margin. In his only game this season, Thompson saved 22 of 23 shots in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. The Golden Knights enter action tonight as -111 road favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has been abysmal defensively, allowing a league-worst 4.67 goals per game.
Talbot and the Kings will look to record consecutive wins for the first time this season after an impressive 26-save, 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Mark Scheifele scored with fewer than 80 seconds left to spoil Talbot's shutout bid on Tuesday and spoil an otherwise perfect performance. After two games this season, Talbot has a 2.51 GAA and .921 SV% and looks to be the goalie-of-choice for Todd McLellan and the Kings' coaching staff. Tonight, the Kings are very slight -106 road favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that is coming off a dominant 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
McCarron has yet to appear in any of the Predators' first four games but will make his season debut Thursday vs. the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old towering forward had two goals, two assists, 24 PIMs, 39 SOG and a -3 plus/minus in 2022-23. McCarron will replace Philip Tomasino on Nashville's fourth line alongside Yakov Trenin and Colton Sissons.
Tomasino has an assist, two SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through four games to start 2023-24 but will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. the New York Rangers. Michael McCarron will replace Tomasino on the Predators' fourth line alongside Yakov Trenin and Colton Sissons.
Levi's mixed results to start the season haven't deterred Don Granato and the Sabres coaching brass from their early-season commitment, as Levi is set to start for the fourth consecutive game. In three games this season, Levi has a 3.00 GAA and .890 SV% as the rookie continues to accustom himself to the NHL level. Levi is coming off arguably his best performance of the season, in which he saved 21 of 23 shots for his first. The Sabres face off tonight as +114 home underdogs against the Calgary Flames, who have had mixed results themselves, being outscored 10-9 in their first three contests (1-1-1).
Demko will look to continue a fabulous start to the season that has seen him post a 1.70 GAA and .953 SV% in two games (1-1-0). Despite a 2-0 loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers, Demko is coming off a performance where he did everything but score for the Canucks, saving 40 of 42 shots. After a mediocre 2022-23 season where he finished with a 3.16 GAA and .901 SV%, Demko looks poised to rebound in a positive way. He will be put to the test again on Thursday as the Canucks are +113 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that is eager to get into the win column after losing three straight (0-2-1).
Hofer will make his season debut for the Blues tonight against the Arizona Coyotes. Heading into the season, many believed that Hofer might give Jordan Binnington a run for the starting position, but Binnington has been lights out, posting a 0.92 GAA and .969 SV% in two games (1-0-1). There is still plenty of time for Hofer to outperform Binnington throughout the season, forfronted with a good opportunity to record his first victory tonight as the Blues are -109 home favourites. Last season, Hofer posted a 3.22 GAA and .905 SV% in six games with the Blues (3-1-1).
