Foote spent most of the last two weeks with the Devils as a depth defenceman but was never given the opportunity to crack the lineup. Before his call-up, Foote had two points (1G / 1A) in three games with the Utica Comets of the AHL.
Blackwood was the driving force behind the Sharks' first victory of the season on Tuesday, saving 38 of 39 shots against the Philadelphia Flyers. Victory aside, the Sharks are still +288 home underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers team that will be desperate to shake out of their funk. After leading the league in offence a season ago (3.96 GF / GP), the Oilers rank 26th in the league (2.64 GF / GP) and, despite their well-documented struggles (2-8-1), remain a threat every night that Connor McDavid takes the ice.
With the surprise waiving of Jack Campbell earlier this week Stuart Skinner is now the Oilers' starter and will take the crease Thursday vs. San Jose. The 25-year-old was an All-Star last season but has been horrendous so far in 2023-24, with his 1-4-1 record, .856 SV% and 3.99 GAA. He takes on the historically struggling San Jose Sharks, who snapped an 11-game losing streak with a victory last game over PHI and are last in the NHL in both shots per game (24.8) and goals per game (1.17).
It's Copley's first start since October 27th's game in Arizona, when he was pulled in favour of Cam Talbot after allowing three goals on just six shots. Thanks to his own struggles and an excellent run of form from Talbot, Copley has been relegated back to his usual back-up role after he made a career-high 37 appearances for the Kings last year. Copley owns an abysmal .788 SV% and a 4.98 GAA across three starts this season. Copley and the Kings are slight favourites at -120 over the Penguins on Thursday.
Grubauer will get the start on Thursday against his former team, marking his fourth start in the Kraken's last five games. In his last three games (2-1-0), Grubauer has saved 91 of 100 shots (.910 SV%). Grubauer has historically been very good against the Avalanche, most recently leading the Kraken to knock them out in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Kraken are +169 road underdogs on Thursday but could put up a strong fight against an Avalanche team that has been shut out in three of their last five games (2-3-0) and will be starting Ivan Prosvetov in net.
Saros will get the nod in goal for a league-leading eleventh time this season. The Predators' workhorse gave up just three goals on 38 shots in Tuesday's 4-2 defeat to the Flames. Saros owns a .911 SV% and a 2.73 GAA to go along with his 4-6-0 record. He has a decent chance of getting back in the win column on Thursday with the Predators being just slight underdogs at +105 on the road in Winnipeg.
Dermott has an assist, 13 SOG, six PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 10 games played so far this season. The 26-year-old is in his seventh NHL season but missed 71 games in 2022-23 due to injury. Michael Kesselring was recalled from Tucson (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Faksa has not played since October 30th but will return on Thursday after being a full participant in the Stars' last two practices. Faksa has zero points, averaging 13:24 time-on-ice through seven games this season.
Duchene exited the Stars' Saturday night contest against the Vancouver Canucks late in the second period and did not return, ultimately missing the teams' Monday game against the Boston Bruins. Before his injury, Duchene was in the midst of a five-game point streak, tallying five points (2G / 3A) and seems to be finding his stride with the Stars.
Pelech did not play on Saturday because of an undisclosed injury and he was a game-time decision for Tuesday's game against the Wild before ultimately being cleared to play. Pelech has registered one assist, 22 blocked shots, and 12 hits in ten games this season. The Islanders say Pelech is day-to-day with the lower-body injury.
Horvat did not play on Tuesday and was officially listed as a game-time decision on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Heis averaging 19:43 time-on-ice this season and has nine points (4G / 5A) through 10 games.
Lauko unfortunately took a skate to the face vs. Chicago on October 24th and has missed the last six games before being activated from the injured reserve Thursday. The 23-year-old centre had struggled prior to his injury, as he is pointless with six SOG, six PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through six games so far this season.
Forbort has been out of the lineup since October 30th with a lower-body injury and was a game-time decision Thursday vs. Boston. In eight games this season, Forbort has two points (0G / 2A), 16 hits, and 13 blocks. Forbort would be a welcome addition on Thursday to a Bruins defensive core that is without Charlie McAvoy (suspension) and Matt Grzelcyk (upper-body).
Zub has not played since October 21st due to an upper-body injury and was a game-time decision Thursday vs. Vancouver. In four games this season, Zub has scored three points (1G / 2A), eight hits, and nine blocks while averaging 17:57 time-on-ice.
Ullmark will be the starter for the Bruins on Thursday as the team continues their back-and-forth rotation between netminders. Entering Thursday's game against the New York Islanders, Ullmark boasts a 2.30 GAA and .926 SV% through six games (4-1-1) but has allowed four or more goals in two of his last three starts (1-1-1). The Bruins are -128 home favourites against an Islanders team that, despite a respectable 5-3-3 record, scores the sixth-fewest goals in the league (2.65 GF / GP).
Johansson will return to the crease on Thursday after watching Matt Tomkins tend the twine on Tuesday. Johansson has done an admirable job filling in for Andrei Vasilevskiy but after recording consecutive shutouts, has struggled of late, allowing at least four goals in each of his last three games (1-0-2), posting a .867 SV%. That said, the Lightning have a favourable matchup as -229 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that scores the third-fewest goals in the league (2.36 GF / GP).
Boyd has yet to score this season but has three assists, nine SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus in seven games played but will be a healthy scratch Thursday as Jason Zucker (lower body) makes his Coyotes' debut. Boyd is in this seventh NHL season and will hope to be back in the Coyotes' lineup sooner rather than later.
Zucker was signed to a one-year, $5,300,000 million contract in the offseason but missed the last seven games due to a lower-body injury but is expected to make his Coyotes' debut Thursday vs. St. Louis. The 31-year-old left-winger has two goals, 14 SOG, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in five games so far prior to his injury.
After saving 98 of the first 103 shots he faced this season (.951 SV%) and recording a 2-1-0 record, Vejmelka has been somewhat of a liability between the pipes, allowing 16 goals on the subsequent 115 shots (.861 SV%), failing to record a victory in the process (0-3-1). The Coyotes are listed as slight +102 road underdogs on Thursday but will hope Vejmelka can shut the door against the St. Louis Blues and their 28th-ranked offence (2.36 GF / GP).
