After playing two straight games, Groulx was a healthy scratch in the last two for the Ducks but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday. The 23-year-old has one point (0G / 1A) while averaging 12:44 time-on-ice through 22 games this season.
Johnston has played 29 games for the Ducks this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A) while averaging only 7:28 time-on-ice. The Ducks are expected to welcome Brock McGinn and Bo Groulx back into the lineup on Thursday as Johnston will be a healthy scratch.
Okposo has not played since New Year's Eve, missing three straight games, but has practiced the last few days and will return to the lineup on Thursday. The 35-year-old Okposo has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 38 games this season, averaging 13:59 time-on-ice while playing most recently on a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Peyton Krebs.
Talbot will likely start for the third straight game as the Kings attempt to snap a season-worst six-game losing streak (0-4-2). After posting an otherworldly .931 SV% in his first 18 games (12-4-2), Talbot has fallen off in a big way, with a more pedestrian .903 SV% in his last nine outings (2-5-2). The Kings will be hard-pressed to snap their losing skid on Thursday as they are +121 road underdogs against one of the league's hottest teams, the Florida Panthers, who will be searching for their eighth-straight victory.
The 28-year-old Hagg has spent the entirety of this season with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in 22 games. He will make his season debut with the Ducks on Thursday skating on the third defensive pair with Ilya Lyubushkin.
Juulsen stepped in on Tuesday for Ian Cole, who has a healthy scratch for maintenance reasons but will return to the lineup on Thursday. Juulsen played 14:43 time-on-ice, had a -1 plus/minus, and one hit.
Knies left practice early on Wednesday after suffering an apparent leg injury but appears no worse for wear and will suit up for the Maple Leafs on Thursday. On Tuesday, Knies played 15:16 time-on-ice and recorded one assist, his first point in six games.
Forsberg will likely return to the crease for the Senators on Thursday as they attempt to snap their four-game losing skid. Forsberg has been wildly inconsistent this season but has salvaged a .914 SV% in his last four games (2-2-0) despite allowing three or more goals in three of them. The Senators are +116 road underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team defeated 5-2 by the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.
Despite consecutive excellent performances for Binnington, the Blues turned to Joel Hofer between the pipes on Tuesday, a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. Binninton has won two straight and allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last three contests (2-1-0), boasting a sparkling .949 SV%. Binnington will look to extend his win streak to three games but has a difficult task ahead as the Blues are +145 home underdogs on Thursday against the New York Rangers, who have lost two straight (0-1-1).
Pickard has settled nicely into his role as the Oilers' backup netminder and has been serviceable in limited action when called upon. The Oilers are riding an eight-game winning streak, with two wins courtesy of Pickard, in which he saved 51 of 56 shots (.911 SV%). The Oilers have an excellent opportunity to extend their winning streak to nine games as -160 road favourites on Thursday against a Detroit Red Wings club that is suddenly surging, winning four of their last five games (4-1-0).
Cole was replaced by Noah Juulsen on Tuesday as he was a healthy scratch for maintenance reasons. Cole had appeared in every game this season for Vancouver at the age of 34 and has a goal, six assists, 32 SOG and 36 PIMs in 40 games played.
Vanecek will start for only the third time in the last six games for the Devils when they face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. Vanecek was great in his last contest, albeit against a low-scoring Chicago Blackhawks team, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 4-2 victory. Vanecek has tallied consecutive quality starts only once this season and will be hard-pressed to do so on Thursday as the Devils are +136 road underdogs.
Brossoit will start on Thursday for a Jets team that is among the league's best over the last month and is riding a seven-game winning streak. Brossoit and the Jets have a favourable matchup as enormous -409 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that defeated them 2-1 on December 27th, their only loss in their last 10 games. The Jets' crease has belonged to Hellebuyck, but Brossoit has been terrific lately when called upon, allowing two or fewer goals in each of his last five starts (4-1-0), posting a gaudy .952 SV%.
Cizikas exited the Islanders' Tuesday night contest against the Vancouver Canucks in the first period with a lower-body injury after playing only 3:54 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Cizikas had been limited to only one point (0G / 1A) in his last 11 games while registering 25 hits.
Walman was battling an illness that prevented him from practicing on Wednesday but he will be ready to play on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. In his last five games, Walman has four points (1G / 3A) while averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per night.
Oshie has missed 17 of the last 21, including the last 11 with a lower-body injury, but will return on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. Oshie has struggled this year with only four points (2G / 2A) in 26 games but was on a two-game point streak, scoring two points (1G / 1A) in his last two outings.
Wilson did not practice on Tuesday but could be ready to play in Thursday's contest against the Seattle Kraken. Wilson played 15:13 time-on-ice in his last game, tallying four shots and two hits, matching his lowest hit output in nine games.
Despite an overall disappointing season for the future Hall-of-Famer, Ovechkin is riding a five-game point streak, scoring six points (2G / 4A) in that span. The 38-year-old will be a game-time decision for the Capitals on Thursday and, if he is unavailable to play, could be an opportunity for Max Pacioretty to establish himself more offensively.
Due to some strong play, Nedeljkovic has become a fixture in the Penguins' crease over the last month and will start for the fourth time in the last six games on Thursday. Nedeljkovic allowed five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%), a 6-5 victory over the Boston Bruins on January 4th, but has been nearly unbeatable otherwise, allowing only one goal in three of his last four starts, posting a .933 SV%. The Penguins are -126 home favourites against the Vancouver Canucks, who are riding a three-game winning streak, outscoring their opposition 17-9.
