Kylington will have the opportunity to see some game action with the Calgary Wranglers after not playing a single professional game since the 2021-22 season. That year, Kylington scored 31 points (9G / 22A) in 73 games with the Flames.
Olivier will re-enter the Blue Jacket's lineup on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers in favour of Brendan Gaunce, who will serve the game as a healthy scratch. Olivier last played on December 27th, registering two shots and two hits in 9:51 time-on-ice.
Gaunce will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Mathieu Olivier to draw back into the lineup for the Blue Jackets. Gaunce is averaging 10:57 time-on-ice through seven games this season, scoring three points (1G / 2A), registering 12 shots, and 13 hits.
Provorov joins Yegor Chinakhov as players on the Blue Jackets who will be game-time decisions due to an illness on Thursday. Provorov is pacing for the best offensive season of his career, scoring 21 points (2G / 19A) through 39 games.
Chinakhov will join Ivan Provorov as Blue Jackets who will be game-time decisions on Thursday due to illnesses. Chinakhov has 17 points (10G / 7A) in 27 games this season, playing predominantly alongside Dmitri Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko.
Tarasov will start for the second time in the last three games as the Blue Jackets will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. Tarasov has allowed three or more goals in each of his four games this season (1-2-1), posting a .877 SV%. The Blue Jackets are +165 road underdogs against a Flyers club that has lost three straight (0-2-1) but defeated the Blue Jackets 5-2 on November 19th.
Lundkvist played three straight for the first time since November but will return to the press box as a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Joel Hanley to draw back into the lineup. During his three-game stretch, Lundkvist scored three points, fired four shots on goal, and registered a +3 plus/minus rating.
Nedeljkovic has been terrific when called upon this season and will start for the second time in the last three games on Thursday when the Penguins visit the Boston Bruins. Nedeljkovic entered Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals in relief, saving 14 of 15 shots (.933 SV%), and has only allowed two goals on the last 53 shots he's faced (.962 SV%). The Penguins, winners of three of their last four (3-1-0), are +132 road underdogs against a Bruins squad that has won four straight.
After playing four straight games, Hanley was a healthy scratch for the last three but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday in favour of Nils Lundkvist. In 13 games this season, Hanley has one point (0G / 1A) and 12 hits while averaging 12:16 time-on-ice.
Dellandrea will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Radek Faksa to draw back into the lineup. After being a healthy scratch in four straight games, Dellandrea played two straight, scoring zero points and registering one shot on goal.
Faksa will re-enter the lineup for the Stars in favour of Ty Dellandrea, who is expected to be a healthy scratch. Faksa has not played the last two games and has zero points and only two shots on goal in his last four contests.
Levi will start on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, his first career game in his home province of Quebec. Levi last played on December 31st, allowing four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%) in a one-sided 5-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. He has allowed three or more goals in each of his last four games (1-2-0), posting a disappointing .850 SV%, a significant decline from the .942 SV% he had in the four games prior (3-0-1). The Sabres are -142 road favourites against the Canadiens.
Allen will start for the first time since allowing three goals on 25 shots (.880 SV%) on December 30th in a 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. Allen will attempt to start 2024 better than he ended 2023, winning only one of his last nine contests (1-7-1), posting a subpar .887 SV%. The Canadiens are coming off an impressive 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday but are +128 home underdogs against the Buffalo Sabres, who have lost three of their last four (1-2-1), being outscored 15-8.
Binninngton saved 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in his last outing and will look to rebound as the Blue's starter on Thursday. Binnington has a sub-.900 SV% in six of his last eight games (3-5-0), posting an ugly .867 SV%. The Blues will be hard-pressed to shut things down defensively as +134 home underdogs against the Vancouver Canucks are their league-best offence (3.84 GF / GP).
Mrazek did not play in Chicago's 3-0 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday after starting three straight games for the Blackhawks. Mrazek has put together a serviceable season for the bottom-dwelling Blackhawks but has allowed 11 goals on the last 66 shots he has faced (.833 SV%) in the last two games (0-1-1). The Blackhawks are huge +359 underdogs against the New York Rangers, who are coming off a disappointing 6-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Barrie has missed four games, last playing on December 23rd, but returned to practice for the Predators on Thursday. Before the Christmas break, Barrie had played five straight games for the Predators, scoring one point (1G / 0A), a -2 plus/minus, and averaged slightly over 17 minutes per night.
Shesterkin will start for the Rangers on Thursday and look to rebound after a terrible performance in his last outing. On Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, Shesterkin allowed six goals on 27 shots (.778 SV%) in a 6-1 loss, his first loss in six games (5-1-0). Before that, Shesterkin allowed two goals or less in four of his last five games (5-0-0), posting a tremendous .946 SV%. The Rangers have an extremely favourable matchup on Thursday as -430 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has lost three straight.
Dvorak will undergo surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle on Friday and will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Before his injury, Dvorak had two points (2G / 0A) in his last 10 games, playing predominantly alongside Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.
Andersen has been battling an undisclosed injury after playing 15:18 time-on-ice on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars but will not miss any game action as he is expected to play on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Anderson only has six goals through 37 games this season but has six points (5G / 1A) in his last eight.
Shesterkin will likely start for the Rangers on Thursday and look to rebound after a terrible performance in his last outing. On Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, Shesterkin allowed six goals on 27 shots (.778 SV%) in a 6-1 loss, his first loss in six games (5-1-0). Before that, Shesterkin allowed two goals or less in four of his last five games (5-0-0), posting a tremendous .946 SV%. The Rangers have an extremely favourable matchup on Thursday as -430 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has lost three straight.
