Hedman has already missed 12 games due to injuries this season, and will return to the sidelines for at least a week, if not more, after surfacing on Injured Reserve on Thursday. The 34-year-old Norris Trophy winner has clearly not been at his best this season, as evidenced by his low shot totals: averaging only 1.4 shots per game, a full shot less than the 2.4 he averaged over the previous decade. He has 12 points (0G / 12A) in 18 games this season.
With Victor Hedman (undisclosed) returning to the sidelines with an injury, Tampa Bay has recalled Carlile from Syracuse (AHL). The 29-year-old Carlile is averaging 12:53 time-on-ice and has one goal in nine games with Tampa Bay this season.
Rielly was battling an illness, but will be ready to suit up when the Maple Leafs return to action on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Already battling a myriad of injuries on their blueline, the Maple Leafs would ill-afford to be without their icetime leader, Morgan Rielly. The 31-year-old Rielly is putting together an excellent season, with 22 points (5G / 17A) in 28 games.
Jet Greaves has proven to be the more reliable Blue Jackets goalie this season, but Merzlikins will get another look on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The 31-year-old Merzlikins allowed a season-high seven goals on 40 shots (.825 SV%) in his most recent game, a 7-6 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. He has an ugly 3.87 GAA and .885 SV% in 12 games (6-5-1). Despite his poor statistics, Merzlikins has quality starts in 50 percent of his games, his best rate in the last five seasons. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +102 home underdogs against a Senators team that has lost five of its last six games (1-5-0).
Markstrom has been unreliable and inconsistent between the pipes this season, but the Devils are hoping he can build momentum off a solid 35-save performance (.921 SV%) in their most recent game, a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 35-year-old Markstrom has an ugly 3.48 GAA and .880 SV% in 15 games (8-6-1) and is sporting a career-worst 29 percent quality start rate. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as +120 home underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that erupted for a 6-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens in their last game after being shut out in two straight.
Joseph Woll (lower body) is nearing a return, but is not eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve yet, leaving the Maple Leafs' crease to Hildeby on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 24-year-old Hildeby has been sensational while filling in as the team's de facto starting goalie and is coming off his first career shutout, a 29-save performance in a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has a 2.15 GAA and .936 SV% in nine appearances this season (2-2-2). The Maple Leafs enter the action on Thursday as sizable -193 home favorites against a Sharks team that has scored fewer than two goals in three of their last four games (1-3-0).
The Islanders have won four of their last five (4-1-0), with Ilya Sorokin tending the twine in each of the victories, but they will turn to Rittich on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 33-year-old Rittich allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. Rittich has a 2.65 GAA and .901 SV% in 10 games this season (6-3-1). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as -124 home favorites against a Ducks team on a three-game winning streak.
With Booner Jenner (upper body) expected to return on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, Del Bel Belluz will be the odd man out as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Del Bel Belluz has one assist in 11 games this season.
Meier will not play on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning and it is unclear when he might return to the lineup, as he is way from the team to tend to a personal family matter. The 29-year-old Meier only has one point (1G / 0A) in his last four games, but is pacing for his best offensive output since joining the Devils, with 23 points (11G / 12A) in 30 games.
Jenner has not played since November 11th, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The 32-year-old Jenner has 30 hits and 10 points (3G / 7A) in 16 games this season. Jenner, usually an effective contributor when healthy, has battled injuries in recent years, playing fewer than 60 games in all but one of his last five seasons. Luca Del Bel Belluz will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Jenner's return.
Daccord will be hoping to snap a personal five-game losing streak when he and the Kraken host the Kings on Wednesday. The 29-year-old netminder's struggles continued in his last start, when he allowed four goals on just 25 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Red Wings on Saturday. Daccord carries a 7-7-4 record and .891 SV% into Wednesday night's game, where the Kraken enter action at -120 on the money line.
After scoring two or fewer goals in seven of their last nine games (3-3-3), the Kings have erupted to outscore their opponents 10-2 in their last two games (2-0-0). Darcy Kuemper has started four straight, so the Kings will turn to Forsberg on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken. The 33-year-old Forsberg was solid in his most recent outing, saving 19 of 20 shots (.950 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks. Forsberg has a 2.69 GAA and .894 SV% in eight games this season (4-2-2). The Kings enter the action on Wednesday as -146 road favorites against a Kraken team on a five-game losing skid (0-5-0).
The Mammoth will hand Vejmelka his 24th start of the season when they host the Panthers on Tuesday. Vejmelka was tagged with the loss in his last start, allowing three goals on 26 shots in a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Kings on Monday. The 29-year-old netminder carries a 12-8-2 record and .894 SV% into Wednesday night's matchup, where the Mammoth enter action at -110 on the money line.
After an outstanding start to his first full season with the Blackhawks, posting a solid 2.50 GAA and .924 SV% in 13 games (7-3-3), Knight has struggled to maintain that excellence, posting a 3.0 GAA and .889 SV% in his last seven (2-3-2). He has a sub- .900 SV% in five of his last seven games, but will be motivated to have a strong performance with his team trying to break a two-game slump where they have been outscored 13-1. The Blackhawks enter Wednesday's contest as +122 home underdogs against a New York Rangers team with points in four straight games (2-0-2).
The Red Wings acquired Gibson in the offseason to stabilize an inconsistent crease over the past few seasons, but he added to the uncertainty early in his tenure. That said, the 32-year-old Gibson could be turning a corner, winning three straight, and coming off an outstanding 39-save performance in a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks for his first shutout in a Red Wings uniform. Gibson has a 3.35 GAA and .881 SV% in 16 appearances (7-7-1). The Red Wings enter Wednesday's contest as slight -109 road favorites against a Calgary Flames team on a three-game winning streak.
Kuzmenko has remained on the top powerplay unit but has since been heavily protected at even strength, seemingly not having the trust of the Kings' coaching staff. The 29-year-old Kuzmenko was excellent with the Kings after being acquired before the trade deadline in 2024-25, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A) in 22 games, but has not been able to replicate that success in 2025-26. He played a season-low 6:58 time-on-ice in the Kings' most recent game and has just one point (1G / 0A) in his last 13. Jeff Malott will draw into the lineup as Kuzmenko's replacement.
Andrei Kuzmenko will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken, allowing Malott to re-enter the lineup. The 29-year-old Malott has two goals in 19 games this season.
