Lemieux was dinged up Tuesday in Los Angeles and was not on the ice for Thursday's morning skate. The Rangers have officially listed him as a game-time decision in San Jose. Michael Haley is expected to replace Lemieux if he can't play.
Thatcher Demko is out indefinitely with a concussion, so DiPietro comes up from Utica to serve as Jacob Markstrom's backup on Thursday. With a back-to-back coming up this weekend, Demko could make his season debut in San Jose (Sat) or Vegas (Sun). He is 8-4-1 with a 2.56 GAA and .910 SV% with Utica this season.
Demko suffered a concussion in practice Wednesday, coach Travis Green said ahead of Thursday’s game vs. the Hurricanes. Loui Eriksson collided with Demko while taking the puck to the net in practice and Demko also took a shot off the mask at one point as well. Mike DiPietro has been recalled from Utica (AHL) and is expected to serve as Jacob Markstrom's backup on Thursday.
Tkachuk was scratched Tuesday in Arizona after getting hurt Monday in Colorado but it looks like he'll play against the Maple Leafs. Tkachuk has played very well this season, scoring 12 goals with 15 assists (27 points) in 32 games this season.
Sikura played in the last two games but failed to register a point while playing 10:30 ATOI. Matthew Highmore, who was called up from Rockford (AHL) on Monday, will replace Sikura on Thursday.
Highmore was called up on Monday but sat as a healthy scratch on Tuesday. Highmore will replace Dylan Sikura in the Blackhawks' bottom-6 and comes in with no points in two games this season.
Maatta missed the last four games with an illness but will replace Calvin de Haan, who is on IR with a shoulder injury. Maatta has eight points (1G / 7A) while averaging 1.2 shots and 1.3 blocked shots in 27 games this season.
Mrazek gave up two goals on 24 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Wild last Saturday. James Reimer started Tuesday in Edmonton but it looks like Mrazek will start Thursday in Vancouver. He's won two straight and is 3-3-1 with a 3.24 GAA and .891 SV% on the road this year, so he's not a great option against a quality Canucks offence.
Kuemper allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Coyotes win in Chicago on Sunday. Kuemper has won four of his last five starts (4-0-1) while posting a 1.90 GAA and .939 SV%. The 29-year-old has gone 5-4-1 with a 1.99 GAA, .938 SV% and two shutouts on home-ice and gets set to face the Blackhawks again tonight.
Walker appeared in five games during his call-up but was a healthy scratch on Tuesday and returns to the AHL with Oskar Sundqvist returning to the lineup on Thursday. Walker has 22 points (12G / 10A) in 20 AHL games this season.
Granlund has appeared in 12 straight games but will be replaced by Sam Gagner in the lineup on Thursday.
Russell played 9:47 TOI vs. the Hurricanes on Tuesday but will be replaced by Alex Chiasson on Thursday. Russell has just four assists in 27 games this year.
Gagner has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace Markus Granlund on the Oilers' third line on Thursday. Gagner has one goal and six assists (seven points) in 15 games this season.
Chiasson was a healthy scratch vs. Carolina on Tuesday but will replace Patrick Russell in the lineup on Thursday. Chiasson, who will skate on the second line with Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 28 games this season.
de Haan was hurt midway through Tuesday's game in Vegas and was immediately sent back to Chicago for evaluation. de Haan being placed on IR means he will miss at least three games. With de Haan out, Slater Koekkoek will draw back into the lineup on Thursday.
Lehner gave up three goals on 47 shots in the Blackhawks loss to the Coyotes. Lehner has dropped four of his last five starts (1-2-2) while posting a 3.28 GAA and .914 SV%. The Blackhawks give up the most shots against in the NHL, so he'll continue to be busy on a nightly basis. He'll get another shot at the Coyotes tonight, this time on the road, where he is 3-3-1 with a 2.89 GAA and .927 SV%.
Blichfeld was a seventh-round pick (No.210 overall) in 2016 and is leading the Barracuda in goals (9) and points (19) in his first professional season. Blichfeld is expected to make his NHL debut on the third line with Patrick Marleau and Barclay Goodrow.
Andersen made 38 saves on 39 shots in the Maple Leafs' win in Vancouver on Tuesday. It was a brilliant outing for Andersen, who has won six of his last eight while posting a 1.88 GAA, .939 SV% and one shutout. Tonight he'll take on a Flames team that is riding a six-game winning streak while scoring 4.00 goals per game.
