Raanta will backup Darcy Kuemper for the second straight game. Raanta is feeling better, but Kuemper played well in Columbus, so they’ll give him another start.

Raanta will backup Darcy Kuemper for the second straight game. Raanta is feeling better, but Kuemper played well in Columbus, so they’ll give him another start.

Kuemper filled in for Antti Raanta, who was a late scratch after being schedule to start Tuesday’s game in Columbus. Kuemper stopped 35 of 36 shots in the 4-1 win. Tonight he will make his third start of the season and comes in with a 1.52 GAA and .953 SV% in his first two outings. He draws a solid matchup against a Canucks team that is banged up and coming in on the tail-end of a back-to-back.

Vorobyev will get back into the lineup with Michael Raffl injury. Vorobyev will centre the Flyers third line with Wayne Simmonds and Oskar Lindblom on his wings. He has just one goal while averaging 12:00 TOI/GM in five games this season.

Riikola had a rough night in Edmonton on Tuesday, so he will get a chance to sit in the press box tonight. Chad Ruhwedel will replace him on the third pairing.

Ruhwedel is expected to make his season debut on Thursday, replacing Juuso Riikola. Ruhwedel had just five points (2G / 3A) in 44 games with the Penguins last year.


Brisebois, 21, has recorded one goal and one assist in seven games with Utica this season. Brisebois could make his NHL debut on Thursday with Alex Edler and Chris Tanev getting injured on Wednesday.

Biega has two assists in three games with Utica so far this season. With Alex Edler and Chris Tanev getting banged up last night, Biega returns to the Canucks where he had nine points (1G / 8A) in 44 games a season ago.

Murray allowed five goals on 46 shots in the Penguins overtime win in Edmonton on Tuesday. Murray has won three of his first four starts despite allowing 16 goals on 149 shots (.893 SV%). Tonight he faces a Flames team that comes into Thursday ranked seventh in the NHL with 3.56 goals for per game, despite having the 23rd ranked PP (15.8%).

Valimaki has one goal and 11 shots on goal in nine games with the Flames this season. With Travis Hamonic (face) ready to return tonight, Valimaki will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

Hamonic has been out with a facial fracture since opening night, but will replace Jusso Valimaki in the lineup on Thursday. Hamonic will skate on the second pairing with Noah Hanifin.

Khaira has no points in six games this season, but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday. Khaira will replace Zack Kassian vs. the Capitals.

Kassian has no points and a minus-4 rating in five games this season. Jujhar Khaira will replace Kassian in the lineup on Thursday.

Caggiula has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, but will replace Jesse Puljujarvi on Thursday. Puljujarvi has no points and seven shots on goal in three games this season.

Puljujarvi has recorded just one goal with a minus-4 rating while playing 12:27 TOI/GM in seven games this season. Drake Caggiula is healthy and will replace Puljujarvi on Thursday.

Kempe cleared waivers after playing just four games with the Coyotes this season and returns to the AHL where he had 18 goals and 19 assists (37 points) in 47 games last year.

It looks like Ryan will come out of the Flames lineup on Thursday, with Austin Czarnik replacing him. Ryan has recorded just two points (1G / 1A) in nine games with the Flames.

Talbot allowed six goals on 31 shots in the Oilers overtime loss to the Penguins on Tuesday. Talbot followed up a three-game winning streak with two straight losses, so he comes into Thursday at 3-3-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .891 SV% on the season. Tonight he meets a Capitals team that is 4-2-2 with the most goals for per game (4.25) through their first eight games.

Ehn, 22, had one assist in nine games with the Red Wings. With Jacob De La Rose set to make his Red Wings debut on Friday, Ehn goes to Grand Rapids for the first time in his career.

Wagner has not picked up a point in five games with the Kings this season, but will draw back in for Sheldon Rempal on Thursday.
