Ostapchuk was drafted 39th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but has yet to become a full-time presence at the NHL level. The 22-year-old forward played 56 games last season, split between the Senators and Sharks, but started the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL, where he has three points (2G / 1A) in nine games with the Barracuda.
Pesce has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on October 26th and has retroactively been place on Injured Reserve. The 30-year-old defenseman has been a stabilizing force on New Jersey's blueline, averaging 19:39 time-on-ice and scoring three points (0G / 3A) in nine games.
Misa continues his recovery from an undisclosed injury and will miss a third consecutive game on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets. Injuries aside, the Sharks have been easing the 18-year-old Misa into gameplay this season, limited to only seven games, scoring three points (1G / 2A).
Akira Schmid is coming off an impressive 24-save shutout in Vegas' most recent game, a 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings, but the team will turn to Lindbom to tend the twine on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old Lindbom has seen limited action in his first NHL season, but has been solid when called upon, posting a 2.50 GAA and .906 SV% in two games (0-1-1). The Golden Knights enter the action on Thursday as -114 home favorites against a Lightning team whose five-game winning streak was snapped in their last game, a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Logan Mailloux will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Kessel to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Kessel has appeared in five games this season, averaging 10:30 time-on-ice and scoring zero points.
The Blues have had a terrible start to the season, and Logan Mailloux has been a byproduct of their poor team defense. The 22-year-old Mailloux has played sheltered minutes, averaging only 12:33 time-on-ice, but has still managed a woeful -12 plus/minus and zero point through nine games this season. Matthew Kessel will draw into the lineup as Mailloux's replacement.
The Blues have been abysmal defensively this season, allowing a league-worst 59 goals through 14 games (4.21 GA / GP). Jordan Binnington was between the pipes last night in another blowout loss, 6-1 to the Washington Capitals. The team will hope for some stability on Thursday when Hofer tends the twine against the Buffalo Sabres. The 25-year-old Hofer is showcasing an ugly 5.02 GAA and .836 SV% in six appearances this season (1-3-0). The Blues enter Thursday's contest as +113 road underdogs against a Sabres team with points in seven straight games (3-0-4).
After a poor start to the season, failing to record a win in his first five games (0-3-2), posting a dreadful 3.40 GAA and .885 SV%, Vasilevskiy has returned to the form that makes him a perennial Vezina trophy candidate. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has won three of his last four games, posting a tremendous 1.80 GAA and .925 SV% in his last four games (3-1-). He will attempt to continue his strong play on Thursday in a game against a Vegas Golden Knights team that he saved 18 of 19 shots (.947 SV%) against two weeks ago in a 2-1 overtime win. Tampa Bay enters Thursday's game as slight +103 road underdogs.
The Ducks have been outstanding lately, winning six of their last seven (6-1-0), and will roll with Dostal between the pipes on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Despite being one of his weaker performances of the season, allowing three goals on 21 shots (.857 SV%), Dostal still recorded the victory in his most recent outing, a 7-3 win over the Florida Panthers. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has a solid 2.59 GAA and .912 SV% in 10 games this season (6-3-1). The Ducks enter Thursday's contest as +153 road underdogs against a Stars team with points in seven straight games (4-0-3).
Jordan Kyrou is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Texier to enter the lineup for the first time since October 28th. The 26-year-old Texier is averaging 9:57 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in seven games this season.
Oskar Sundqivst is battling an undisclosed injury and will not play on Thursday, allowing Joseph to re-enter the lineup against the Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old Joseph is averaging 12:39 time-on-ice, recording 26 hits and three points (1G / 2A) in 13 games this season.
Sundqvist was limited to 7:43 time-on-ice in the Blues' 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, exiting the game with an undisclosed injury. The 31-year-old Sundqvist has five points (0G / 5A) in eight games this season. Mathieu Joseph will draw back into the lineup as Sundqvist's replacement.
The Blues sit at the bottom of the league with a 4-8-2 record through 14 games, and hope to shake things up by benching one of their star players, Jordy Kyrou, on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 27-year-old Kyrou has eight points (4G / 4A) and a -8 plus/minus through 14 games this season. He has been held off the scoresheet in four straight. Alexandre Texier will draw into the lineup as Kyrou's replacement.
Rittich had a forgetful stat on October 30th, allowing six goals on 34 shots (.824 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, but returned to the crease three days later, saving 20 of 22 (.909 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 33-year-old Rittich has been used sparingly this season but has shown more good than bad, posting a 3.01 GAA and .902 SV% in four games. Rittich returns to the crease on Friday against a Minnesota Wild team playing the tail end of a back-to-back.
Trocheck has not played since suffering an upper-body injury in the second game of the season, but appears to be making strides for returning after returning to practice this week. The 32-year-old Trocheck scored 59 points (26G / 33A) in 82 games last season.
Samuel Ersson (undisclosed) has returned to practicing and is nearing a return, but Vladar will remain in the Flyers' crease on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 28-year-old Vladar has a solid 2.33 GAA and .912 SV% in eight games this season (5-3-0). That said, he has struggled in his last two games (1-1-0), allowing four goals in both outings. The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +108 road underdogs against a Nashville Predators team with points in three straight games (1-0-2).
For the first time this season, Minnesota has won consecutive games and will try to extend its winning streak to three when Gustavsson tends the twine on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Gustavsson has been solid in his last two games (2-0-0), saving 58 of 62 combined shots (.935 SV%). The 27-year-old goalie has a 3.11 GAA and .900 SV% in 11 games this season (4-6-1). Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as +167 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that has lost three of its last five games (2-3-0).
Daemon Hunt will make his season debut on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, sending Jiricek to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 21-year-old Jiricek has yet to score a point in 10 games this season, but has seen sheltered minutes, averaging only 12:40 time-on-ice while playing on Minnesota's bottom defensive pair.
