Steel has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on October 22nd, but he will return on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 28-year-old forward is averaging 15:55 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2) in 10 games this season.
With Esa Lindel (lower body) and Kyle Capobianco (lower body) also sidelined, the Stars will insert Taylor onto their blueline for his NHL debut. Taylor, an undrafted 24-year-old defenseman, played his first full professional season in 2025-26, tallying 26 points (8G / 18A) in 70 games with the Texas Stars (AHL).
Vlasic is battling an illness and his status is uncertain for Thursday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. Already without Bowne Byram (upper body), the Blackhawks can ill-afford to also be without Vlasic on their blueline. The 25-year-old Vlasic is averaging 20:26 time-on-ice and has two assists in 12 games.
Sorokin has been reliable most nights this season, but is coming off a poor outing in his most recent game, allowing a season-high six goals on 38 shots (.842 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. That said, the 31-year-old Russian goalie still boasts a solid 2.26 GAA and .919 SV% through eight games this season (5-3-0). The Islanders enter Thursday's outing as +167 road underdogs against the Central Division-leading Minnesota Wild, who are on a three-game winning streak.
Since the season opener, the Blues have made it clear that Hofer is their go-to guy between the pipes. The 26-year-old Hofer is coming off a forgettable outing, allowing four goals on 39 shots (.897 SV%) in a 4-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. That said, Hofer has been reliable on most nights, posting a 2.40 GAA and .917 SV% in eight games (4-3-1). The Blues enter Thursday's contest as slight -112 home favourites against a Boston Bruins team coming off a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, snapping an eight-game point streak (7-0-1).
Danton Heinen will draw into the Columbus lineup on Thursday, sending Voronkov to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Voronkov is averaging 10:36 time-on-ice and has two assists in eight games.
Dmitri Voronkov will be a healthy scratch on Thurday, allowing Heinen to re-enter the lineup. The 31-year-old Heinen has not suited up for the Blue Jackets in nearly two weeks. He has zero points in seven games.
Greaves has had an up-and-down start to the 2026-27 season, paving the way for more starts for Cam Talbot in recent games, but he will return to the crease on Thursday. The 25-year-old Greaves had a 31-save shutout last week in a 1-0 overtime win over the New York Rangers, which he followed up by allowing five goals on 19 shots (.737 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has a pedestrian 3.34 GAA and .883 SV% in six games (2-3-0). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's game as sizeable +220 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes team that is 3-0-1 in their last four games.
Casey DeSmith saw the Stars' five-game winning streak snap in their previous game, a 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Oettinger has been tremendous to start the season and will return to the crease on Thursday. The 27-year-old American goalie has won four straight, posting a solid 1.70 GAA and .909 SV%. He has a 1.43 GAA, a .929 SV%, and three shutouts in nine games this season (6-2-1). The Stars enter Thursday's game as -165 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team with points in five straight games (4-0-1).
Faber suffered a scary skull fracture in the Wild's final preseason game and has been sidelined since. The 24-year-old defenseman excelled last season as part of Minnesota's top defensive pair alongside superstar Quinn Hughes, scoring 51 points (15G / 36A) in 80 games. There is still no concrete timeline for Faber's return, but his updated status is a very encouraging sign.
Saros has had consecutive disappointing seasons, finishing with sub- .900 SV% for the first two times in his career, but is off to an encouraging start in 2026-27. Despite a modest 3-2-3 record, Saros has been serviceable with a 2.81 GAA and .906 SV% in nine games (3-2-4). He saved 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Islanders. The Predators enter Thursday's action as slight -100 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 last night.
Impressive early-season performances from Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson made Connor Hellebuyck's suspension (and eventual trade) an afterthought, but recent struggles have become overpowering. Skinner has lost three straight (0-2-1), but has remained serviceable, posting a 2.30 GAA and .920 SV%. He has a 2.60 GAA and .911 SV% in eight games (3-2-3). The Jets enter Thursday's game as significant +203 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team on a two-game losing streak (0-1-1).
Haydn Fleury will re-enter Winnipeg's lineup on Thursday, resulting in Bauer being a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Bauer is playing in his first NHL season, recording zero points and averaging 9:14 time-on-ice in seven games.
Tyrel Bauer will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Fleury to re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Fleury is averaging 16:13 time-on-ice and has one assist in seven games this season.
Saros has had consecutive disappointing seasons, finishing with sub- .900 SV% for the first two times in his career, but is off to an encouraging start in 2026-27. Despite a modest 3-2-3 record, Saros has been serviceable with a 2.81 GAA and .906 SV% in nine games (3-2-4). He saved 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Islanders. The Predators enter Thursday's action as slight -100 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 last night.
With Brock Faber (fractured skull) out indefinitely, Spurgeon has been relied upon heavily to start the 2026-27 season. That said, he was limited to only 10:01 of ice time in Minnesota's previous game before exiting with an undisclosed ailment. The 36-year-old defenseman has battled injuries recently, playing more than 66 games only twice in the past seven seasons.
Casey DeSmith saw the Stars' five-game winning streak snap in their previous game, a 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Oettinger has been tremendous to start the season and will return to the crease on Thursday. The 27-year-old American goalie has won four straight, posting a solid 1.70 GAA and .909 SV%. He has a 1.43 GAA, a .929 SV%, and three shutouts in nine games this season (6-2-1). The Stars enter Thursday's game as -165 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team with points in five straight games (4-0-1).
Impressive early-season performances from Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson made Connor Hellebuyck's suspension (and eventual trade) an afterthought, but recent struggles have become overpowering. Skinner has lost three straight (0-2-1), but has remained serviceable, posting a 2.30 GAA and .920 SV%. He has a 2.60 GAA and .911 SV% in eight games (3-2-3). The Jets enter Thursday's game as significant +203 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team on a two-game losing streak (0-1-1).
Marchand began the season on the sidelines with an undisclosed injury and lasted only 9:36 on ice in his second game before suffering his latest ailment. The veteran forward should be back in the lineup by late November.
Barkov missed the entire 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery to repair ACL and MCL injuries. After a strenuous recovery, the 31-year-old Barkov was ready to return as an elite offensive producer, but he returned to the sidelines after suffering a lower-body injury in the second game of the season. Fortunately for Barkov, the injuries are unrelated, and he is about midway through his original two-month recovery timeline.
