Oesterle has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in Providence (AHL) but could make his Boston Bruins debut after being recalled on Wednesday, possibly an indication that Hampus Lindholm (lower body) will not be ready to play. The 32-year-old Oesterle has 371 games of NHL experience, recording 86 points (19G / 67A).
Brodin exited Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks after playing 16:38 time-on-ice due to an unspecified injury. The 31-year-old Bordin is averaging 22:04 time-on-ice, second most among Minnesota defensemen, and has six points (1G / 5A) in 15 games this season.
Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes for the sixth time in the last seven games on Thursday when they host the Montreal Canadiens. Gustavsson was on the wrong end of a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in his previous outing but was solid in the effort, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%). The 26-year-old Gustavsson has a 2.27 GAA and .919 SV% in 11 games this season (7-2-2).
Reilly has been out of the lineup since suffering an upper-body injury resulting from a hit by Jordan Greenway of the Buffalo Sabres on November 1st. Before his injury, the 31-year-old Reilly had played 11 games, averaging 15:45 time-on-ice.
Raty played four straight for Vancouver but has been reassigned to the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL). The 21-year-old Raty was the 52nd overall pick of the New York Islanders in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He has seven points (3G / 4A) in eight AHL games with Abbotsford this season.
Lekkerimaki made his NHL debut on Tuesday, playing 14:07 time-on-ice, recording two shots and one hit, while seeing top-line and top-powerplay deployment. The 20-year-old Lekkerimaki was the 15th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Bains has spent most of the 2024-25 season with Vancouver but has continually been a part of paper transactions, sending him down to Abbotsford (AHL), due to salary cap implications. The 23-year-old Bains is averaging 11:30 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A) in eight games this season.
After a stretch of only playing one of eight games, resulting from a horrendous start of allowing three or more goals in his first five games (1-3-0) and posting a .810 SV%, Georgiev has started three straight (2-1-0), allowing seven goals combined and posting a solid .921 SV%. The Avalanche are riding a two-game winning streak and enter the action on Wednesday as -139 home favorites against a Los Angeles Kings club that has lost two of their past three (1-2-0).
Stezka has served as the backup to Joey Daccord the past couple games since Philipp Grubauer (undisclosed) has been sidelined with an injury. Stezka's reassignment to the AHL could be a sign that Grubauer is nearing a return, but could also just be a paper transaction ahead of Seattle's next game on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old Stezka has a 3.61 GAA and .881 SV% in six games with Coachella Valley (AHL) this season.
Montembeault saved all four shots he faced after entering Monday's exciting 7-5 victory over the Buffalo Sabres and was the goalie of record, recording the victory after relieving Cayden Primeau. The 28-year-old Montebeault has had an inconsistent 2024-25 season, recording a 3.42 GAA and .890 SV% in 12 games (4-7-1). Montembeault and the Canadiens will be heavily tested on Thursday, facing off against the Minnesota Wild and their top-10 offense, averaging 3.5 goals per game.
Hakanpaa has returned from a two-game conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and his Maple Leafs debut appears to be approaching. The 32-year-old Hakanpaa, in his first season as a Maple Leaf, missed an extended portion of last season with the Dallas Stars due to injuries that continued into the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign.
Samuelsson made his return to the lineup from a three-game absence on Monday but exited the contest after only 6:49 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. Before his injury, the 24-year-old Samuelsson was averaging 16:52 time-on-ice and had one point (1G / 0A) in 12 games this season. He is expected to be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis.
Luukkonen struggled in the Sabres' previous outing, allowing four goals on 18 shots (.778 SV%), before being relieved by Devon Levi in an eventual 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Luukkonen has a 2.83 GAA and .903 SV% in 12 contests (6-4-1) and had started five straight (3-2-0). If Luukkonen misses any time, expect Levi to control the Sabres crease in the interim.
Thompson scored a goal on Monday, extending his goal-scoring streak to four games, but exited the contest after only 6:49 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old Thompson has been off to a terrific start to the 2024-25 campaign, with 18 points (11G / 7A) in 15 games, and will be sorely missed by the Sabres if he misses any time.
Motte made his return from an upper-body injury on Saturday, playing 11:25 time-on-ice, but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Joe Veleno to draw back into the lineup. The 29-year-old Motte has been limited to only five games this season, averaging 11:18 time-on-ice, tallying six hits and 11 shots.
Tyler Motte will serve as a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Veleno to make his return from a one-game absence. The 24-year-old Veleno is averaging 11:14 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 13 games this season.
Helleson was the second-round pick, 47th overall, of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old made his NHL debut with the Ducks in the 2022-23 season, playing three games, but has played exclusively in the AHL since.
Harkins played one game with the Ducks earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign as an offensive powerhouse in the AHL. The 27-year-old Harkins has 17 points (5G ./ 12A) in 11 games with the San Diego Gulls (AHL) this season.
The Penguins are coming off a forgetful outing on Monday when they allowed six goals in the first period in an eventual 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Nedeljkovic entered the contest in relief and allowed four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%), lowering his season totals to a 3.25 GAA and .882 SV% in eight appearances (2-3-2). The Penguins enter Wednesday's contest as -137 home favorites against a Detroit Red Wings club riding a two-game losing skid.
The Penguins will shake up their defense on Wednesday after a debilitating 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in their previous contest, welcoming Shea back into the lineup in favor of Jack St. Ivany. The 27-year-old Shea is averaging 15:06 time-on-ice and has zero points in three games this season.
