Andreas Athanasiou will be a heatlhy scratch for the Blackhawks on Thursday, allowing Reichel to make his season debut. The talented 22-year-old Reichel played his first full NHL season in 2023-24, tallying 16 points (5G / 11A) and a -29 plus/minus rating in 65 games.
Conor Sheary will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Atkinson to re-enter the lineup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Atkinson, the former 40-goal scorer, had 28 points (13G / 15A) and a -22 plus/minus, the worst of his career, in 70 games with the Philadelphia Flyers last season.
Cam Atkinson is expected to draw back into Tampa Bay's lineup on Thursday, resulting in Sheary being a healthy scratch. Sheary played 10:18 time-on-ice in his season debut and recorded four penalty minutes.
The Blackhawks will likely turn to Mrazek for the third straight game on Thursday when they host the San Jose Sharks. Despite a 1-2-0 record, Mrazek has been solid for the Blackhawks to start the season, showcasing a 2.71 GAA and .911 SV%, nearly mirroring the 3.05 GAA and .907 SV% he had last season. The Blackhawks enter the action on Thursday as -183 home favorites against a Sharks club that was defeated 3-2 in a shootout by the Dallas Stars in their previous game.
Linus Ullmark (strain) was at practice and appears to be nearing a return but will be sidelined for at least one more contest, allowing Forbserg to start for the second straight game. Forsberg struggled in his first game, allowing three goals on nine shots (.667 SV%) before being pulled in an exhilarating contest that the Senators were eventually victorious in, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 8-7 in overtime. The Senators enter action on Thursday as +119 home underdogs against an offensively potent New Jersey Devils club.
Albert Johansson will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the New York Rangers, allowing Gustafsson to re-enter the Red Wings' lineup against his former team. In one game with the Red Wings this season, Gustafsson has one points (0G / 1A) and three shots on goal.
Erik Gustafsson will draw back into the Red Wings lineup on Thursday, sending Johansson to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Johansson made his NHL debut this season and has tallied two block and five hits while averaging 11:42 time-on-ice.
Fischer did not play on Monday and was replaced by Austin Watson but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the New York Rangers. In two games with Detroit this season, Fischer is averaging 9:02 time-on-ice and has a -1 plus/minus rating.
The Canadiens will turn to Montembeault in the crease for the third straight time and the fourth time in five games to start the season. Montembeault will attempt to erase his previous effort from his memory when he allowed five goals on 30 shots (.833 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, his first loss of the season. The Canadiens enter action on Thursday as +120 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that lost 6-2 last night to the Toronto Maple Leafs and has allowed an absurd 14 goals in their last two games (0-1-1).
Tampa Bay will likely continue to roll with Vasilevskiy in net for their third game to start the season. After a pedestrian 2023-24 campaign when he posted a 2.90 GAA and .900 SV% in 52 games (30-20-2), the former Vezina-trophy winner seems to have found his elite form early in the season, boasting a stellar 1.00 GAA and .958 SV% through two games (2-0-0). Tampa Bay enters action on Thursday as a -137 home favorite against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Kevin Labanc will watch Thursday's contest against the Buffalo Sabres from the press box as a healthy scratch, allowing Danforth to make his season debut. The 31-year-old Danforth played a career-high 71 games last season, scoring 26 points (10G / 16A).
The Capitals will return to Lindgren between the pipes on Thursday after the team recorded their first win in their previous outing with Logan Thompson in net. Lindgren struggled in his first contest, allowing four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. The Capitals enter action on Thursday as +142 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that extended their early-season unbeaten record to 4-0-0 after a 3-2 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks.
Johnson was a healthy scratch on Tuesday and was replaced in the lineup by Jordan Harris. Johnson, in his 19th NHL season, played the first two games for the Blue Jackets, his second stint with the team, averaging 14:43 time-on-ice while recording one block and two hits.
Labanc was signed by the Blue Jackets prior to the start of the season and has added some offensive contributions, tallying two points (0G / 2A) in three games, but will serve as a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Justin Danforth will draw into the lineup as Labanc's replacement.
The Panthers have turned to Spencer Knight in two of the last three games but will return to Bobrovsky between the crease on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Bobrovsky hasn't risen to full potential yet this season but has managed a 2-1-0 record with a 3.02 GAA and .894 SV%. The Panthers, still without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, enter Thursday's contest as slight -109 home favorites against the Canucks.
Nedeljkovic has been sidelined since late in the preseason when he suffered a lower-body injury. With Pittsburgh struggling to receive consistent netminding from Tristan Jarry early in the season, Nedeljkovic could have an opportunity to garner a heavy workload when he returns to the team. The 28-year-old surprisingly took over Pittsburgh's crease for the Penguins' end-of-season playoff run in 2023-24 due to his 18-7-7 record, 2.97 GAA, and .902 SV% during his first season in Pennsylvania.
Bortuzzo had to leave his Utah debut in the third period due to an undisclosed injury and was without an update on his status post-game. The 35-year-old defenseman signed a one-year, two-way contract with Utah in the offseason after 13 seasons between Pittsburgh, St. Louis and the Islanders.
Erik Brannstrom has been recalled from Abbottsford (AHL) and will draw into the Canucks' lineup as Forbort's replacement. In three games this season, the 32-year-old Forbort has one point (0G / 1A), five blocks, and one hit.
With Elvis Merzlikins being given some time to rest and regroup, the Blue Jackets will turn to Trasov between the pipes on Thursday for his second start of the young season. Tarasov was unspectacular in his first start, allowing four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%), but salvaged a 6-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets enter action on Thursday as +112 home underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres club that was defeated 6-5 in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.
