Cayden Primeau will start Thursday vs. Carolina. Primeau played well in the Canadiens' final game before the Christmas break, saving 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, and will play in their first game back from the break on Thursday. Primeau has won three of his last four contests (3-1-0), allowing two goals or fewer in three, posting a .916 SV%, but will be hard-pressed to continue his strong play in an unfavourable matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes played last night, a commanding 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators, but are still sizeable -253 home favourites against the Canadiens. Source: Montreal Canadiens
Samuel Ersson will start Thursday in Vancouver. On the front end of a back-to-back, the Flyers will turn to Samuel Ersson for the sixth time in the last seven games. Ersson's clutch of the starting position for the Flyers is a result of Hart being unable to play due to various injuries and illnesses over the last month, but he has made the most of his time between the pipes. Ersson has played nine games since mid-November (7-1-1), allowing three or fewer goals in each, posting a stellar .926 SV%. That said, the Flyers will be put to the test as +136 road underdogs on Thursday against a Vancouver Canucks club that was shut out by the Flyers 2-0 in the opening week of the season. Source: Philadelphia Flyers
Skinner will start in San Jose on Thursday. Skinner will return to the crease for the Oilers in their first game back from the Christmas break in a favourable matchup against the San Jose Sharks. The Oilers, winners of two straight, are enormous -403 road favourites against a Sharks that has lost six straight (0-6-0), including a 5-1 loss last night at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings. Skinner has had an up-and-down last couple of weeks but is coming off an impressive 31-save performance (.912 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Source: @EdmontonOilers