Oskar Sundqvist will not play on Friday against the Ottawa Senators due to an illness, allowing Joseph to re-enter the lineup. The 27-year-old Joseph is averaging 12:08 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 24 games this season.
Murphy is battling through a groin injury, did not practice on Thursday, and will not play on Friday. The 31-year-old Murphy has been a steadying force on the blue line for the Blackhawks this season, averaging 20:33 time-on-ice and scoring 13 points (1G / 12A) in 38 games. Wyatt Kaiser will draw into the lineup as Murphy's replacement.
Connor Murphy will not play on Friday against the Montreal Canadiens due to a groin injury, allowing Kaiser to re-enter the lineup. Kaiser has not played since December 14th. He is averaging 17:33 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in 28 games this season.
Petr Mrazek played in Chicago's 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues in Tuesday's Winter Classic. The Blackhawks will revert to Soderblom between the pipes on Friday, looking to snap a five-game losing skid. Soderblom allowed five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. He has a 2.78 GAA and .907 SV% in 16 games this season (5-9-1). The Blackhawks enter Friday's contest as +124 home underdogs against a Montreal Canadiens squad outscoring their opposition 12-4 during a three-game winning streak.
Sundqvist only has six points (3G / 3A) in 28 games this season but has been more productive lately, recording three points (1G / 2A) in his last six. Mathieu Joseph will draw into the lineup as Sundqvists' replacement.
Jack Drury (hand) has been activated from Injured Reserve, resulting in Jaaska being assigned to the Chicago Wolves (AHL). The 26-year-old Jaaska made his NHL debut last night, playing 8:21 time-on-ice and recording three hits.
Myers has only played 11 games this season but has been a bruting force when in the lineup, racking up 29 hits. The 28-year-old towering 6'5 defenseman is averaging 17:08 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) this season.
Drury has been out of the lineup since suffering an injury on December 10th. The 24-year-old Drury was averaging 13:09 time-on-ice and had nine points (3G / 6A) in 28 games before his injury. In a corresponding move, Juha Jaaska was reassigned to the Chicago Wolves (AHL).
Rifai was recalled last week as Oliver-Ekman Larsson was battling an illness, but did not draw into the lineup. The 26-year-old Rifai has four points (2G / 2A) in 24 games with the Marlies this season.
Matinpalo made his season debut last week, playing 10:24 time-on-ice, but has been loaned to the Belleville Senators (AHL). The undrafted 26-year-old defenseman has seven points (2G / 5A) in 23 games with Belleville this season.
Hedman left Thursday’s game vs. San Jose after scarily taking a puck to the head and did not return. Head Coach Jon Cooper said the team had no updates on the extent of the injury after the game.
Head coach Rick Tocchet said that Demko had "some back spasms, so I dont think it's serious." Tocchet added that it "could be a day or two" but back spasms are unpredictable. The Canucks have another game on Friday, so expect a goalie to be recalled from the AHL to backup Kevin Lankinen.
Wedgewood was hurt after Zach Benson fell on his right leg. Wedgewood had to be helped off the ice and was reportedly wearing a boot post-game. Expect an update from the Avalanche in the coming days. But it looks like Wedgewood is going to be out indefinitely.
Guentzel did not play on the previous game due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 30-year-old Guentzel has been terrific in his first season with Tampa Bay, scoring 37 points (20G / 17A) in 33 games.
Coming off consecutive back-to-back games, Tampa Bay has split their workload between Vasilevskiy and Jonas Johansson over the past four games (2-2-0). They will return to their workhorse netminder on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Vasilevskiy was outstanding in his most recent outing, saving 42 of 44 shots (.955 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. He has a 2.39 GAA and .913 SV% in 27 games this season (26-10-1). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as significant -275 road favorites against a San Jose club amid an eight-game losing skid.
The Sharks are amid their second eight-game losing skid of the season and will attempt to return to the win column with Askarov between the pipes on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Askarov played well in his most recent outing, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. The 22-year-old Askarov has a 2.62 GAA and .915 SV% in five NHL games this season (1-2-2). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +227 road underdogs against a Lightning club coming off a 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
Brannstrom is a surprise omission from Thursday night's lineup after quarterbacking Vancouver's top power-play unit in their last game. Guillaume Brisebois will draw into the lineup in his place.
Brisebois will make his season debut on Thursday as Erik Brannstrom draws out of the lineup. Brisebois has not played an NHL game since the 2022-23 season, when he logged one goal and two assist across 17 games.
Grubauer will make his third consecutive start on Thursday as Joey Daccord remains unavailable due to an upper-body injury. Grubauer was stellar his last time out, allowing just two goals on 30 shots in a 5-2 victory over Utah on Monday. It was just the fifth victory in 15 starts this season for Grubauer, who owns an .878 SV% on the year. He and the Kraken enter action on Thursday as slight favourites at -125 on the money line.
After winning four straight, Utah HC has lost five in a row and will attempt to right the ship in their first game of 2025, with Vejmelka between the pipes. Despite losing his last three games, Vejmelka has been serviceable, posting a .906 SV%. He has a 2.40 GAA and .916 SV% in 22 appearances this season (8-10-2). Utah HC enters Thursday's contest as -120 road favorites against a Calgary Flames club coming off a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
