Kent Johnson will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Wood to re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Wood has not played in nearly three weeks. He is averaging 12:20 time-on-ice and has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 44 games this season.
Miles Wood will draw into Columbus' lineup on Thursday, resulting in Johnson being a healthy scratch. After a breakout 2024-25 season, with 57 points (24G / 33A) in 68 games, Johnson has had a disappointing 2025-26 season, with only 21 points (7G / 14A) through 68 games. He has three points (1G / 2A) in his last 15 games.
Michael Bunting will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Dallas Stars, allowing Bastian to re-enter the lineup. The 28-year-old Bastian is averaging 8:47 time-on-ice and has seven points (6G / 1A) in 34 games this season.
The Stars acquired Bunting from the Nashville Predators before the trade deadline, but he has had some difficulty acclimating to his new team and will be a healthy scratch for the first time on Thursday. The 30-year-old Bunting is averaging 13:42 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in nine games with Dallas. Nathan Bastian will draw into the lineup as Bunting's replacement.
Oettinger only lasted one period in the Stars' previous game, being relieved by Casey DeSmith after allowing four goals on eight shots (.500 SV%) in an eventual 6-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils. That said, before that poor performance, the 27-year-old Oettinger was on an excellent run, posting a dazzling 1.81 GAA and .930 SV% in eight games (6-0-2). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -125 road favourites against the New York Islanders, who have lost three of their last four games (1-3-0).
Sanderson was labeled as week-to-week when he suffered an upper-body injury in Seattle on March 7th, but appears to nearing a return, possibly as soon as Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. With Ottawa's blueline being decimated with injuries, the team will be eager to welcome their top defenseman back into the lineup.
Jeff Petry will draw back into Minnesota's lineup on Thursday, sending Bogosian to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 35-year-old Bogosian is averaging 14:31 time-on-ice and has six points (2G / 4A) in 38 games this season.
With Marcus Foligno returning from a lower-body injury, Yurov will be the odd man out of Minnesota's lineup. The 22-year-old Yurov, in his rookie season, is averaging 13:11 time-on-ice and has 25 points (10G / 15A) in 65 games.
Zach Bogosian will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Florida Panthers, allowing Petry to re-enter the lineup. The 38-year-old Petry is averaging 14:47 time-on-ice and has eight assists in 59 games this season.
After starting his tenure with the Penguins on a positive note, Skinner has struggled in recent games, but hopes to rebound on Thursday, tending the twine against the Ottawa Senators. The 27-year-old goalie has allowed four or more goals in five of his last nine games (2-2-5), posting an ugly 3.69 GAA and .866 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +131 road underdogs against a red-hot Senators team that is 6-1-0 in their last seven games.
Malkin is having a resurgent season for Pittsburgh, producing at a point-per-game rate for the first time in half a decade, but he has missed time this season due to various injuries and a lengthy suspension. The 39-year-old forward missed Tuesday's game due to an upper-body injury and will miss another on Thursday. He has 52 points (15G / 37A) in 50 games this season.
Greaves has been exceptional in the Blue Jackets' late-season push for the playoffs, and will look to continue his winning ways on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 24-year-old Greaves saved 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Since the beginning of March, he's boasted a solid 2.14 GAA and .916 SV% in eight games (6-1-1). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as slight +101 road underdogs against a Canadiens team that has outscored its opposition 12-5 in its last two games (2-0-0).
Boisvert was drafted 18th overall by Chicago in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has since signed a three-year, entry-level contract. The 19-year-old forward had a successful 2025-26 campaign at the collegiate level, scoring 17 points (3G / 14A) in 26 games with Boston University.
After a tremendous start to his rookie season, Wallstedt has not been able to sustain his stellar play but is riding another hot stretch. The 23-year-old Swedish goalie has a terrific 2.17 GAA and .922 SV% in five appearances since the beginning of March (0-2-2). Minnesota enters the action on Thursday as a -156 road favourite against a Florida Panthers team that is 2-3-0 in its last five games.
Foligno has not played since late February, but he will make his return from a lower-body injury on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 34-year-old forward is averaging 12:57 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (6G / 5A), 58 penalty minutes, and 151 hits in 48 games this season.
Despite battling a lower-body injury, Mantha will continue his tremendous season, suiting up for Thursday's game against the Ottawa Senators. The 31-year-old Mantha has a career-high 53 points (26G / 27A) in 71 games this season. His previous career high was at age 24 with the Detroit Red Wings, when he scored 48 points (25G / 23A) in 67 games.
Grebenkin has not play in nearly a week and is expected to be sidelined for at least one more as he tends to an upper-body injury. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 11:17 time-on-ice and has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 55 games this season.
After starting his tenure with the Penguins on a positive note, Skinner has struggled in recent games, but hopes to rebound on Thursday, tending the twine against the Ottawa Senators. The 27-year-old goalie has allowed four or more goals in five of his last nine games (2-2-5), posting an ugly 3.69 GAA and .866 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +131 road underdogs against a red-hot Senators team that is 6-1-0 in their last seven games.
Dobes has become the most reliable netminder for the Canadiens over the past few weeks and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In his last six games (4-2-0), the 24-year-old Czech goalie has dazzled with a solid 2.20 GAA and .926 SV%. The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as slight -112 home favourites against a Blue Jackets team that is 5-1-0 in their last six games.
Amid a five-game losing streak (0-4-1), Seattle will try to right their ship by turning to Grubauer on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 34-year-old Grubauer didn't provide much optimism in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 25 shots (.800 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the same Lightning team. Since returning from the Olympic break, Grubauer has a 3.49 GAA and .875 SV% in five appearances (1-3-0). Seattle enters Thursday's contest as sizable +248 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay team on a five-game point streak (4-0-1).
