Butler is a 23-year-old undrafted right-winger who made his only NHL appearance in 2023-24 with the Blue Jackets. He struggled to produce offensively in 2024-25, only scoring two goals and three points in 37 games played with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL).
The Devils' eight-game winning streak snapped in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche when Jacob Markstrom made his return to the crease from a lower-body injury. Markstrom's poor performance on Tuesday adds further fuel to Jake Allen's case for more time between the pipes. The 35-year-old Allen has been exceptional to start the 2025-26 season, posting a 1.93 GAA and .923 SV% in six appearances (5-0-0). The Devils enter the action on Thursday as sizable -217 road favorites against a Sharks team with a 2-6-2 record.
Milne made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with Minnesota, but has primarily been an AHL player. The 23-year-old scored 26 points (15G / 11A) in 60 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) last season.
The Blues have been atrocious defensively lately, having been outscored 26-14 during a five-game losing streak (0-4-1). Binnington returns to the crease on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks, hoping to rebound after a forgetful performance in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings when he allowed five goals on 19 shots (.789 SV%). The 32-year-old goalie has a 3.27 GAA and .863 SV% in eight appearances this season (2-4-1). The Blues enter Thursday's contest as -146 home favorites against a 5-6-0 Canucks team.
The Rangers' disappointing 4-5-2 start to the season is directly correlated to their poor play on home ice. They will be on the road, where they boast an impressive 4-1-1 record, when they visit the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Shesterkin has a solid 2.25 GAA and .916 SV% in eight games for the Rangers (2-4-2), but has struggled in his last two (0-1-1), allowing 11 goals on 54 combined shots (.796 SV%). The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as +143 road underdogs against an Oilers team that has earned points in four of its last five games (3-1-1).
Mikheyev record an assist in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings but was limited to only 11:55 time-on-ice, exiting the game with an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old forward has five points (3G / 2A) in nine games. He has not played since and will be a game-time decision on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets.
Shakir Mukhamadullin (undisclosed) returns from a nine-game absence on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, sending Desharnais to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Desharnais is averaging 16:32 time-on-ice and has one assist in seven games.
Giles made his NHL debut last season, score one point (1G / 0A) in 17 games split between the Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks. Michael Misa will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Giles' insertion in the lineup.
Patrick Giles makes his season debut for the Sharks on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, returning Misa to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 18-year-old Misa has been productive in his first exposure to NHL action this season, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in six games.
Mukhamadullin has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury in San Jose's season-opener on October 9th. He played 12:45 time-on-ice and recorded two assists in the outing. Vincent Desharnais will serve as a healthy scratch to accommodate Mukhamadullin's return.
The New Jersey Devils defeated the Sharks 3-1 less than a week ago, and they will meet again for a rematch on Thursday. Nedeljkovic is coming off his first win of the season in a rollercoaster 6-5 overtime win against the New York Rangers when he allowed five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%). The 29-year-old goalie has a 4.00 GAA and .875 SV% in four games this season (1-2-1). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as +192 home underdogs against a Devils team tied for first place in the NHL, sporting an 8-2-0 record.
Gaudette was limited to only 6:39 time-on-ice in San Jose's 6-5 win over Minnesota on Sunday, exiting the contest due to an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Gaudette did not play on Tuesday and will miss at least a week after being placed retroactively on Injured Reserve. Gaudette has four points (3G / 1A) in nine games this season. His injury is considered more than day-to-day.
The Canucks are off to a 5-6-0 start to the season, a record that has suffered as a result of inconsistent play from netminder Kevin Lankinen, who will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 30-year-old Lankinen is sporting an ugly 3.74 GAA and .873 SV% through four games this season (1-3-0). He has allowed four or more goals in three of his four outings. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +132 road underdogs against a Blues team that has been among the worst in the league defensively, being outscored 44-29 through 10 games (3-6-1).
Ersson has taken a backseat to Dan Vladar early in the 2025-26 season, due to Vladar's strong play. The 26-year-old Ersson is not expected to miss significant time, but his absence will further allow Vladar to make his case to be the starting goalie in Philadelphia. Erson has a 3.08 GAA and .876 SV% in four games this season (2-1-1). The Flyers have recalled Aleksei Kolosov from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Kolosov made his NHL debut with Philadelphia last season, posting a 3.59 GAA and .867 SV% in 17 games (5-9-1). The 23-year-old Belarusian goalie has started the season strong with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL), posting a 2.60 GAA and .918 SV% in five games (3-2-0). He will likely serve as the backup to Dan Vlader while he is with the Flyers until Samuel Ersson returns from an undisclosed injury.
Necas was acquired by Colorado in a surprising mid-season trade in 2024-25, sending Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 26-year-old Necas has gelled seamlessly with his new team, playing almost exclusively alongside Nathan MacKinnon, scoring 41 points (18G / 23A) in 41 games since joining the team last January.
The Penguins are off to an impressive 7-2-2 start to the season and will continue their goalie rotation, turning to Jarry between the pipes on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. After a horrendous 2024-25 campaign, posting an ugly 3.12 GAA and .892 SV% in 36 games (16-12-6), Jarry is off to his best start in years, posting a 2.62 GAA and .916 SV% in five contests (4-1-0). Still, the Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +149 road underdogs against a struggling 3-5-3 Wild team.
The Blackhawks have relied on Knight in seven of 10 games to start the 2025-26 season (5-3-2), and will roll with him again on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 24-year-old Knight has been excellent in his first full season with the Blackhawks, posting a stellar 2.11 GAA and .930 SV% in seven games (4-2-1). Still, the Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +187 road underdogs against a 7-3-0 Jets team.
Minnesota has been abysmally defensive lately, outscored 20-11 during a four-game losing streak (0-2-2). The team hopes for a heroic performance out of Gustavsson when he returns to the crease on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old Gustavsson had a 26-save shutout in his first game of the season, but has struggled saving the puck since, posting a 3.90 GAA and .876 SV% in his subsequent seven outings (1-5-1). Still, Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as a -166 home favorite against a Pittsburgh team with points in seven straight games (5-0-2).
