Kane will get the night off on Thursday as the Oilers opt to give him the night off to rest ahead of their playoff run. Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm will all join him in the press box tonight.
Mark Friedman will draw into the Canucks lineup on Thursday, allowing Hronek to have the night off in their final game before the playoffs. Hronek ends the 2023-24 campaign with a career-high 48 points (5G / 43A) in 81 games.
After returning from a multi-week injury on Tuesday, Demko will return to the crease for the Canucks for his second straight game. Demko was excellent in his return to action, picking up where he left off, saving 39 of 40 shots (.975 SV%) in a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. The Canucks enter action as -107 road favourites on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets.
Boeser will not play on Thursday and get an extra night of rest before the beginning of the playoffs. The 27-year-old Boeser ends the 2023-24 campaign with career-highs in goals (40) and points (73), accumulated across 81 games this season.
Forbort has not played since early March but could be nearing a return to action as he will join the Providence Bruins (AHL) for a conditioning loan. The 32-year-old Forbort has four points (0G / 4A), 66 hits, and 65 blocks in 35 games this season.
Demko has missed the previous 14 games due to a knee injury but will make his much-anticipated return on Tuesday vs. Calgary. The 28-year-old will look to extend his personal three-game winning streak and build on his impressive 34-13-2 record, 2.47 GAA, .917 SV% and five shutouts on the season. He'll host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, who despite being out of the playoffs have won their last two games but are ranked 17th in the NHL in goals per game (3.09).
With three games remaining in the regular season, Kane will get the night off for maintenance against the San Jose Sharks on Monday. Kane has been effective lately, scoring five points (3G / 2A) in his last five games.
Juuse Saros (roster management) will not dress on Friday, leaving the crease to Kevin Lankinen. Lankinen was solid in his last outing, despite suffering a 2-0 loss to the New York Islanders, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%), improving his season totals to a 2.93 GAA and .905 SV%. The Predators enter action on Friday as -254 road favourites against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Chytil suffered a setback in his initial attempt to return from an upper-body injury in late January after going down at practice and was ruled out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. There is no confirmation whether this initial prognosis has adjusted. Chytil was a major component of the Rangers offence, scoring 22 goals and 45 points as a 23-year-old in 2022-23.
With Vancouver locking up a playoff spot weeks ago they have been taking Thatcher Demko's recovery slow but the goaltender claimed Thursday "I feel fine" and that he is a possibility to return on Saturday. The 28-year-old star netminder last appeared on March 9th and holds an impressive 34-13-2 record, 2.47 GAA and . 917 SV% on the season.
Ohgren will make his NHL debut on Friday in Vegas after appearing in three games for Iowa (AHL) after a full season in the Swedish Elite League with Farjestad BK. The 20-year-old left-winger is Minnesota's 2022 first-round pick (20th overall) and had an impressive 12 goals and 19 points in 26 games with Farjestad BK before being sent to North America.
Aman played the last three games for the Canucks but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Arizona Coyotes. The 24-year-old has scored seven points (3G / 4A) in 42 games last season.
Ohgren was the 19th overall pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He recently made his North American debut with the Iowa Wild (AHL) and could get the opportunity for his first NHL game after being recalled on Wednesday.
Demko has not played since March 9th due to a lower-body injury but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. He was one of the league's top goaltenders when he went down with an injury, noticeable by his 34-13-2 record, 2.47 GAA, .917 SV% and five shutouts.
Bains second stint with Vancouver did not go as planned after the forward appeared in three games and averaged less than 10 minutes per game TOI while picking up a -2 plus/minus. The 23-year-old was re-assigned to Abbotsford (AHL) on Thursday, where he has 14 goals and 49 points in 53 games played this season.
Aman will draw in for Pius Suter, who is out with an undisclosed injury. Aman has three goals and four assists in 39 games this season.
Bains will take a seat on Wednesday as the Canucks look to get some fresh legs into their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Bains is yet to register a point in eight games this season.
