Thursdays are usually busy for hockey, and this one is no exception. There are 11 games on the docket, beginning with six 7:00 p.m. ET starts (the Rangers at Toronto, Nashville at Montreal, Seattle at Ottawa, Florida at New Jersey, Winnipeg at Philadelphia, Colorado at Columbus). That's followed by games beginning at 7:30 (Edmonton visiting the Islanders), 8:00 (Vancouver at Dallas) and 10:00 (Boston at Vegas, Carolina at Anaheim, Pittsburgh at LA).
SLATE PREVIEW
Ottawa and Florida are not only playing in the second half of a back-to-back, but each team is also competing for the third time in four days, the fourth time in six and the fifth time in eight. For the Panthers, this is also their sixth tilt in just 10 days, so it'd be understandable if they're pretty gassed at this point. The rest of the teams playing Thursday are rested, but tonight's action represents the first half of a back-to-back for Vancouver, which might be a consideration when the Canucks construct their lineup.
GOALIES
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at PHI ($8,000): Hellebuyck left plenty to be desired in his season opener, allowing five goals on 37 shots en route to a 5-2 loss to Dallas, but he bounced back by stopping 30 of 32 shots in a 3-2 win against LA on Saturday. Hellebuyck is arguably the best goaltender in the league after winning the Vezina Trophy in back-to-back years, so he should have far more great starts than bad ones this season.
Stuart Skinner, EDM at NYI ($7,400): Skinner is a somewhat erratic goaltender. Sometimes he earns a 30-save shutout like he did against the Rangers on Tuesday, but he's also prone to some bad slumps. However, Edmonton is a strong enough team that he is usually put in a position to win even on many of his off nights, and his next match is against the Islanders, who aren't the strongest of adversaries in terms of offense. The Islanders have managed a modest seven goals through three games, and they tied for 27th in goals per game last season with 2.71.
Joey Daccord, SEA at OTT ($7,000): Daccord is off to a strong start with a 2-0-1 record, 2.23 GAA and .918 save percentage in three outings. Ottawa seems like a good opponent for Daccord to face to extend that early success. As noted above, the Senators are likely fatigued after a busy schedule, and they're missing one of their top forwards in Brady Tkachuk (wrist).
VALUE PLAYS
Tyler Seguin, DAL vs. VAN ($4,800): Seguin was limited to 20 regular-season outings last year due to injury, but he was effective when healthy, supplying eight goals and 21 points. It's well within the realm of possibility for him to hit the 60-point mark if he's able to stay healthy this campaign. The 33-year-old has a goal and two points through three games in 2025-26.
Ivan Demidov, MON vs. NAS ($4,700): Demidov is one of the league's most promising forwards in this year's crop of forwards, and he's off to a solid start in 2025-26 with a goal and three points through four outings. What he's missing so far is a point with the man advantage, but he's on Montreal's top power-play unit, so that should come soon.
Andrei Kuzmenko, LAK vs. PIT ($4,500): Kuzmenko might be in for his best season since his 74-point campaign in 2022-23. He's settled in nicely with the Kings, recording 17 points in 22 regular-season outings in 2024-25 after LA acquired him, and that was followed by six points in six playoff appearances. Kuzmenko has gotten off to a solid start this year, too, providing a goal and three points through four games.in
Jackson Blake, CAR at ANA ($4,200): Blake has started the campaign on a three-game scoring streak in which he's collected a goal and two assists. The 22-year-old had 17 goals and 34 points in 80 regular-season outings as a rookie last year, but he should do significantly better in 2025-26, in part because his role has grown substantially. He's averaged 17:16 of ice time this year, up from 13:51 in 2024-25.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Devils vs. Panthers
Nico Hischier (C - $6,400), Timo Meier (W - $6,100), Dawson Mercer (W - $4,500)
As previously noted, Florida is in the midst of a rough schedule, so the Panthers might have a tough time tonight. New Jersey has problems of its own with Jacob Markstrom (lower body) unavailable, so the Devils will be relying on their forward corps to have a strong night.
I'm recommending the Devils' second line because it's on a bit of a roll. After all three members of it were held off the scoresheet in New Jersey's season opener, the trio has combined for five goals and nine points across the past two games. The disruption has been spread out with Hischier, Meier and Mercer each recording three points.
Avalanche at Blue Jackets
Nathan MacKinnon (C - $8,000), Martin Necas (W - $6,900), Artturi Lehkonen (W - $5,400)
MacKinnon has been as dominant as you might expect, supplying four goals and eight points through four games this year. He started 2024-25 with a 13-game scoring streak in which he recorded 25 points, so there's no reason MacKinnon's current hot streak can't continue.
He's not the only member of his line who stands out, though. Necas has also been amazing, contributing three goals and eight points through four outings. Lehkonen hasn't been quite as good, but his two goals and three points are nothing to scoff at, especially given his price.
DEFENSEMEN
Cale Makar, COL at CLM ($7,000): Makar is well worth his high price. He has reached the 90-point mark in each of the past two campaigns, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him do so again in 2025-26. He's collected a goal and five points through four outings this year.
Thomas Harley, DAL vs. VAN ($6,200): Harley set a new career high with 50 points during the 2024-25 regular season, and the 24-year-old might best that this year. He's gotten off on the right foot by contributing a goal and five points through three appearances in 2025-26.
Vince Dunn, SEA at OTT ($5,800): Dunn has looked great to start the campaign, providing a goal and four points across three appearances. He missed significant chunks of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 regular seasons due to injury, but he's capable of exceeding the 50-point milestone if he stays healthy. The Senators are tired and struggling, allowing 5.50 goals per game this year, so this is a good night to grab members of the Kraken.
