This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
One of the most interesting things to watch over the last five weeks of the season is New York Islanders goaltender Thomas Greiss.
Greiss, the Isles backup, is taking center stage going forward. The team announced Wednesday that Jaroslav Halak is going to be shelved for the next six weeks. This may be the biggest stretch of games in Greiss's career.
It's not just time to step up. He's already done that. It's time for him to show that he can keep a solid season going with the weight of his team on his shoulders. His .929 save percentage is tied for tops in the league (he entered Wednesday's game with a .930, at the top all alone).
Most questions that persist are because he's played only 30 games this season and his 27 starts are the most he's ever taken in a single season. It's made the team and experts reticent to trust him with the workload despite outperforming Halak throughout the season.
So, now it's time to prove it. The pressure is on and he's the number one.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
Hurricanes (Cam Ward) at Bruins (Tuukka Rask), 7:00 PM
Sabres (Robin Lehner) at Canadiens (Mike Condon), 7:30 PM
Jets (Michael Hutchinson) at Red Wings (Petr Mrazek), 7:30 PM
Senators (Craig Anderson) at Panthers (Roberto Luongo), 7:30 PM
Oilers (Cam Talbot) at Wild (Devan Dubnyk), 8:00 PM
Devils (Keith Kinkaid) at Sharks (Martin Jones), 10:30 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Thursday
Carolina Hurricanes
James Wisniewski, D (knee) - has been on the ice, but isn't ready to return
Andrej Nestrasil, C (lower body) - is out for the rest of the season
Justin Faulk, D (leg) - didn't play over the weekend
Boston Bruins
Zac Rinaldo, C (suspension) - has not yet begun to serve his five-game suspension
Kevan Miller, D (upper body) - did not play Monday
Chris Kelly, RW (fractured femur) - has skated but remains a good distance from a return
Buffalo Sabres
Cody McCormick, C (blood clots) - remains out
Tyler Ennis, LW (concussion) - his return is up in the air
Ryan O'Reilly, C (lower body) - isn't ready to return
Cody Franson, D (neck) - will be out for the foreseeable future
Montreal Canadiens
Lars Eller, C (lower body) - didn't play Tuesday
David Desharnais, C (foot) - has returned to practice
Brendan Gallagher, RW (groin) - will miss a couple weeks
Nathan Beaulieu, D (lower body) - is on IR
Brian Flynn, C (lower body) - is out
Daniel Carr, LW (knee) - hasn't returned to the lineup
Carey Price, G (leg) - is still skating, but hasn't returned to practice
Jeff Petry, D (lower body) - will miss the rest of the season following surgery
Tom Gilbert, D (knee) - is done for the year
Winnipeg Jets
Mark Stuart, D (upper body) - is on IR
Bryan Little, C (head) - is done for the year
Anthony Peluso, RW - Peluso (upper body) will miss at least the next 3-to-4 weeks. (3/4/2016)
Joel Armia, RW - Armia will be sidelined for at least a week with a lower-body injury, Brian Munz of TSN 1290 reports. (3/8/2016)
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW (eye) - is out indefinitely
Detroit Red Wings
Johan Franzen, RW (concussion) - is on long-term IR
Drew Miller, LW (lower body) - is done for the year
Ottawa Senators
Chris Phillips, D (back) - isn't progressing
Craig Anderson, G (lower body) - hope to be available Thursday
Patrick Wiercioch, D (undisclosed) - did not play Tuesday
Mark Borowiecki, D (knee) - has a torn MCL according to reports
Clarke MacArthur, LW (concussion) - is still not cleared to play
Kyle Turris, C (ankle) - is out indefinitely
Florida Panthers
Teddy Purcell, RW (groin) - didn't play Monday
Derek MacKenzie, C (upper body) - could play Thursday
Dave Bolland, C (lower body) - remains on IR
Willie Mitchell, D (undisclosed) - is questionable
Edmonton Oilers
Benoit Pouliot, LW (shoulder) - may miss the rest of the season
Andrew Ference, D (hip) - is done for the year
Eric Gryba, D (knee) - is out "long term"
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C (hand) - could return Saturday
Oscar Klefbom, D (infection) - is close to a return
Brandon Davidson, D (lower body) - is out long-term
Minnesota Wild
Jason Pominville, RW (lower body) - is considered day-to-day
Nate Prosser, D (illness) - missed the team's last game and his situation hasn't been updated definitively
New Jersey Devils
Patrik Elias, LW (knee) - is out
Michael Cammalleri, LW (hand) - is "not close" to a return
Cory Schneider, G (knee) - will be re-evaluated in two weeks
Jiri Tlusty, LW (wrist) - is done for the year
Jacob Josefson, C (upper body) - is not on the team's road trip
David Warsofsky, D (lower body) - did not dress over the weekend
San Jose Sharks
Matt Tennyson, D (head) - remains sidelined
Tommy Wingels, RW (shoulder) - is improving, but remains unlikely to play Thursday
Hot
Andrew Ladd, LW, CHI — Ladd is heating up for a stretch run. He's posted six goals and a pair of assists in his last eight games. He's averaging 2.9 shots per game and has some pretty stellar linemates. If he keeps moving along like this, he could be the best acquisition of the trade deadline.
Alex Tanguay, LW, ARI — Speaking of trade deadline acquisitions that are working out ok, Tanguay has been putting together a nice run that starts one game before he was shipped out of Colorado. With three goals and three assists in the last four games, he's clicking nicely. He's also posted a plus-5 rating and six shots in that span.
Cold
Brock Nelson, LW, NYI — Nelson is having a career year, but he's gone frighteningly cold lately. He has a single point in his last 10 games, and three points in the last 17 games. He's only had more than a single shot in a game once in the last seven outings. He's only crossed 15 minutes of ice time twice in the last eight games. It's an ugly situation that he should bounce back from, but there's no telling how long it will take until he gets to that point.
Colton Parayko, D, STL — The rookie defenseman has had some hot moments this season, but they haven't been lately. Though he's played well to the eye, the production hasn't been there. He has just a single assist over the last seven games. He's also a minus-2. He'd been playing upwards of 20 minutes per night, including eight straight games until the last three games where he's been around 17 minutes per night.
Recommended Pickup
Thomas Greiss, G, NYI — For all the reasons up above, Greiss is an interesting grab in keeper formats if he's somehow not owned. In daily, the debate is over and he's got the job. He's been consistent and his price often hasn't kept pace with his performance. It'll get there, but he could be a sneaky play for a bit.
