Blackwell will make his season debut after missing the first two and a half months of the season recovering from a groin injury. Blackwell scored 10 points (2G / 8A) in 53 games in his first season with the Blackhawks last year. He is expected to skate on the third line with Jason Dickinson and Nick Foligno.
Binnington will likely start for the fifth consecutive game and look for his third-straight win on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the two games since Drew Bannister took over coaching duties for the Blues, Binnington has won both games, saving 52 of 57 shots (.912 SV%) in the process. The Blues are +151 road favourites against the Lightning despite defeating them 5-0 in their only other meeting, a 30-save shutout for Binnington, his only one of the season.
Tarasov made an unceremonious season debut on Saturday, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. After missing the first two months of the season due to a knee injury, Tarasov posted a 2.57 GAA and .915 SV% during a four-game stint with the Cleveland Monster of the AHL earlier this month. The Blue Jackets are sizeable +162 road underdogs against a Sabres team that is 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and was shut out 2-0 by the Arizona Coyotes in their last contest.
Shesterkin has struggled this season but is coming off one of his stronger performances, saving 21 of 22 shots (.955 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday. His 2.91 GAA and .904 SV% through 18 games (11-7-0) are well below what is expected of the 2021-22 Vezina winner. Shesterkin and the Rangers are slight -102 road underdogs on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who defeated them 7-3 one week ago. The Maple Leafs have scored 19 goals over their last three games (2-0-1) and are the hottest team in the NHL over the last five weeks (10-1-4).
Bellemare exited Monday's game against the Dallas Stars with a lower-body injury after playing only 4:10 time-on-ice. The Kraken finished the game with only 10 forwards as Jared McCann exited the game as well shortly after. The 38-year-old Bellemare has five points (4G / 1A) in 29 games this season while averaging 9:34 time-on-ice.
McCann was held off the scoresheet, playing only 9:10 before exiting Monday's contest against the Dallas Stars with a lower-body injury. McCann's offensive production has slipped after post career-highs in goals (40) and assists (30) last season but will still be a significant loss for the Kraken if he misses any extended time. After McCann exited the game, Tomas Tatar saw an increase in deployment for the Kraken.
Johnson has only played five of nine games for the Sabres in December, scoring zero points, four shots, and two hits. He will return to his familiar spot in the press box on Tuesday as a healthy scratch.
McAvoy will likely return to action on Tuesday after returning to practice on Monday as a full participant, including lining up on the top powerplay unit, a spot previously occupied by Kevin Shattenkirk. McAvoy has missed four straight games due to an upper-body injury suffered on December 7th.
Zacha will return to the Bruins' lineup on Tuesday after being a full participant at practice on Monday, re-assuming his previous duties, including centring the top powerplay unit. Zacha suffered an upper-body injury early in the Bruins' December 9th contest against the Arizona Coyotes. After a stretch of 17 points (8G / 9A) in 17 games, Zacha was held to only one point (0G / 1A) in the four games leading up to his injury.
Before the start of the season, Quinn was scheduled to return around Christmas and the 22-year-old will do so on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets as he completes his recovery from Achilles surgery. Quinn had a solid rookie season, scoring 14 goals with 23 assists (37 points) in 75 games. At practice on Monday, he skated on a line with Tage Thompson and Zach Benson.
Mrazek will likely start on Tuesday, giving him consecutive starts for the second time in the last two wakes, a rare occurrence in what has been a season mostly consisting of an equal rotation between Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom. Mrazek has played well for the bottom-dwelling Blackhawks this season, posting a 3.10 GAA and .907 SV% in 19 games (7-10-0), but has allowed four goals in each of his last two starts (0-2-0), posting a .867 SV%. As they are most nights, the Blackhawks are sizeable underdogs (+215) as they host the Colorado Avalanche, a team that defeated them 4-0 in their last meeting.
Czarnik was sent down to Grand Rapids (AHL) ahead of Monday's game but was immediately recalled on Tuesday morning as Klim Kostin suffered an upper-body injury. Czarnik has split time this season between Detroit and Grand Rapids, where he has seven points (3G / 4A) in nine games playing for the Griffins.
Kostin suffered an upper-body injury in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks and did not return after playing 6:30 time-on-ice. Kostin has battled several injuries lately, playing only two of the last six games for the Red Wings. Austin Czarnik has been recalled from the Grand Rapid Griffins (AHL) in the interim while Kostin recovers week-to-week.
Oshie missed six games at the beginning of the month with an upper-body injury, returned to play four games, and then did not play on Sunday due to a lower-body injury. He has now been placed on the injured reserve and will be out of the lineup for at least a week. Oshie has struggled this year with only four points (2G / 2A) in 26 games but was on a two-game point streak, scoring two points (1G / 1A) in his last two outings.
Korchinskin has not played since December 7th, missing five games while tending to personal matters. The seventh overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft has seven points (2G / 5A) while averaging 19:31 time-on-ice in his rookie season.
Brodie did not play on Saturday due to an illness but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the New York Rangers after participating in morning skate. Brodie has six points (0G / 6A), 16 hits, 66 blocks, and is averaging 22:15 time-on-ice, his highest total since joining the Maple Leafs in the 2020-21 season.
Matthews was a late scratch and did not play on Saturday due to an illness but is expected to return for the Maple Leafs on Tuesday against the New York Rangers after being a full participant at the morning skate. Matthews is producing at an alarming rate, with 10 points (7G / 3A) during a four-game point streak.
After winning eight straight contests, the Oilers have lost two in a row and will look to get back in the win column with Skinner between the pipes on Tuesday. Skinner last played on Friday, allowing five goals on 22 shots (.773 SV%) in a 7-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, but was near impenetrable heading into that game, posting a .934 SV% over a seven-game stretch (7-0-0). The Oilers are -134 road favourites against the New York Islanders, who have lost two straight games (0-1-1).
Vasilevskiy has had an up-and-down season since making his season debut less than a month ago after returning from off-season back surgery but will start for the fifth straight game on Tuesday. Vasilevskiy has uncharacteristically allowed three or more goals in each of his last four outings (2-2-0), posting a .895 SV%, on par with his .897 SV% on the season. Vasilevskiy will look to get his season in order on Tuesday as Tampa Bay is a -169 home favourite against a St. Louis Blues club that has won two straight, coinciding with the firing of former head coach Craig Berube.
