Mittelstadt played 16:39 TOI before leaving the season opener with a lower-body injury. The Sabres announced today that he'll miss at least a couple of weeks, which creates a hole on the blueline next to Rasmus Dahlin. Will Butcher was elevated into that role in Friday's practice.
Mittelstadt played 9:07 TOI before leaving the season opener with an upper-body injury. The Sabres announced today that he'll miss at least a couple of weeks, which leaves a huge hole down the middle. In Friday's practice, Dylan Cozens was elevated to the top line and Arttu Ruotsalainen is expected to draw into the lineup.
Mitchell had an assist in 8:23 TOI in the season opener but will come out of the lineup for Game 2. Erik Gustafsson will draw into the lineup to replace him.
Gustafsson sat out of the season opener after signing a one-year ticket with the Blackhawks this week. Tonight he'll replace Ian Mitchell, who saw some PP2 time in the opener. Expect Gustafsson to play a minimal role at 5v5 but should see some PP usage.
Carpenter was held pointless with a minus-1 rating in 10:23 TOI in the Blackhawks season opener on Wednesday. Tonight he'll be replaced by Adam Gaudette.
Gaudette was a healthy scratch in the Blackhawks season opener but will replace Ryan Carpenter in the lineup on Friday. Gaudette impressed after being traded to Chicago late last season, scoring one goal with three assists in just seven games. However, a bottom-6 role likely won't lead to a whole lot of production in 2021-22.
Boeser was on the ice for the Canucks morning skate again, but did not participate in line rushes and is not expected to play in Philadelphia. Boeser appears to be close, so there's a chance he plays in the second half of the back-to-back, tomorrow in Detroit.
Demko stopped 32 of 34 shots in the Canucks shootout loss to the Oilers in their season opener on Wednesday. Despite the loss, it was a really strong start to the season for the 26-year-old netminder. Tonight he takes on a Flyers team that ranked right in the middle of the pack in scoring (2.86 GF/gm) last season.
With Mackenzie Blackwood (heel) not available, Bernier will make his Devils debut in their season opener vs. Chicago. Bernier spent the last three seasons in Detroit, where he had a 3.02 GAA and .908 across 94 starts. The Blackhawks lost 4-2 in their season opener in Colorado.
Lankinen emerged as the Blackhawks No.1 last year, going 17-14-5 with a 3.01 GAA and .909 SV% in 37 starts. With Marc-Andre Fleury now in town, he'll take a back seat for most of the season but will start the front-end of their back-to-back on Friday. Lankinen will see a New Jersey team that will be without Ty Smith, Damon Severson, Miles Wood and Mackenzie Blackwood.
Demko stopped 32 of 34 shots in the Canucks shootout loss to the Oilers in their season opener on Wednesday. Despite the loss, it was a really strong start to the season for the 26-year-old netminder. Tonight he takes on a Flyers team that ranked right in the middle of the pack in scoring (2.86 GF/gm) last season.
Lankinen emerged as the Blackhawks No.1 last year, going 17-14-5 with a 3.01 GAA and .909 SV% in 37 starts. With Marc-Andre Fleury now in town, he'll take a back seat for most of the season but will start the front-end of their back-to-back on Friday. Lankinen will see a New Jersey team that will be without Ty Smith, Damon Severson, Miles Wood and Mackenzie Blackwood.
Hart struggled in 2021, going 9-11-5 with a 3.67 GAA and .877 SV%. Still, Hart is just 23-years-old and the future of the Flyers' crease. In the two previous seasons, Hart combined for a .915 SV%, which is more what you should expect from him this season. His first start will come against a Canucks team that lost 3-2 in a shootout in Edmonton on Wednesday.
Ristolainen was acquired from the Sabres this offseason but his Flyers debut will have to wait, as he's sidelined by an upper-body injury. With Ristolainen sidelined, Nick Seeler will skate on the third pairing next to Keith Yandle.
Willman was a fifth-round pick of the Sabres in 2014 and signed with the Flyers in March. The 26-year-old spent last season with Lehigh Valley (AHL), where he had 16 points (9G / 7A) in 30 games. Willman will make his debut on the fourth line with Nate Thompson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
McAvoy is in the final year of his three-year, $14.7M deal that he signed in September of 2019. His new deal kicks in next year and carries him through the 2030 campaign and represents a $4.6M AAV raise.
With Mackenzie Blackwood (heel) not available, Bernier will make his Devils debut in their season opener vs. Chicago. Bernier spent the last three seasons in Detroit, where he had a 3.02 GAA and .908 across 94 starts. The Blackhawks lost 4-2 in their season opener in Colorado.
