Alexandrov has not played since February 15th, his only game in February, and will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Alexandrov has one point (0G / 1A) in 18 games this season. Kasperi Kapanen will be the odd man out of the lineup.
Kapanen played only 9:22 time-on-ice last night but recorded a -3 plus/minus and will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Kapanen has zero points in his last seven games.
Perunovich played only 14:19 time-on-ice yesterday, recording a -1 plus/minus. Since returning from a lower-body injury last week, Perunovich has been held without a point in three games, recording a -2 plus/minus, two shots, and three hits.
Binnington had the night off yesterday on the front end of a back-to-back but will occupy the crease for the Blues on Wednesday night. The 30-year-old Binnington had a forgettable performance in his last outing, allowing four goals on 14 shots (.714 SV%) in an eventual 6-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. That said, Binnington was tremendous against the Edmonton Oilers less than two weeks ago, saving 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%) in a 6-3 victory.
Monteumbeault tended the twine on Tuesday when the Canadiens snapped their five-game losing skid with a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. The 27-year-old Montembeault was tremendous, saving 36 of 38 shots (.947 SV%) for his first victory in his last four outings (1-3-0). The Canadiens will be hard-pressed to continue their winning ways on Thursday when they visit a Florida Panthers team that defeated them 4-1 in their last meeting two months ago.
The red-hot Red Wings will turn to Lyon between the pipes on Thursday as they attempt to extend their six-game winning streak. Lyon has been terrific lately, posting an impressive 2.00 GAA and .931 SV% across his last four outings (4-0-0). Lyon and the Red Wings will face off against a New York Islanders club with a 2-3-2 record in their last seven and has scored fewer than three goals four times.
Skinner will return to the crease for the third straight game when the Oilers host the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday evening. Skinner showcased his best performance since the All-Star break on Monday, saving 38 of 40 shots (.950 SV%) in a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, snapping a three-game losing skid for the Oilers. The Oilers enter action as sizeable -260 home favourites on Wednesday night against a Blues club that defeated them 6-3 two weeks ago.
Merzlikins was terrific against the New York Rangers on Sunday, saving 38 of 40 shots (.950 SV%) in a 4-2 victory, and will return to the crease in a rematch on Wednesday night. The Latvian netminder has a 3-2-0 record and a .920 SV% in his last five starts (3-2-0) while allowing three or fewer goals in all but one contest. That said, Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets are significant +211 road underdogs heading into action on Wednesday night.
Shesterkin had the night off in a 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday but will tend the twine in a rematch on Wednesday night. After an uncharacteristically inconsistent start to the season, Shesterkin has flipped a switch since the All-Star break, allowing fewer than two goals in four of six games (6-0-0), posting an impressive .951 SV%. Despite losing to them less than a week ago, the Rangers are sizeable -251 home favourites against the Blue Jackets on Wednesday.
Blackwood had a perfect game going, saving all 13 shots he faced, but exited late in the first period on Tuesday with an undisclosed injury in an eventual 7-2 loss to his former club, the New Jersey Devils. The Sharks should provide an update on Blackwood's status ahead of their next game on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks.
Norris collided with the net in the second period and exited Tuesday's contest with an upper-body injury after playing only 6:03 time-on-ice. Norris, who missed most of the previous two seasons with a shoulder injury, will receive imaging to determine the severity of this most recent ailment.
Daws took a seat in the Devils' previous game as he backed up Akira Schmid in a loss but will make his eighth start in the last nine games on Tuesday. The 23-year-old has had an up-and-down second season in New Jersey but seems to be their starter for the time being, with his 7-8-0 record, 3.30 GAA and .895 SV%. He draws a favourable matchup on Tuesday in San Jose, who has lost three straight and is 31st in the NHL in goals per game (2.09).
Demko will make his fourth straight start on Tuesday as he expectedly takes the crease vs. Pittsburgh and looks to extend his personal win streak to two games. The 28-year-old is a deserved front-runner for this year's Vezina Trophy, with his 31-12-1 record, 2.47 GAA, .915 SV% and 5 shutouts. He will host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, who have won their last two games to remain in the playoff race but are 20th in the NHL in goals per game (2.98).
With Los Angeles on the second half of a Western Canada back-to-back, Cam Talbot will take the crease on Tuesday in Calgary after backing up with the night off Monday. The 36-year-old was one of the NHL's best goaltenders in the first half of the season but has had a nightmarish run since the turn of the new year which has affected his overall numbers. He still owns an impressive 16-13-5 record, 2.53 GAA and .913 SV% on the season regardless. He takes on the surprisingly surging Calgary Flames, who have won three straight games and are improving offensively as they rank 16th in the NHL in goals per game (3.12).
Oettinger will likely start in the back end of a back-to-back on Tuesday when the Stars face off against their divisional rival, the Colorado Avalanche. The 24-year-old Oettinger was excellent in his last outing, albeit lightly tested, saving 20 of 21 shots (.952 SV) in a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. The Stars last played the Avalanche on January 4th, a 5-4 overtime loss with Scott Wedgewood between the pipes.
The Hurricanes' goaltender carousel will continue on Tuesday as Pyotr Kochetkov returns to the crease after backing up Spencer Martin in a loss Sunday. The 24-year-old has been one of the NHL's hottest net minders as of late with his overall 15-10-3 record, 2.36 GAA, .910 SV% and 3 shutouts. He'll head to Minnesota to take on the Wild on Tuesday, who have won seven of their last nine games and are 14th in the NHL in goals per game (3.16).
Despite being the talk of some trade rumours, Juuse Saros will take over the Predators' crease for the third time in four games as he looks to extend Nashville's current win streak to six. The 28-year-old superstar is having one of the worst statistical seasons of his nine-year career, with his 23-21-7 record, 2.69 GAA and .919 SV%. He will face the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, who will be looking for redemption after being embarrassed 6-3 by Washington just a night before on Monday.
