Riikola has been a healthy scratch for the last two games, but is expected to be back in the Penguins lineup on Monday. The rookie defenseman has failed to record a point while averaging 17:34 TOI/GM in his first six NHL games.
Blidh has recorded two goals and four assists (six points) in 11 games with Providence this season. The 23-year-old winger has just two points (1G / 1A) in 20 career NHL games with Boston.
Niemi allowed four goals on 42 shots in the Canadiens loss in Buffalo on October 25th. Carey Price has started the last four games, but Niemi will get back in the crease tonight against the Islanders. The veteran netminder has allowed at least three goals in all three of his starts, posting a 3.26 GAA and .898 SV% overall.
Greiss stopped all 35 shots that he faced in the Islanders 3-0 shutout win over the Devils on Saturday. Greiss has gone 4-0-0 with an impressive 1.13 GAA, .967 SV% and one shutout in his last three starts and two relief appearances. Tonight he faces a Canadiens teams that has been impressive this season, but has most recently lost three of five.
Murray allowed five goals on 31 shots in the Penguins loss to the Maple Leafs on Saturday. Murray has lost three straight starts while allowing a combined 11 goals on 66 shots (.833 SV%). Murray has had a tough start to the season and enters Monday’s game at 1-3-0 with a 5.73 GAA and .810 SV% on home-ice.
Copley allowed three goals on 30 shots in the Capitals win in Calgary on October 27th. Copley has started two games this season, allowing a combined nine goals on 66 shots (.864 SV%). Tonight he will face an Oilers team that has won five of their last six games while averaging 3.67 goals for per game.
Jaskin has picked up just two assists while playing just 9:42 TOI/GM in his first nine games with the Capitals. Jaskin’s underlying numbers have been fantastic. The former Blues winger has a 63.8 CorsiFor%, +15.9 CF% rel and becomes an interesting Daily Fantasy target while he skates with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Dowd has registered one goal and one assist in 12 games with the Capitals this season. With Travis Boyd (foot) set to make his season debut vs. the Oilers, Dowd will be a healthy scratch.
Boyd has missed the first 12 games of the season, but is set to make his season debut vs. the Oilers. The 25-year-old had one assist in eight games with the Capitals last season and one assist in two games with Hershey (AHL) during his conditioning stint. He will replace Nic Dowd on the Capitals’ fourth line.
The Capitals returned Aaron Ness to the AHL on Sunday, suggesting that Orpik would be available for Monday’s game. However, Orpik is not on the ice for the Capitals morning skate, so Madison Bowey will remain on the third pairing.
Kuhnhackl has recorded just one goal in four games with the Islanders, but picked up three points (2G / 1A) in his only game with Bridgeport during his demotion. He could draw back into the lineup vs. Montreal on Monday.
Khudobin turned aside 31 of the 32 shots he faced in the Stars 2-1 win in Toronto last Thursday. Ben Bishop was back in net two nights later, but look for Khudobin to face his former team tonight. The Stars’ 32-year-old backup has gone 2-1-0 with a 2.34 GAA and .923 SV% in his first three starts, but tonight’s matchup is a difficult one.
Connauton has missed the last two games with flu-like symptoms, but is expected to play Monday vs. the Flyers. Connauton has actually had a decent start to the season, picking up two assists, a plus-8 rating and 24 shots on goal in his first 10 contests.
Ness was called-up to serve as an extra defenseman while Brooks Orpik was sidelined with a lower-body injury. With Orpik presumably returning to the lineup on Monday, Ness returns to the AHL. The 28-year-old blueliner has four assists in 12 games with the Hershey Bears.
Prosser had only played in one game for the Wild before being sent to Iowa on a conditioning stint. The 32-year-old defenseman did not record a point and was a minus-1 in two AHL games and returns to Minnesota where he will continue to be an extra defenseman.
Talbot allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Oilers loss to the Wild last Tuesday. Mikko Koskinen went on to start the next two games, but the Oilers will come back to Talbot tonight vs. the Capitals. Talbot stopped 31 of 32 shots in a win over the Capitals in Edmonton 11 days ago.
