Lundqvist was lit up for four goals on 19 shots in the Rangers’ loss to the Sabres last night, but will get the nod again tonight in Philadelphia. Lundqvist has had a tougher time keeping the puck out of his net this year than he has in the past, but the Rangers clearly believe in him. He made 40 saves on 42 shots in a 3-2 win over the Flyers in a meeting back in November.
Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 36 shots in the Jets’ win in Tampa Bay last night. Even though he gave up a four-spot, Hellebuyck will man the crease again tonight in Florida. He has gone 5-7-0 with a 3.12 GAA and .893 SV% on the road this season, but walked away on the right side of a 4-3 shootout final in his first start vs. the Panthers.
Mrazek surrendered four goals on 22 shots in the Red Wings’ loss to the Sabres on December 27th. Mrazek has struggled mightily this season, posting a .896 SV% across 21 games, but he broke out in January last year and is hoping that will be the case again this season. In his first start vs. the Ducks, he stopped 21 of 25 shots in a 6-4 win.
Smith allowed five goals on 31 shots in the Coyotes’ loss to the Rangers on December 29th. Louis Domingue started last Saturday, so expect Smith to get back in net tonight in Vancouver. Smith was 3-9-2 with a 2.96 GAA and .916 SV% in 14 starts in December and is a risky start whenever he gets the nod.
Gibson tied a Ducks’ franchise record by stopping 51 of 54 shots in the Ducks’ shootout win over the Flyers on New Year’s Day. He has won two of his last three starts while posting a 2.27 GAA and .938 SV%. He hasn’t been great this season, but draws a great matchup against a Red Wings team that has really struggled to score this season.
Miller allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Canucks’ win over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Miller has won his last three games while posting a 1.63 GAA and .944 SV%. Tonight he will make his second start against he Coyotes—he stopped 35 of 36 shots in a 4-1 win in their first meeting.
Allen allowed one goal on 23 shots in the Blues’ win over the Blackhawks on Monday. Allen has lost five of his last eight starts while posting a 3.21 GAA and .893 SV%. Tonight he faces the Hurricanes on home ice, where he has gone 12-2-2 with a 2.07 GAA and .921 SV% this season.
Crawford allowed three goals on 34 shots in the Blackhawks’ loss in St. Louis on Monday. Crawford has gone 1-2-1 with a 2.56 GAA and .929 SV% in four games since returning from his appendectomy. Tonight he will face the Sabres, who have lost six of his last eight games (2-4-2). He has gone 7-2-3 with a 1.99 GAA and .938 SV% on home-ice this season.
Smith allowed five goals on 31 shots in the Coyotes’ loss to the Rangers on December 29th. Louis Domingue started last Saturday, so expect Smith to get back in net tonight in Vancouver. Smith was 3-9-2 with a 2.96 GAA and .916 SV% in 14 starts in December and is a risky start whenever he gets the nod.
Elliott allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Flames’ win over the Coyotes last Saturday. Elliott will start for the fourth time in five games and comes in on a four-game winning streak while posting a 2.00 GAA and .918 SV%. Tonight he will face the Avalanche for the second time in a week—he stopped 25 of 28 shots in a 6-3 win in Colorado last Tuesday.
Abbott hasn’t appeared in an NHL games since 2013-14, but it looks like he will get a chance on Thursday. The 28-year-old forward has eight goals and 13 assists (21 points) in 30 games with Rockford and he skated with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa in Wednesday’s practice.
A day after being re-claimed off of waivers from Nashville, the Devils placed Boucher on waivers again and now he’s found a job in western Canada with the Canucks. The former fourth round pick (2011) had 62 goals and 33 assists (95 points) in 68 games in his final year in the OHL and had 32 points (19G / 13A) in 34 AHL games last season, showcasing his offensive ability, but he now needs to find that game at the highest level.
Rattie has only appeared in four games with the Blues this season, failing to record a point while averaging just 7:20 TOI. The Blues were obviously hoping he’d fall to the AHL to get some playing time, but the Hurricanes had other ideas. Rattie was the No.32 pick in 2011, but has only managed to put up eight points (4G / 4A) in 30 career NHL games despite putting up excellent numbers in the WHL and the AHL after being drafted.
Roussel has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury and will be a game-time decision on Wednesday. He was a full participant in Monday’s practice, but didn’t take part in the morning skate. He was likely receiving treatment this morning and remains a game-time decision despite skipping the skate.
Sceviour will miss his second straight game with an "minor shoulder” injury. Sceviour is listed as day-to-day and could be ready for the Panthers’ back-to-back on Friday and Saturday.
Lehtonen stopped all 18 shots that he faced after replacing Antti Niemi in the Stars’ loss to the Panthers on New Year’s Eve. It was strange to see Niemi start anyways, seeing as how Lehtonen was riding a three-game winning streak. The Finnish netminder has now stopped 95 of the last 100 shots (.950 SV%) that he has faced. Tonight he faces a Montreal team that played last night and has gone 2-2-2 in their last six.
Gourde, 25, failed to record a point in either game during his call-up, so he returns to Syracuse where he has 10 goals and 16 assists (26 points) in 29 games this season.
Daniel Altshuller was Cam Ward’s backup on Tuesday, but Leighton will take over that role until Eddie Lack is back from a concussion. Leighton has gone 8-5-0 with a 2.17 GAA and .923 SV% in 16 games with Charlotte and 2-1-0 with a 3.53 GAA and .875 SV% in three NHL games.
Altshuller, 22, served as Cam Ward’s backup last night, but returns to Charlotte, where he has gone 1-2-0 with a 3.44 GAA and .884 SV%. Michael Leighton has been recalled to serve as Ward’s backup.
