Gunnarsson has been out since November 16th but is ready to play on Thursday if the coaches call upon him. Gunnarsson had no points, just eight shots and a plus-2 rating in seven games before getting hurt.
Varlamov will not be available to serve as Philipp Grubauer’s backup on Wednesday, so Pavel Francouz was recalled on Tuesday. Consider Varlamov as questionable heading into Friday’s game against the Rangers.
Archibald has spent most of the season with Utica (AHL), where he has 11 goals and five assists (16 points) in 23 games. The 28-year-old forward, who stands at 6-foot-3, 210 lbs., Archibald has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 52 career NHL games.
Nilsson has gone 3-8-1 with a 3.09 GAA and .895 SV% in 12 games with the Canucks this season. With Craig Anderson out with a concussion the Senators are trying to upgrade their goaltending situation by swapping McKenna for the 28-year-old Nilsson. His career .905 SV% suggests that he won’t be too big of an upgrade though.
Pyatt has recorded just two assists, 29 shots and a minus-16 rating in 37 games this season—averaging 11:42 TOI/gm. Pyatt will switch locker rooms tonight but will likely serve as a healthy scratch against the team that just traded him. Pyatt could be on his wait to Utica (AHL) after clearing waivers at noon.
McKenna was set to serve as the Senators backup vs. Vancouver tonight but now he switches locker rooms and will be Jacob Markstrom’s backup vs. the Senators. McKenna has gone 1-4-1 with a 3.96 GAA and .897 SV% in 10 games with Ottawa this season.
Markstrom allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Canucks win in Calgary last Saturday. Markstrom was outstanding in December, going 8-1-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .943 SV% in nine games. The 28-year-old has been red-hot and is a must-start against a Senators team that ranks 30th in the NHL with 34 points (15-21-4) through 40 games.
Blackwood stopped all 25 shots that he he faced in the Devils shutout win over the Canucks on Monday. Blackwood has posted back-to-back shutouts and won three in a row while allowing just two goals on 104 shots (.981 SV%). Despite this impressive stretch, Blackwood remains a risky option in Dallas against a Stars with a potent top-line and an above average power-play.
Rust missed Monday’s game in Minnesota with a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Wednesday. Rust was back on the Penguins top line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel in the morning skate and will look to continue the torrid pace he was on before getting hurt—scoring eight goals with three assists (11 points) in his last nine games.
Murray allowed one goal on 31 shots in the Penguins win in St. Louis last Saturday. Murray has been sensational since returning to the Penguins crease, going 5-0-0 with a 1.38 GAA, .959 SV% and one shutout. Murray should be able to continue his hot stretch against a Rangers team that has scored the eighth fewest goals per game (2.79) in their first 38 games.
Bishop surrendered three goals on 38 shots in the Stars overtime loss to the Canadiens on Monday. Bishop has played very well as of late, going 3-1-1 while allowing just eight goals on 151 shots (.947 SV%). He makes for a great start again tonight vs. the 15-16-7 Devils at American Airlines Center, where Bishop is 8-3-2 with a 2.09 GAA and .933 SV%.
DeAngelo was in the lineup for the last two games but played just 11:56 TOI on Monday and will be replaced by Fredrik Claesson on Wednesday.
Claesson was a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace Tony DeAngelo on Wednesday. Claesson, who has two goals and one assist in 22 games, is expected to be paired with Kevin Shattenkirk.
Chytil was a healthy scratch on Monday but will replace Jimmy Vesey on Wednesday. There is no word where Chytil will slot in but look for him to simply replace Vesey on the fourth line. Chytil has six goals and seven assists (13 points) in 37 games this year.
Lundqvist made 39 saves on 40 shots i the Rangers win in St. Louis on Monday. Lundqvist has won two straight and finished December at 3-1-5 with a 3.21 GAA and .906 SV%. Tonight he will face the Penguins for the first time this season—the 36-year-old has gone 8-3-5 with a 2.39 GAA and .926 SV% at Madison Square Garden.
Paul has been in the lineup for the last four games but did no record a point. Magnus Paajarvi (undisclosed) will replace him on the Senators third line.
Paajarvi was out for the last two games but will replace Nick Paul on Wednesday. Paajarvi has recorded three goals and one assist with a minus-18 rating in 38 games this season.
Elliott was recalled on Saturday but sat as a healthy scratch for the last two games. Elliott has one assist in two games with the Senators and four points (1G / 3A) in eight AHL games this season.
Hogberg allowed four goals on 36 shots in the Senators loss in Columbus on Monday. Hogberg will start his third straight game, having gone 0-2-0 with a 3.56 GAA and .883 SV% in his first two appearances. Tonight he faces a Canucks team that has won eight of their last 12 games (8-3-1) while averaging 3.33 goals for per game.
