Halak allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Bruins win over the Maple Leafs last Saturday. With Tuukka Rask playing better, Halak has started fewer games as of late but is still playing well. The veteran netminder comes into Friday’s game ranked third in the NHL in SV% (.930) and fifth in GAA (2.30).
Lomberg has not drawn back into the Flames lineup after being suspended and returns to the AHL with Jon Gillies coming up from Stockton. Lomberg has six points (2G / 4A) and 12 PIMS in 18 AHL games this season.
Simon will miss his fifth straight game with a lower-body on Friday and is expected to miss a couple more weeks. Tanner Pearson will skate on Sidney Crosby’s wing on Friday and could find himself there for a few more weeks.
Hornqvist will miss his fourth straight game on Friday but remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Zach Aston-Reese will be the latest forward to skate in the Penguins’ top-6 while Patric Hornqvist and Dominik Simon are out with injuries.
Smith was forced to leave Wednesday’s game vs. the Flyers with an undisclosed injury and is officially listed as day-to-day. Jon Gillies comes up from Stockton (AHL) to serve as David Rittich’s backup while Smith is out.
Gillies has gone 5-8-0 with a 3.96 GAA and .861 SV% in 18 games with Stockton this season. Gillies comes up to serve as David Rittich’s backup while Mike Smith is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Anderson allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Senators loss in Nashville on Tuesday. Anderson is second in the NHL in games started (28) this season and has gone 3-3-0 with a 2.51 GAA, .932 SV% and one shutout in his last six games. Tonight he faces a Red Wings team without Mike Green—they are 1-6-2 in nine games without Green this season.
Allen allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Blues win over the Panthers on Tuesday. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster for Allen, who has gone 3-1-1 with a 2.31 GAA, .918 SV% and one shutout in his last five starts. In his first game against the Avalanche, Allen stopped 27 of 29 shots in a 3-2 overtime win (Nov.30).
Hall left this morning’s skate early and is listed as a game-time decision for tonight’s game vs. the Golden Knights. Monitor Hall’s status as the Devils hit the ice for warmups at 6:30 pm.
Kinkaid stopped 14 of 15 shots after replacing Cory Schneider in the Devils come-from-behind overtime win over the Golden Knights last night. Kinkaid has struggled on the road this season, going 3-6-1 with a 3.62 GAA and .889 SV%. Kinkaid is a low-end option on Saturday with a matchup vs. a Nashville team that is 13-5-0 on home-ice.
Schneider allowed five goals on 37 shots in the Devils loss in Anaheim on Sunday. 2018-19 has been a total disaster for Schneider, who has gone 0-5-1 with a 4.29 GAA and .862 SV% in six starts and two relief appearances. Tonight he will make his first start on home-ice and is still searching for his first win of the season. He’ll have a tough time against a Vegas squad that has won nine of their last 11 (9-2-0).
Murray was activated from IR and served as Casey DeSmith’s backup on Wednesday but is expected to start Friday vs. the Bruins. The 24-year-old has gone 1-5-0 with a horrifying 5.48 GAA and .823 SV% in six starts at the PPG Paints Arena this season. He has a good chance to get back on-track against a Kings team that is 4-10-1 on the road and last in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.15 GF/pg).
DeSmith gave up four goals on 27 shots in the Penguins loss in Chicago on Tuesday. It was a disappointing loss in a great matchup for DeSmith, who is 6-1-2 with a 2.45 GAA, .926 SV% and one shutout on home-ice coming into Friday’s game. The Bruins are 17-10-4 but rank 27th in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.71 GF/pg).
With Mike Green out for 3-5 weeks, Hronek comes up from Grand Rapids for the second time this season. Hronek had three points (1G / 2A) in six games with the Red Wings at the start of the season and was even more impressive with 18 points (5G / 13A) in 20 AHL games. Hronek could play big minutes while Green is out thanks to a lack of depth on the Red Wings’ blueline.
Green was forced to leave Monday’s game in Washington and head coach Jeff Blashill announced that he will miss at least three weeks with a lower-body injury. With Green out, Filip Hronek has been recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL).
Holtby stopped 35 of 37 shots in the Capitals win over the Red Wings on Tuesday. Holtby has won two in a row while stopping 63 of 65 shots (.969 SV%) and is re-entering must-start territory. Since returning from a minor injury, Holtby has gone 7-2-0 with a 2.20 GAA, .932 SV% and one shutout in nine games.
DeSmith gave up four goals on 27 shots in the Penguins loss in Chicago on Tuesday. It was a disappointing loss in a great matchup for DeSmith, who is 6-1-2 with a 2.45 GAA, .926 SV% and one shutout on home-ice coming into Friday’s game. The Bruins are 17-10-4 but rank 27th in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.71 GF/pg).
Niku played in five games with the Jets but was a healthy scratch for the last three games. The 22-year-old is one of the Jets’ top prospects but needs some more seasoning while the Jets are loaded on the blueline. Niku has five points (1G / 4A) in 12 games with Manitoba this season.
Djoos’ injury is more severe than the Capitals originally believed. Djoos was initially listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury but underwent a procedure on Thursday and will miss an extended period of time. Jonas Siegenthaler will likely draw in on Friday.
Murray was activated from IR and served as Casey DeSmith’s backup on Wednesday but is expected to start Friday vs. the Bruins. The 24-year-old has gone 1-5-0 with a horrifying 5.48 GAA and .823 SV% in six starts at the PPG Paints Arena this season. Things likely won’t get any easier against a Bruins team that has won three in a row but rank 27th in goal-scoring (2.71 GF/pg).
