Rinne stopped 27 of 28 shots in the Predators 2-1 OT win over Arizona on Monday. The win snapped a five-game losing skid for Rinne. Tonight will be his third start of the season vs. San Jose. In their first two meetings, Rinne went 1-1-0 with a 1.01 GAA and .974 SV%—he stopped 42 of 43 in a winning effort in February.
Quick allowed two goals on 23 shots in the Kings 5-2 win in Colorado on Tuesday. He has won three out of his last four starts while posting a 1.95 GAA and .902 SV%. Tonight he makes his third start against the Canucks—Quick has gone 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .914 SV% in the first two games.
Dubinsky missed the morning skate because of an illness and will be held out of tonight’s game against the Red Wings as a result. Nick Foligno will be back in the lineup after missing Tuesday’s game with an illness.
Boychuk, 31, was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, but is now signed through the 2021-22 season. He is having a great year, posting seven goals (4 PPG), 25 assists (32 points), a plus-17 rating and 2.68 shots per game through 59 games. He will have an annual cap-hit of $6M until he is 38 years old.
Orpik will miss a second straight game with a lower-body injury. He is listed as day-to-day.
Bolland missed the last eight games with a combination of an upper-body injury and illness. Bolland will start out as the fourth-line left wing tonight vs. the Jets.
Klingberg left last Saturday’s game early, but was able to play on Tuesday. In Tuesday’s game he suffered an upper-body injury and it doesn’t look like he will play tonight. Expect Jason Demers to be back in; replacing Klingberg.
Bouwmeester was expected to play on Tuesday but ended up being scratched for a second straight game. However, tonight it is official, he will be back. Bouwmeester has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 56 games.
Little came onto the ice in a no-contact jersey late in the Jets morning skate, which suggests he will miss his third straight game. Little remains day-to-day, so monitor his status before Saturday’s game in Tampa Bay.
Lack made 29 saves on 30 shots in the Canucks win over the Ducks on Monday. He has won back-to-back games while stopping 67 of 70 shots against the Ducks and Sharks. He’ll have another tough matchup tonight, but he has gone 4-1-1 with a 2.43 GAA and.927 SV% since Ryan Miller got hurt.
Miller is two and a half weeks into a 4-6 week timetable, so according to Willie Desjardins it is looking like he will be back closer to the end of that time frame than the beginning. Since he was injured, Eddie Lack has gone 4-1-1 with a 2.43 GAA and .927 SV%, so the Canucks appear to be in good hands.
Niemi allowed one goal on 40 shots in the Sharks 2-1 shootout win over the Penguins on Monday. It was a phenomenal outing for Niemi, who has enjoyed a nice start to March, going 2-1-0 with a 1.97 GAA and .941 SV%. Tonight marks his second start of the season vs. Nashville—he stopped all 29 shots that he faced for a 2-0 shutout win in their first meeting.
Varlamov missed Tuesday’s game vs. the Kings, but will be back in the crease tonight vs. New Jersey. He enters play having won three in a row while recording a 0.69 GAA and .981 SV%. Tonight is definitely a winnable game for Varly—the Devils have lost four of seven.
Bishop stopped all 19 shots that he faced in the Lightning’s 1-0 shutout win over the Canadiens on Tuesday. It was a statement win for the Lightning and Bihsop’s third shutout of the campaign. Bishop has won six of his last seven starts while posting a 1.57 GAA and .940 SV%.
Lehtonen stopped 25 of 26 shots in the Stars 2-1 win over the Flyers on Tuesday. In his first start against the Hurricanes he was shelled for four goals on 16 shots in a 6-4 loss. Carolina is a team he has historically struggled against, going 7-12-1 with a 3.44 GAA and. 893 SV% in 21 starts vs. the Canes.
Mason made 37 saves on 39 shots in the Flyers 2-1 loss to the Stars on Tuesday. He has now dropped three consecutive games while giving up 10 goals on 97 shots (.897 SV%). He draws a rough matchup vs. the Blues, but he was able to come away with the W after making 28 saves vs. St. Louis last Thursday.
Hammond stopped 24 shots on 26 shots in the Senators win over the Sabres last Friday. Craig Anderson started the last two games, but it will be Hammond tonight in Montreal. It won’t be any easy game, but Hammond has been excellent, going 7-0-1 with a 1.43 GAA and .954 SV% since being recalled.
Hutchinson was pulled after he allowed four goals on seven shots in the Jets 5-4 loss to the Blues on Tuesday. Tonight he will get the nod in Florida. In his first start against the Panthers, he made 25 saves in a dominant 8-2 win.
Ekblad missed Saturday’s game because of an illness, but he will be back in the lineup tonight vs.the Jets. Ekblad has 11 goals and 23 assists (34 points) in 65 games.
Ehrhoff will miss his sixth straight game, but he has been cleared and could be back in the lineup on Saturday vs. the Bruins.
