Varlamov allowed four goals on 29 shots in the Avs’ loss in Nashville on Tuesday. It has been an inconsistent month for Varlamov, ultimately resulting in a 5-6-0 record, 2.74 GAA and .904 SV% for the 26-year-old. Tonight he will face the Stars, who he is 3-0-0 with a 1.96 GAA and .938 SV% against this season.
After being acquired from New Jersey yesterday, Jaromir Jagr has reputedly passed his physical and is cleared to play on Saturday vs. the Sabres. We won’t know who his line mates will be until tomorrow, but the 43-year-old will suit up for his eighth NHL franchise on Saturday.
Gibson allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Ducks loss to the Senators on Wednesday. He has won four of his previous seven starts while posting a 2.71 GAA and .914 SV%. Tonight he is expected to be backed-up by Frederik Andersen, so this will likely be the end of a string of consecutive starts for Gibson. Gibson has gone 2-3-0 with a 2.99 GAA and .899 SV% at home.
Smith, 25, has been recalled because Tuukka Rask is sick and may not be available tonight. Coach Claude Julien did not say that Niklas Svedberg will start if Rask can’t leaving the door open for Smith to potentially make his NHL debut vs. the Flames. he has god 14-8-4 with a 2.08 GAA and .931 SV% with Providence this season.
The Lightning want to make sure that Ben Bishop is mentally and physically ready for the playoffs, so they will give Vasilevskiy at least one start every week for the rest of the season. With 20 games left, he is looking at 6-10 starts the remainder of the way, making him a strong goalie add.
Pirri has missed the last nine games with a shoulder injury that he suffered on February 10th. He is expected to be back in the lineup tomorrow on the third line with Vincent Trocheck and Jimmy Hayes.
Holtby allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Hurricanes 4-3 loss to the Penguins on Wednesday. He has lost each of his last two starts while giving up seven goals on 54 shots (.870 SV%). Tonight he has good matchup against a Hurricanes team who rank 27th in the NHL in scoring.
Rask stayed at the team hotel this morning because he is battling the flu. If he is unable to play tonight, he will not even dress. The Bruins recalled Jeremy Smith from Providence, so either Rask, Smith or Niklas Svedberg will start—however coach Claude Julien would not announce who will start.
Veilleux has gone goal and one assist in seven games since being recalled. The veteran has been placed on waivers with the intent of sending him to Iowa (AHL).
Dubinsky suffered a lower-body injury in last night’s game, but his presence at practice this morning is a good sign that Dubinsky will not miss any time. Monitor his status prior to Saturday’s game vs. the Devils.
Sopel, 38, played for six different teams throughout his NHL career from 1998-2011 and was a member of the Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup championship team. He had 44 goals, 174 assists and was a plus-32 in 659 NHL career regular-season games. He also spent three seasons in the KHL and played in 29 games for the Chicago Wolves in the AHL this season.
Lehtonen allowed seven goals on 36 shots in the Stars 7-6 OT loss to the Red Wings last Saturday. He missed Tuesday’s game with an undisclosed injury, but will be back in goal tonight vs. the Avalanche. He has gone 0-1-1 with a 2.91 GAA and .889 SV% in his first two starts against Colorado.
Tinordi had just one shot on goal in four games during his recall. His return to the AHL suggests that Sergei Gonchar will return to the lineup on Saturday. It also says that Greg Pateryn has leaped over Tinordi on the depth chart.
Staal missed the Hurricanes morning skate, but he is expected to be in the lineup tonight. Coach Bill Peters said that Staal is battling a “minor” illness. Staal has one goal, three assists and 16 shots in his last four games.
Fraser has served as a healthy scratch in the last seven games, but will play tonight vs. Boston. Fraser has registered two assists and 26 PIMS in 14 games with the Devils this season.
Hedman left Thursday’s practice early with an undisclosed injury, but he was on the ice for today’s morning skate and said that he is good to go tonight vs. the Blackhawks. Hedman has three assists in his last four games.
Giordano is still being evaluated, but he will be held out of tonight’s game. The Flames fear he may miss a significant amount of time, but there has been no official word on the nature or severity of their captains injury. Tyler Wotherspoon and Corey Potter have been recalled and one of them will step in for Gio.
Bishop allowed two goals on 24 shots in the Lightning’s win in Arizona last Saturday. He was given Sunday off, but will start tonight vs. Chicago. Bishop has been victorious in his last three starts, while posting a 1.67 GAA and .940 SV%. He catches a break tonight with Patrick Kane out for the Blackhawks.
Halak allowed three goals on 23 shots in the Islanders loss to the Canucks on Sunday. Halak has had a so-so month, going 6-3-0 with a 2.78 GAA and .904 SV% in nine February starts. In his first start vs. Calgary, he made 22 saves in a 2-1 win early in January.
