Claesson hasn’t played with the Senators since November 13th, but will play tonight with Marc Methot injured. Claesson has no points while averaging 11:45 TOI in six games this season, but he will skate with Erik Karlsson tonight, which means he could play bigger minutes.
Methot left Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury and did not return. With Methot out, Frederik Claesson will re-enter the lineup and play alongside Erik Karlsson. Methot is day-to-day.
Chara will miss his fifth consecutive game with a lower-body injury, but skated with the team this morning, so look for him to potentially return on Saturday.
Carey, 28, had no points in one game with the Capitals. He returns to Hershey, where he collected 14 points (5G / 9A) in 16 games earlier in the season. Jakub Vrana will take Carey’s spot on the roster.
Vrana was recalled from Hershey (AHL) on Wednesday after posting nine goals and seven assists (16 points) in 18 AHL games. The 20-year-old forward was selected 13th overall in 2014 and will make his NHL debut on the Capitals’ second line tonight. Vrana has picked up 25 goals and 30 assists (55 points) in 57 career AHL games.
Niskanen left Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury, but he will be in the lineup tonight, despite missing a practice this week. Niskanen will play on the Capitals’ top power-play, but comes in with no goals on 38 shots and has nine assists in 21 games.
Holtby allowed four goals on 37 shots in the Capitals’ loss in Toronto on Saturday. Holtby made 10 starts in November and went 7-3-0 with a 2.20 GAA, .923 SV% and one shutout. Tonight, Holtby will face the Islanders for the second time this season—he stopped 21 of 22 shots in a 2-1 win in the first meeting.
Niemi gave up four goals on 31 shots in the Stars’ loss in St. Louis on Monday. Kari Lehtonen started on Tuesday, but it looks like they’ll go with Niemi tonight in Pittsburgh. Niemi has gone 5-2-3 with a 3.05 GAA and .906 SV% in 11 games and two relief appearances in 2016-17. He has gone 0-1-2 with a disgusting 5.09 GAA and .852 SV% on the road.
Bobrovsky allowed a single goal on 27 shots in the Blue Jackets’ 5-1 win over the Lightning on Tuesday. Bobrovsky wrapped November up with a 9-2-1 record, 2.13 GAA, .924 SV% and one shutout. Tonight he will face a struggling Avalanche team in Colorado—he has gone 4-2-2 with a 2.06 GAA and .927 SV% on the road.
Budaj turned aside 18 of 19 shots in the Kings win over the Blackhawks on Saturday. The win extended Budaj’s winning streak to five games—over that time he has posted a 1.80 GAA and .929 SV%. Tonight, Budaj will take on the Sharks for the first time this season—he has gone 9-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and .913 SV% on home ice.
Enroth allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Maple Leafs loss in New Jersey last Wednesday. Enroth has lost all three of his starts this year while posting a 4.20 GAA and .866 SV% across five appearances. Tonight he will take on a Flames team that has lost two straight and three of his last five.
Varlamov allowed five goals on 40 shots in Colorado’s loss to the Oilers on November 23rd. Calvin Pickard started the last two games, but Varlamov will go tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old has struggled for the better part of 2016-17, but he stopped 40 of 42 shots in an OT win in his first start vs. the Blue Jackets.
Jones allowed one goal on 19 shots in the Sharks OT win over the Coyotes last night. Jones has won three of his last four starts while stopping 100 of 105 shots (.952 SV%). It will be the first time this season that he has started on no rest and his second start vs. the Kings—he stopped 21 of 22 shots in a 2-1 win in the first.
The Predators have moved Anthony Bitetto to IR and Ryan Ellis is out, so they needed an NHL body. Pardy had been playing with the Predators’ AHL affiliate on an AHL deal, where he has collected two goals and three assists (five points) in 12 games.
Ekman-Larsson left Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury, but head coach Dave Tippett said that he doesn’t think his injury is serious and they will know more on Thursday. For his status for tomorrow’s game vs. Los Angeles monitor OEL’s status during the morning skate, but be thankful the injury doesn’t appear to be significant.
Perreault has missed the last 14 games with an undisclosed injury, but he declared himself fit to play on Thursday. Head coach Paul Maurice did not confirm that he would return, but said that he will play if all goes well during Thursday’s morning skate.
Andersen stopped 28 of 30 shots in the Maple Leafs’ win over the Oilers last night. Jhonas Enroth skated with the scratches this morning, which suggests that Andersen will go again tonight in Calgary. He has won four of six with a 1.85 GAA and .940 SV%.
Salomaki has been on IR since getting hurt in the Predators second game of the season. Salomaki will head to Milwaukee to get back up to game speed before rejoining the Predators lineup.
Bitetto lasted only three games before finding himself back on IR. Bitetto had one assist last night before leaving the game and not returning. He is dealing with an upper-body injury and will miss at least one week.
Condon allowed five goals on 40 shots in the Senators’ loss to Nashville on November 17th. With Craig Anderson leaving the team again, Condon will start tonight vs. the Flyers. Condon has gone 2-1-0 with a 1.95 GAA, .939 SV% and one shutout in three starts since being acquired by the Senators.
