NHL Hockey Player News

Lehtonen allowed three goals on 24 shots in the Stars’ loss in Calgary on Friday. Lehtonen is 3-3-0 with a 3.06 GAA and .908 SV% in the month of March and one of those losses came against the Sharks, who he will see again tonight—they night he was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots.

Smith allowed two goals on 40 shots in the Coyotes’ loss to St. Louis on Saturday. Smith has lost his last two starts and is now 2-3-2 with a 2.70 GAA and .917 SV% in March. Tonight he faces the Predators for the second time this season—he made an impressive 44 saves in a 4-1 win vs. Nashville back in mid-December.

Rinne allowed one goal on 23 shots in the Predators’ OT win in Washington last Thursday. Juuse Saros started on Saturday, so look for Rinne tonight vs. the Coyotes. Rinne has yet to beat Arizona this season, going 0-1-1 with a 2.89 GAA and .903 SV% in the previous two meetings.

Parenteau has not recorded point in four games since being acquired by the Predators and played just 9:52 on Saturday. With Craig Smith (undisclosed) ready to play tonight, look for Parenteau to come out of the lineup.

Smith missed Saturday’s game in Carolina, but was back on the ice this morning and appears set to play vs. the Coyotes. Smith has had a very difficult season, collecting just 18 points (9G / 9A) across 68 games.

Bernier allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Ducks’ win in San Jose on Saturday. Bernier has been great with John Gibson out and will continue in the crease tonight in Edmonton. He comes into tonight having won five of his last six starts with a 1.30 GAA, .958 SV% one shutout.

Smith allowed two goals on 40 shots in the Coyotes’ loss to St. Louis on Saturday. Smith has lost his last two starts and is now 2-3-2 with a 2.70 GAA and .917 SV% in March. Tonight he faces the Predators for the second time this season—he made an impressive 44 saves in a 4-1 win vs. Nashville back in mid-December.

Lundqvist returned to practice on Monday, his first practice since straining a hip muscle on March 7th. “Expect [Lundqvist] at some point” during the Rangers’ California road trip head coach Alain Vigneault said after practice. Look for Antti Raanta to start the Rangers’ next two games, but for Lundqvist to be ready for the weekend.

The Ducks hit the ice for practice on Monday and Gibson was not among the group. Gibson skated before the practice session and he “does his routine” according to head coach Randy Carlyle. Gibson is simply skating and stretching at this point and a return to the crease doesn’t appear imminent.

Michalek has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 43 games with Tucson this season, but earned himself a late-season call-up and will make his season debut on Monday. The 34-year-old blueliner has 178 points (42G / 136A) in 781 career NHL games and this might be a move to allow the veteran to finish out his Coyotes career in an NHL uniform.

Doan will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury that he suffered last Thursday vs. the Red Wings. With Doan out, Anthony Duclair will remain in the lineup. The veteran winger is day-to-day.

Talbot stopped all 33 shots that he faced in the Oilers’ shutout win over Vancouver on Saturday. Talbot has won three in a row while stopping 87 of 92 shots (.946 SV%). In his first start against the Kings, Talbot was great, stopping 28 of 29 shots a 3-1 win in late-December.

Wheeler was not out on the ice when the Jets hit the ice for Monday’s practice, but head coach Paul Maurice said that Wheeler will be in the lineup on Tuesday. The big winger has 21 goals and 39 assists (60 points) in 72 games this season.

Goldobin has been hit hard by an illness and has reportedly lost a ton of weight as a result. Goldobin is getting better and nearing a return, but he will sit out at least one more game.

Girardi has been sidelined by an ankle injury since February 28th, but is nearing a return to the lineup. Girardi will travel to New Jersey, but head coach Alain Vigneault will stick with the same lineup that beat the Wild on Saturday.

Talbot stopped all 33 shots that he faced in the Oilers’ shutout win over Vancouver on Saturday. Talbot has won three in a row while stopping 87 of 92 shots (.946 SV%). In his first start against the Kings, Talbot was great, stopping 28 of 29 shots a 3-1 win in late-December.

Granlund had been playing well on a line with the Sedin twins, but will undergo surgery that is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the regular season. The 22-year-old will look to build off of his 19-goal, 13-assist season next year.