Wilson was hurt on a hit from Vegas forward Ryan Reaves on Tuesday and will come out of the lineup with a concussion on Thursday. Andre Burakovsky will move up to the top-line with Wilson out.
Copley allowed three goals on 30 shots in the Capitals win in New York on November 24th. Copley hasn’t played much when Braden Holtby is healthy but he’ll get a chance tonight in a non-back-to-back situation. Copley is 4-2-0 with a 2.88 GAA and .900 SV% in seven starts on the road this season.
Greiss allowed two goals on 23 shots in the Islanders loss to the Jets on Tuesday. With Robin Lehner still banged up, look for Greiss to start tonight in Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old has appeared in two games against the Penguins this season, ultimately stopping 41 of the 44 shots (.932 SV%) that he has faced.
Quick gave up two goals on 20 shots in the Kings 2-1 loss to the Coyotes on Tuesday. Quick has been solid since returning from a knee injury, stopping 83 of the 88 shots (.943 SV%) that he has faced. He is a great option against a Devils team that has lost six in a row (0-3-3) and are an ugly 5-12-5 in 22 games since starting 4-0-0.
Smith all owed three goals on 16 shots after replacing David Rittich in the Flames 9-6 win in Columbus on Tuesday. Smith has suddenly rattled off four straight wins, allowing a combined seven goals on 83 shots (.916 SV%). With David Rittich struggling on Tuesday, a strong performance tonight could go a long way in Smith re-claiming the No.1 job in Calgary.
Smith stopped all 16 shots that he faced after replacing David Rittich in the Flames 9-6 win in Columbus on Tuesday. Suddenly Smith is playing well, having recorded four consecutive wins while stopping 79 of the last 83 shots (.952 SV%) that he has faced. Smith will get a chance to try and re-claim the stats as the Flames’ No.1 tonight as he tries to stay hot against the Wild.
Lashoff has picked up three assists in 17 AHL games this season and has been recalled from the AHL to serve as an extra defenseman on Thursday. If he ends up playing in Toronto, Lashoff would replace Luke Witkowski.
Carlsson, 21, has picked up seven points (1G / 6A) in 18 games with Cleveland this season. The 2015 first-round pick (No.29 overall) has just three assists in 17 career NHL games.
Grubauer allowed three goals on 25 shots in Colorado’s win over the Penguins last Wednesday. Grubauer is on a personal three-game winning streak, stopping 89 of the 96 shots (.927 SV%) that he has faced. After a rough start to his Avalanche career, Grubauer has settled in and makes for a decent spot-start option in Florida.
Wagner has been in the lineup for the last eight games but will be replaced by Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson on Thursday.
Forsbacka-Karlsson was recently recalled and will play his 10th NHL game of the season tonight. Forsbacka-Karlsson has two goals in his first nine games and four points (1G / 3A) in 10 AHL contests.
Smith, 24, was a fourth-round pick in 2012 and has recorded 20 points (11G / 9A) in 77 career NHL games with Dallas. Smith is a good skater who is a good two-way forward that will help solidify the Bruins bottom-6.
Bernier allowed one goal on 28 shots in the Red Wings’ 2-0 loss to Colorado last Sunday. Bernier has played pretty well in his last five appearances (four starts), going 2-2-0 while allowing just 12 gaols on 155 shots (.923 SV%). As solid as he has been, he should be left on the bench tonight in Toronto.
Lajoie has missed the last two games but will be a game-time decision for Thursday’s game vs. the Canadiens. Lajoie would replace Justin Falk in the lineup and the rookie has been solid this season, picking up six goals and six assists in 26 games this season.
Sparks stopped all 34 shots that he faced in the Maple Leafs shutout win over the Flyers on November 24th. Sparks has won four of his five starts this season, posting a 2.57 GAA, .924 SV% and one shutout. Tonight he will give Frederik Andersen a breather and face a Red Wings team that has lost five of their last seven (2-3-2).
Domingue stopped 26 of the Devils’ 27 shots in the Lightning’s win in New Jersey on Monday. Ed Pasquale gave him a much-needed break on Tuesday but Domingue will get back in the crease tonight vs. the Bruins. Domingue is on a three-game winning streak, posting a modest 2.95 GAA and .882 SV% in the process. Since Andrei Vasilevskiy got hurt, Domingue is 8-3-0 with a 2.91 GAA and .905 SV%.
Andersen allowed three goals on 41 shots in the Maple Leafs overtime win in Buffalo on Tuesday. Andersen has won four straight games while stopping exactly 38 shots in every game—allowing a combined 11 goals on 163 shots (.933 SV%). Andersen has been one of the top netminders in the NHL through the first two months of the season and is a must-start against the visiting Red Wings.
DeSmith turned aside 42 of 45 shots in the Penguins win over Colorado on Tuesday. DeSmith has been impressive in his last five outings, going 4-1-0 with a 2.41 GAA and .923 SV%. DeSmith is making a case for him to remain as the Penguins’ No.1 netminder when Matt Murray is healthy. The 27-year-old has gone 5-1-2 with a 2.50 GAA and .927 SV% in 11 appearances (eight starts) at the PPG Paints Arena this season.
Stolarz made 30 saves on 32 shots in the Flyers win in Pittsburgh last Saturday. Despite very limited action since the start for the 2017 season, Stolarz has performed pretty well since being promoted from Lehigh Valley (AHL). The former second-round pick has stopped 83 of the 91 shots (.912 SV%) that he has faced in three appearances. Tonight he gets a Columbus team that is 8-5-1 on the road.
Bjugstad left Tuesday’s game early and practiced in a non-contact sweater on Wednesday. Despite all of that, it looks like Bjugstad will play vs. the Avalanche. Bjugstad has just 10 points (4G / 6A) in 26 games this season.
