The original timetable on Coyle’s expected return was 6-to-8 weeks and we are currently at the four-week mark. It appears that Coyle is right on schedule but he still has at least a few weeks before he actually gets into the Wild lineup. q
Niemi opened the season in Pittsburgh but was claimed off of waivers when Roberto Luongo was hurt and now that he is back, Niemi was waived again and claimed by Montreal who are currently without Carey Price and Al Montoya. Niemi is likely just insurance and will be nothing more than Charlie Lindgren’s backup. He heads to Montreal with a 6.74 GAA and .822 SV% in give games this season. Yikes.
Bonino has been sidelined by a lower-body injury since October 14th, but will draw back into the lineup tonight vs. the Capitals. Bonino is expected to take Scott Hartnell’s spot in the lineup and will likely centre the fourth line with Cody McLeod and Austin Watson on his wings.
Lehner allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Sabres loss to Florida last Friday. Chad Johnson started on Saturday so they’ll come back to Lehner tonight in Pittsburgh. Lehner comes in at 2-2-0 with a 3.17 GAA and .889 SV% in four November starts and has gone 2-4-0 with a 4.53 GAA and .848 SV% on the road this year.
Price said today that he hurt himself in warmups in Minnesota on November 2nd and said he felt fine during the game but was hurting when he work up the next day. Price added that he would play tonight if it were a playoff game, which is a huge positive for Canadiens fans. Don’t expect to see him this week but it sounds like he should be back next week.
Dubnyk stopped all 32 shots that he faced in the Wild’s shutout win in Philadelphia on Saturday. After a tough start in Toronto last Wednesday, Dubnyk has posted back-to-back shutouts, stopping all 73 shots that he’s faced in Montreal and Philadelphia. Tonight the Flyers will take another shot at him in Minnesota, but it looks like the old Dubnyk may be back.
Murray allowed three goals on 30 shots in the Penguins loss in Washington last Friday. Tristan Jarry started on Saturday, so Murray will go tonight vs. the Sabres. The 23-year-old has gone 2-2-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .912 SV% in his first four November starts—but he comes into Tuesday with a 5-0-1 record and 1.82 GAA and .943 SV% on home-ice this season.
Lehkonen, who has recorded two goals and three assists (five points) in 18 games this season will be replaced by Paul Byron on a line with Jonathan Drouin and Alex Galchenyuk. Lehkonen is listed as day-to-day.
Lindgren allowed one goal on 35 shots in the Canadiens’ win over the Sabres on Saturday. Lindgren has been excellent since coming up from the AHL, winning three of four starts while posting a 1.24 GAA and .964 SV%. Tonight he faces a Blue Jackets team that is tied for 13th in the NHL in scoring (2.94 GF/PG).
Valk, 24, is an undrafted free agent who is expected to make his NHL debut on Tuesday after recording six goals and nine assists (15 points) in 16 games with the Thunderbirds. Valk is expected to make his debut on the fourth line with Connor Brickley and Michael Haley.
Nikita Soshnikov had to be recalled by today according to a clause in his contract so Gauthier is the victim of a numbers game and returns to the Marlies having not appeared in an NHL game during his call-up—he has two assists in eight games with the Marlies.
Soshnikov had to be recalled today by the latest or he was eligible to return to the KHL according to a clause in his contract. The 24-year-old also earned a call-up by recording five goals and seven assists (12 points) in 14 games with the Marlies. Soshnikov has seven goals and seven assists (14 points) in 67 career games with the Maple Leafs.
Dubnyk stopped all 32 shots that he faced in the Wild’s shutout win in Philadelphia on Saturday. After a tough start in Toronto last Wednesday, Dubnyk has posted back-to-back shutouts, stopping all 73 shots that he’s faced in Montreal and Philadelphia. Tonight the Flyers will take another shot at him in Minnesota, but it looks like the old Dubnyk may be back.
Lagace allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Golden Knights win over the Jets on Friday. With all of the other netminders in Vegas still banged up, Lagace is expected to go tonight in Edmonton, his seventh consecutive start. Lagace comes in with a 3.58 GAA and .876 SV% so far and remains a risky option on a nightly basis.
Subban has been out since October 21st but looks like the closest of the three injured goalies to returning to the crease. He is the only one that will travel to Edmonton but is not expected to start on Tuesday. Subban’s return is not imminent until Dylan Ferguson is returned to the WHL.
Hartnell missed Monday’s practice and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, which suggests that he will not play on Tuesday. With Weber likely out, look for Anthony Bitetto to return to the blueline vs. Washington.
