Matthews practiced on Wednesday and took part in the optional morning skate today, but he will not play tonight vs. New Jersey. Despite missing his fourth consecutive game, Matthews appears to be on track to play Saturday in Montreal.
Andersen allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Maple Leafs win over the Bruins last Friday. After nearly a full week off, Andersen is expected to start tonight vs. the Devils. Andersen comes in on a three-game winning streak, but struggled in his first start vs. New Jersey—he allowed six goals on 31 shots in a 6-3 loss in mid-October.
Mayfield appeared in the last four games, but Thomas Hickey will take his spot in the lineup tonight vs. the Hurricanes. Mayfield has had a solid start to the season, registering four points (2G / 2A), 16 shots and 16 blocks in 12 games, but is the victim of a numbers game tonight.
Seidenberg drew back in the lineup in St. Louis on Saturday, but will be a healthy scratch for the third time in four games tonight as Ryan Pulock gets back in the lineup.
Hickey was a healthy scratch in two of the last four games, including Saturday in St. Louis. Tonight he will replace Scott Mayfield in the lineup and comes in with three assists and 16 shots in 13 games this season.
Pulock was a healthy scratch in St. Louis on Saturday, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Hurricanes. Pulock has one goal, one assist and 11 shots on goal in his last six games.
Quine has appeared in the last two games, collecting one assist and one shot, but will come out of the lineup tonight with Anthony Beauvillier (lower-body) returning.
Beauvillier missed Saturday’s game in St. Louis, but will replace Alan Quine in the lineup on Thursday. Beauviller has no points in his last five games and has collected just four points (2G / 2A) in 13 games this season. He is expected to skate on a line with Brock Nelson and Josh Ho-Sang.
Greiss allowed two goals on 37 shots in the Islanders win in St. Louis on Saturday. Greiss has started three of the last four games, winning two of three while allowing a combined eight goals on 97 shots (.918 SV%). Tonight he faces the Hurricanes on home-ice, where he has gone 2-0-2 with a 2.69 GAA and .913 SV% this season.
Tennyson has not be in the lineup for the last four games and will go on IR to open up a roster spot to recall Kyle Criscuolo from Rochester (AHL).
Fedun played just 10:22 TOI in Tuesday’s overtime loss in Pittsburgh, suggesting he left early with an undisclosed injury. In a corresponding move, the Sabres recalled Casey Nelson from Rochester (AHL).
Nelson has one goal and three assists in 14 games with the Americans this season. The 25-year-old defenseman has four assists in 18 career NHL games and could make his season debut in Detroit on Friday.
Criscuolo has registered 11 points (5G / 6A) in 14 AHL games this season. This is his first year in the Sabres organization after a few years with the Red Wings. Criscuolo could make his NHL debut Friday in Detroit.
Paul was sent back to Belleville after the Senators got home from Sweden because they had four days off. On Wednesday the Senators skated with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, but Paul’s call-up suggests that he may play and Chris Wideman will be a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old has five assists in 12 AHL games this season and five points (2G / 3A) in 26 career NHL games.
Lindback has gone 8-3-0 with a 2.46 GAA and .918 SV% in 11 starts with Milwaukee this season. With Juuse Saros struggling with the Predators, Lindback comes up to serve as the Predators’ No.2 netminder for the time being. The 29-year-old has a 2.87 GAA and .904 SV% in 130 career NHL games.
It looked like Saros would have a chance to carve out a nice role this season after going 10-8-3 with a 2.35 GAA and .923 SV% last year. This year did not start well, with the 22-year-old going 1-3-0 with a 3.94 GAA and .855 SV% in his first four starts. Anders Lindback has been recalled to serve as the Predators No.2 netminder.
