Dalpe was called up and expected to play on Thursday but with Alexander Wennberg (back) returning to the lineup he served as a healthy scratch yet again. Dalpe has three goals and seven assists (10 points) in 14 games with the Monsters.
Hedman had to be helped off of the ice after suffering a lower-body injury in a knee-on-knee collision with Garnet Hathaway. Coach Jon Cooper said that the severity of Hedman’s injury wouldn’t be known until they can conduct tests on Friday. Hedman was unable to put weight on his leg, so it looks like it could force him to miss some time.
Wennberg has missed the last eight games with a back injury but will be back in the lineup tonight in Buffalo. Wennberg will assume a familiar role tonight as he starts at centre with Boone Jenner and Nick Foligno on his wings. After a breakout 2016-17 season, Wennberg has struggled this season and comes into tonight with just four goals and 12 assists (16 points) in 30 games. He will look to have a better second half, starting tonight.
Lowry will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury, meaning that Jack Roslovic will remain in the lineup and on the top power-play unit. This is a tough time for Lowry to get hurt because he was seeing his largest usage of the season with Mark Scheifele sidelined, however it doesn’t look like Lowry will miss too much time.
Hellebuyck stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Jets win over the Sharks on Sunday. Steve Mason started on Tuesday so they will come back to Hellebuyck tonight in Chicago. Hellebuyck has won five of his last six starts with a 1.98 GAA, .937 SV% and one shutout. In his first start against the Blackhawks, Hellebuyck allowed five goals on 30 shots in a 5-1 loss.
Alex Chiasson will replace Connolly in the Capitals lineup tonight vs. the Hurricanes but it is not a knock on Connolly’s game according to head coach Barry Trotz. “[He] has been playing fine” but Trotz is just trying to keep everyone involved—Chiasson sat on Tuesday.
Darling surrendered five goals on 28 shots in the Hurricanes loss in Boston last Saturday. It has been a struggle for Darling this season and he has watched Cam Ward a lot recently. Darling comes into tonight’s game having lost three straight while giving up an incredible 16 goals on 93 shots (.828 SV%).
Smith allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Flames win in Minnesota on Tuesday. Smith has won four in a row while allowing just 10 goals on 132 shots (.924 SV%). Tonight he will look for his fifth straight win against the top team in Tampa Bay—he is 7-3-3 with a 1.96 GAA and .944 SV% on the road this season.
Smith allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Flames win in Minnesota on Tuesday. Smith has won four in a row while allowing just 10 goals on 132 shots (.924 SV%). Tonight he will look for his fifth straight win against the top team in Tampa Bay—he is 7-3-3 with a 1.96 GAA and .944 SV% on the road this season.
Darling surrendered five goals on 28 shots in the Hurricanes loss in Boston last Saturday. It has been a struggle for Darling this season and he has watched Cam Ward a lot recently. Darling comes into tonight’s game having lost three straight while giving up an incredible 16 goals on 93 shots (.828 SV%).
Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Lightning’s win over the Hurricanes on Tuesday. The win snapped a brief two-game losing skid for Vasilevskiy, who will make his 36th start of the season tonight. Vasilevskiy comes in tied for second in the NHL in GAA (2.10) and SV% (.933) but is the runaway leader in wins (27) so far.
Ullmark has appeared in 21 career NHL games but it looks like he will make his season debut tonight vs. Columbus. The Sabres believe Ullmark has a bright future ahead of him, so they’ll give him a shot tonight after he has gone 17-5-1 with a 2.27 GAA, .928 SV% and two shutouts in 26 games with Rochester (AHL). While he might be the Sabres goalie of the future, he will be in tough against Sergei Bobrovsky tonight.
