Haley was a healthy scratch in Arizona on Tuesday but will replace Connor Brickley (undisclosed) in the lineup tonight. The pugilist has averaged just 7:26 TOI/GM this season but has recorded seven points (2G / 5A) and 75 PIMS in 33 games.
Weegar has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace Ian McCoshen (undisclosed) in the lineup tonight vs. the Wild. Weegar has just one goal and one assist in 19 games this season.
Matthews has missed the last six games but was back skating on the top line between William Nylander and Zach Hyman at Friday’s practice and is hopeful that he will play tomorrow vs. the Rangers. The Maple Leafs went 2-4-0 without Matthews in the lineup. If he plays, he brings 13 goals and 13 assists (26 points) in 26 games this season.
Lehner stopped 30 of 31 shots in the Sabres loss to the Bruins on Tuesday. Lehner has lost four of his last five starts despite posting a strong 2.16 GAA and .939 SV%—the Sabres have averaged just 1.60 goals for per game in front of him in those games. Tonight he faces a Flyers team that has won seven of their last eight games.
Reimer gave up two goals on 41 shots in the Panthers win in Arizona on Tuesday. Reimer has played much better in his last five starts, going 2-2-1 with a 2.18 GAA and .936 SV%. Tonight he will take on a Wild team likely without Devan Dubnyk, but come in having won seven of their last 10 games.
McCoshen must has suffered an injury in Tuesday’s win in Arizona and will be out through the Christmas break. MacKenzie Weegar will replace him in the lineup tonight vs. the Wild.
Brickley is dealing with an undisclosed injury so he will be replaced by Michael Haley in the lineup tonight. With Brickley dealing with an injury, he likely won’t play tomorrow either.
Stalock gave up four goals on 32 shots in the Wild’s win in Ottawa on Tuesday. Since taking over for the injured Devan Dubnyk, Stalock has posted a 2.43 GAA, .924 SV% and one shutout while going 4-2-0. Tonight he faces a Panthers team that has gone 6-6-3 while averaging 3.73 goals for and 4.13 goals against per game on home ice this season.
Grubauer stopped all 17 shots that he faced in relief of Braden Holtby in the Capitals loss to the Islanders on December 11th. The Capitals have a back-to-back on Friday/Saturday so it looks like Grubauer will go tonight in Arizona. He had a terrible start to the season, but has stopped 66 of the last 68 shots (.971 SV%) that he has faced.
Quick allowed one goal on 37 shots in the Kings win in Philadelphia on Monday. The win snapped a brief two-game losing streak for Quick, who comes into tonight at 7-5-1 with a 2.22 GAA and. 929 SV% at the STAPLES Center this season.
Crawford stopped 27 of 28 shots in the Blackhawks win over the Wild on Sunday. Crawford is riding a five-game winning streak, posting a 1.37 GAA and .954 SV% in the process. Crawford will make his sixth straight start against a Stars team that has lost six of their last eight games (2-4-2).
Rinne allowed five goals on 35 shots in the Predators loss to the Jets on Tuesday. Despite the rough outing, Rinne is expected to go again tonight vs. the Hurricanes. Rinne has gone 4-1-1 with a 2.28 GAA, .932 SV% and one shutout in six starts in December. Tonight he faces a Hurricanes team coming off of an 8-1 loss and who have lost seven of their last 11 games (4-4-3).
