Pickard allowed four goals on 37 shots in Colorado’s loss in Calgary on Wednesday. Semyon Varlamov will dress tonight, but Pickard will start despite losing five straight games while allowing a combined 22 goals on 162 shots (.864 SV%). It’s been a struggle for the Avalanche, so avoid Pickard even with an above average matchup.
Darling allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Blackhawks’ loss in Carolina on December 30th. Corey Crawford has started five of the last six games, but Darling will get the second game of the back-to-back tonight vs. the Hurricanes again. Darling is 6-2-1 with a 2.09 GAA and .933 SV% in nine starts on home ice.
Scherbak, 21, was the Canadiens’ first round pick (26th overall) in 2014 and has scored 10 goals with 10 assists (20 points) in 27 games with St. John’s this season. Scherbak could get an extended look with the Canadiens with Brendan Gallagher out for at least eight weeks with fractured left hand.
Gallagher fractured his hand when he was hit by a Shea Weber shot in Dallas and will be out until approximately early-March. It has been a tough season for Gallagher, who has just six goals in 39 games and this just adds onto it.
Luongo allowed four goal on 39 shots in the Panthers’ loss to the Jets on Wednesday. Luongo was peppered by Winnipeg and ended up losing his third straight game and has posted a 2.86 GAA and .924 SV% over that stretch. Tonight he faces the Predators on home ice where he is 8-5-2 with a 2.29 GAA and .926 SV%.
Rielly was given the morning off in New Jersey, but will be in the lineup vs. the Devils. Rielly has had a solid season, picking up 17 points (1G / 16A) across 37 games. Rielly is on-pace for a career-high 186 shots and his 1.2 shooting percentage should improve and he will start finding the back of the net with more regularity.
Andersen allowed six goals on 29 shots in the Maple Leafs’ overtime loss in Washington on Tuesday. After playing very well in November and December, Andersen has now allowed a combined 10 goals on 66 shots (.848 SV%) in his first two starts in January. Tonight he starts in New Jersey; he has gone 6-3-5 with a 2.60 GAA and .924 SV% on the road this season.
Neuvirth has been sidelined since November 12th and after backing up in his first game back, it looks like Neuvirth will start vs. the Lightning this afternoon. Neuvirth struggled before the injury, going 4-2-0 with a 3.54 GAA and .859 SV%, but the Lightning come limping in having lost four of their last six while being outscored 22-14.
Greene left Tuesday’s game after being hit by a puck near the eye and will miss tonight’s game vs. Toronto. Seth Helgeson has been recalled from Albany (AHL) and will draw into the lineup tonight.
Andersen allowed six goals on 29 shots in the Maple Leafs’ overtime loss in Washington on Tuesday. After playing very well in November and December, Andersen has now allowed a combined 10 goals on 66 shots (.848 SV%) in his first two starts in January. Tonight he starts in New Jersey; he has gone 6-3-5 with a 2.60 GAA and .924 SV% on the road this season.
Griffith suffered a concussion on a hit from Nikolaj Ehlers on Wednesday and will miss an extended period of time. Head coach Tom Rowe said that Griffith is out for "god knows how long," so don't expect to see him anytime soon. With Griffith out, the Panthers recalled Jared McCann from Springfield (AHL).
Abbott, 28, made his Blackhawks debut last night, but returns to the AHL immediately. Abbott returns to the AHL, where he has eight goals and 13 assists (21 points) in 30 games this season.
Forsling has been a healthy scratch in three of the last four games and played just 10:17 TOI last night. His return to the AHL suggests that Brian Campbell will get back into the lineup on Friday. Forsling has one goal and three assists (four points) in 32 games with Chicago.
Schneider made 29 saves on 30 shots in the Devils’ win in Carolina on Tuesday. Schneider has kicked 2017 off on a strong note, winning his first two starts while stopping 51 of 52 shots (.981 SV%). Tonight he will face the Maple Leafs for the second time this season—he allowed four goals on 31 shots in a 5-4 shootout win in late-November.
McCann has split his season between the NHL and AHL. McCann had three points (1G / 2A) in 17 games with the Panthers before being sent down, where he collected four goals and two assists (six points) in 15 games with the Thunderbirds. He has been recalled because SethGriffith is out with a concussion and is expected to play on Friday.
Khudobin has gone 1-5-1 with a 3.06 GAA and .885 SV% in seven starts and one relief appearance this season. Khudobin has struggled as Tuukka Rask’s backup, so he heads to the AHL after clearing waivers earlier in the week. Zane McIntyre has been recalled to take Khudobin’s spot.
McIntyre, 24, has been excellent in Providence this season, going 10-0-0 with a 1.41 GAA and .951 SV%. With Anton Khudobin clearing waivers earlier in the week, he heads to Providence and McIntyre is coming up to be Tuukka Rask’s backup.
Zatkoff allowed three goals on 31 shots in the Kings loss in Dallas on December 23rd. Zatkoff has started six games and has made three relief appearances, going 2-5-1 with a 2.83 GAA and .892 SV% overall. Tonight he’ll make his second start of the season vs. Detroit—he stopped 17 of 18 shots in a 4-1 win over December 15th.
Ward allowed two goals on 17 shots in the Hurricanes’ loss to the Devils on Tuesday. It was an uneventful night for Ward, who has lost three of his last four while posting a 2.58 GAA and .897 SV%. He draws a terrible matchup tonight tin St. Louis. The Blues are great on home ice and Ward is 4-8-5 with a 2.56 GAA and .908 SV% on the road.
