It looks like Palat will miss a third straight game with a lower-body injury. Palat skated for the first time on Sunday, but still is not expected to return tomorrow. Monitor his status during the Lightning’s morning skate.
Lehner made 29 saves on 31 shots in the Senators 3-2 shootout win over the Bruins on Saturday afternoon. The strong outing has earned him back-to-back starts for the first time since November 20-22. Tonight he takes on a Sabres team who have surprisingly won three in a row and six of their last eight games.
Dahlbeck, 23, had one goal in four games with the Blackhawks. He heads back to the AHL where he has six points (2G / 4A) in 22 games. The addition of Tim Erixon likely squeezed Dahlbeck backed to the minors.
With Henrik Lundqvist getting the call last night, it looks like it will be Talbot tonight in Edmonton. He allowed three goals on 34 shots in a loss to the Red Wings in his last outing. Even though he is 1-3-0 with a 3.06 GAA and .895 SV% on the road, if you need a Sunday spot-start, you won’t find a better option than this.
Hiller allowed three goals on 22 shots in the Flames loss to the Penguins on Friday. He will get back to back starts for the first time since November 18th-20th, but comes in having lost his last four starts with a 3.10 GAA and .880 SV%. It won’t be easy to snap this losing streak when they take on the Blackhawks.
Hunt, 26, could be in the lineup for the Oilers tonight. Edmonton is looking for a shot on their power play, so he could be in for Brandon Davidson. Hunt had one goal in six games with the Oilers this season. While in the AHL, he has registered 22 points (7G / 15A) in 17 games.
Oleksiak, 21, has recorded four points (1G / 3A) in 21 games with the Stars this season. He spent just one game with Texas before being recalled.
Rynnas went 0-1-0 with a 4.57 GAA and .841 SV% in one start and one relief appearance in his short stint with the Stars. He heads back to the AHL, where he is 5-1-4 with a 2.58 GAA and .913 SV%.
Lindback performed very well in five starts with Texas. He went 3-2-0 with a 1.59 GAA and .946 SV%, so the Stars are hoping he can translate that into NHL success. The Stars 3.52 goals against per game is the worst in the NHL, so an improved and more confident Lindback could go a long way in improving team defence.
The Penguins confirmed that Crosby has been diagnosed with mumps and will not play on Monday vs. the Lightning. Crosby's status will be monitored daily, but the team believes that he will be through the infectious period by Monday. Monitor his status leading up to Thursday's contest vs. the Avs.
This is not surprising news after the picture of his swollen face surfaced. Mumps effects everyone differently so the timeline for his return is uncertain. The Penguins are expected to hold a press conference at 11:30 PM ET, where more details should be released.
Remier skated on Saturday morning which suggests his tweaked groin is good-to-go today vs. the Kings. He had a stellar outing on Wednesday, stopping 41 of 42 shots in the 2-1 shootout win over the Red Wings. Today it looks like he will be the one to take on the Kings, a team who are 1-2-0 on their current road-trip.
The Canucks had moved Vrbata off the Sedin’s line earlier in the week. But after they fell behind 5-0, they moved Vrbata back on a line with twins, moving Jannik Hansen to the second line with Nick Bonino and Alexandre Burrows.
Erixon, 23, is used to changing NHL organizations. He was drafted 23rd overall by the Flames in 2009. He then moved to the Rangers before ending up with Columbus, so he he now with his fourth NHL team in five years. He had one goal and six assists in 19 games with the Blue Jackets this season. He spent the majority of last season in the AHL, collecting 38 points (5G / 33A) in 40 games.
Morin, 23, grew frustrated with the Blackhawks while he was serving as a healthy scratch. He asked for them to play him or trade them and they elected to move him to Columbus. He had no points in 15 games with the Blackhawks and one goal in three games with Rockford (AHL) this season. He has 16 points (8G / 8A) in 54 career NHL games. Morin will report to the Blue Jackets.
Quick allowed three goals on 35 shots in the Kings’ 5-3 win over the Senators on Thursday. Martin Jones got the call on Friday, so expect Quick to be back in goal on Sunday in Toronto. In his last five starts, he 2-3-0 with a 1.82 GAA and .926 SV%. He faces a Maple Leafs team who have won four in a row while outscoring their opponents 14-5.
Scrivens stopped all seven shots that he faced in relief of Viktor Fasth on Friday. Scrivens is 1-1-1 with a 2.47 GAA and .885 SV% in December. It has been a rough year for the Oilers, who look like they’re on their way to getting Connor McDavid. Tonight, he faces the 13-10-4 Rangers at home.
Rinne stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Predators 5-1 blowout win over the Coyotes on Thursday. Tonight the Predators will wrap up a three-game road trip—so far they are 2-0 and Rinne has stopped 57 of 58 shots (.983 SV%) on the trip. It is not a great matchup, but you can’t keep this guy out of your lineup.
Pickard gave up three goals on 33 shots in the Avs’ shootout win over Winnipeg on Thursday. The 22-year-old net minder continues to impress everyone with his strong play. He now sits at 4-5-0 with a 2.36 GAA and .926 SV% this season. Despite the recent success, he draws a really tough matchup tonight with the Blues in town.
Miller stopped 22 of 24 shots in the Canucks 3-1 loss to Montreal on Tuesday. Given it was Jean Beliveu night in Montreal, it was tough to bet against the Habs in this one. But, now that Canucks are back at home ready to take on their former head coach and the Rangers, who are 12-10-4 on the year and have the league’s ninth best offence.
