NHL Hockey Player News

Gaunce has just one goal and one assist in 26 games this season and he will come out of the lineup tonight in favour of Nikolay Goldobin.

Biega has been out of the lineup for the last four games but will replace Derrick Pouliot tonight in Washington. Biega has just five assists in 21 games this season.

Goldobin was a healthy scratch in Montreal on Sunday but will replace Brendan Gaunce tonight in Washington. Goldobin has picked up just two goals and two assists (four points) in 12 games this season.

Tanev will miss his second straight game after being hit in the face by a shot in Saturday’s game in Toronto. Tanev did however skate this morning with a full cage on, so he might be ready for Friday’s game in Columbus.

Brassard was originally listed as questionable for tonight’s game, but he hopped on the ice for the Senators morning skate and will play against Chicago. Brassard has played well recently, picking up four goals and five assists (nine points) in his last nine games.

Markstrom stopped 34 of 36 shots in the Canucks shootout loss in Toronto on Saturday. Anders Nilsson started the second game of their back-to-back but they’ll come back to Markstrom as their road-trip continues in Washington. Markstrom is 0-2-3 in his last five road starts, posting a 3.48 GAA and .870 SV% in the process.

Allen allowed five goals on 38 shots in the Blues loss in Philadelphia on Saturday. Allen has won three straight while posting a 3.67 GAA and .891 SV%. Despite his recent struggles and Carter Hutton’s great season, Allen will get back in the crease tonight after getting Sunday off. Allen allowed five goals on 38 shots in a 5-2 loss in his first start against the Panthers.

Borowiecki has been out since November 19th but took part in the Senators morning skate and is listed as a game-time decision tonight vs. Chicago. Borowiecki would likely replace Johnny Oduya, who is dealing with an injury of his own.

Girardi avoided disaster after taking a slap shot to the neck on Sunday and all tests came back negative. The Lightning called Girardi day-to-day yesterday but he was back on the ice for the morning skate and it looks like he could play alongside Mikhail Sergachev tonight.

The Predators are apparently very happy with their blueline depth, signing Irwin, Yannick Weber and Anthony Bitetto all to extensions this morning. Irwin has collected seven points (2G / 5A) in 31 games this season, giving him 21 points (5G / 16A) in 105 gams with Nashville over the last two seasons.

Bitetto has been in and out of the Predators lineup this season, but has appeared in 22 games, picking up just three points (1G / 2A). Nashville also signed Yannick Weber this morning, locking in their two depth defenseman for at least another season.

Weber has served as a depth defensemen for the Predators for the last two season. He has picked up one goal and two assists (three points) in 25 games this season, to give him just 11 points (2G / 9A) in 98 career games with Nashville.

Vasilevskiy surrendered six goals on 33 shots in the Lightning’s loss in Ottawa on Saturday. It was a rare rough outing for Vasilevskiy, who has lost two straight while allowing seven goals on 71 shots (.901 SV%). Despite a brief two-game winning streak, the 23-year-old remains a must-start regardless of matchup—he stopped 31 of 32 shots in a 5-1 win in Carolina in his first start vs. the Hurricanes.

Lehner allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Sabres loss in Philadelphia on Sunday. Lehner was banged up after taking a shot up high in Sunday’s game and missed Monday’s practice, but it looks like he’s good-to-go tonight vs. the Jets. Lehner has lost four of his last five starts while posting a 3.58 GAA and .892 SV%.

Grubauer stopped all 37 shots that he faced in the Capitals shutout win in New York on December 27th. It seems like an odd time to get Grubauer a start with a back-to-back later this week, but the 26-year-old has allowed just five goals on 132 shots (.962 SV%) in his last five appearances. He makes for an interesting spot-start, especially in a week where a lot of goalies are on a bye week.

With the Jets blueline getting healthy and Adam Lowry upfront, Poolman has been sent to Manitoba in favour of a forward (Brendan Lemieux). Poolman had one goal in 13 games with the Jets and has two assists in eight games with the Moose.

Lemieux, 21, had one goal in seven games with the Jets earlier this season but has spent most of the year in Manitoba, where he has 24 points (9G / 15A) in 24 games. He could draw into the Jets lineup on Tuesday with Adam Lowry sidelined.

Bobrovsky had a busy night against the Panthers, stopping 42 of 44 shots in the Blue Jackets win last night. It’s not for sure, but it looks like Bobrovsky will go again tonight in Toronto—Bob has turned things around recently, stopping 93 of 98 shots (.949 SV%) in his last three starts (2-1-0).

Andersen allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Maple Leafs shootout win over the Canucks on Saturday. Aside from a rough outing in Vegas, Andersen has played well as of late, winning five of his last six starts with a 2.53 GAA and .924 SV%. Tonight he will take on the Blue Jackets, who appear to have rebounded after hitting a rough patch in late-December.

The Lightning received great information on Girardi’s status after all tests came back negative. Girardi had to be tended to by both team’s trainers on Sunday after he was hit in the back of the neck by a Martin Frk slapshot. "One of the scariest things I've ever seen in hockey," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. This is great news for Girardi, but don’t expect to see him Tuesday vs. the Senators.