Philipp Grubauer will start Thursday vs. Colorado. Grubauer was sensational in Game 1 stopping 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) as he beat his old team in the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Tuesday. The 31-year-old played much better Tuesday than he did throughout the season, having a 17-14-4 record, 2.85 GAA and .895 SV%. He will be hoping for a similar result in Game 2 as he takes on the Colorado Avalanche, who were 10th in the NHL in goals per game (3.34) during the regular season. Source: Kate Shefte
Alexandar Georgiev will start Game 2 Thursday vs. Seattle. Georgiev stopped 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%) but took the hard loss as he was downed 3-1 by the Seattle Kraken in Game 1 Tuesday. The 27-year-old was incredible in his first season in Colorado, ranking second all-time in single-season franchise wins with a 40-16-6 record, .919 SV% and 2.53 GAA. He will hope for better results in Game 2 vs. Seattle, who finished the 2022-23 season fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52). Source: Jesse Montano
Connor Hellebuyck will start Thursday vs. Vegas.Hellebuyck was not very busy in Game 1, stopping 16 of 17 shots (.941 SV%) as he beat Vegas 5-1 in the series opener. The 29-year-old is coming off a fantastic 2022-23 regular season, where he was 37-25-2 with a .920 SV% and 2.49 GAA. He will hope for more smooth sailing as he takes on Vegas Thursday, who finished the regular season 14th in the NHL in goals per game (3.26). Source: Ken Wiebe
Ilya Samsonov will start Game 2 vs. Tampa Bay Thursday.Samsonov allowed six goals on 29 shots (.793 SV%) for one of his toughest losses of the season as he was downed by Tampa Bay in Game 1. The 26-year-old had a great first regular season in Toronto, with his 27-10-5 record, .919 SV% and 2.33 GAA. He will be hoping for better results in Game 2 against the Lightning, who finished the regular season eighth in the NHL in goals per game (3.41). Source: David Alter