Joel Hofer will start Friday in Columbus. Hofer will start for the first time since allowing four goals on 15 shots (.733 SV%) in an 8-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on November 24th but will have a favourable matchup against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has lost three straight, including a 7-3 loss to the New York Islanders last night. Hofer has been inconsistent this season but mostly reliable when called upon, posting a 3.04 GAA and .901 SV% in nine games (5-4-0). The Blues are -141 road favourites on Friday night. Source: NHL.com
Jet Greaves will start Friday vs. St. Louis. Greaves has yet to appear in an NHL game this season but had a respectable 9-3-0 record, 3.09 GAA and .899 SV% with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) prior to his call up and will take on St. Louis Friday. The 22-year-old undrafted goaltender has only appeared in one other NHL game, picking up the loss while posting a .939 SV% and a 3.05 GAA. He will hope to pick up his first career win Friday as the Blue Jackets host the Blues, who have lost four of their last seven games and are 24th in the NHL in goals per game (2.88). Source: Coby Maeir
Tristan Jarry will start Friday at Florida. Jarry will man the Penguins' crease for the sixth time in seven games Friday after dropping his previous game after allowing three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%). The 28-year-old leads the NHL in shutouts (3) and has had a strong start to his season despite the play of those around him in Pittsburgh, with his 8-9-2 record, 2.50 GAA and .917 SV%. He will head to Florida to take on the Panthers Friday, who have won three of their last five games and are second in the NHL in shots per game (34.0). Source: Josh Getzoff
Sergei Bobrovsky will start Friday vs. Pittsburgh. Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz have split starts over the last four games for the Panthers, but Bobrovsky will start consecutive games for the first time in nearly two weeks on Friday. On Wednesday, Bobrovsky held on, saving 29 of 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars, giving him three straight wins and posting a stellar .933 SV% in the process. The Panthers are sizeable -157 home favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has lost three straight (0-1-2), scoring only five goals in that span.Source: Florida Panthers
Stuart Skinner will start Friday vs. Minnesota. Skinner will start for the seventh straight game and look for his sixth straight victory on Friday. Skinner has elevated his game since the Oilers changed coaches last month, highlighted by a tremendous .943 SV% during his season-best five-game winning streak, allowing only eight total goals over that stretch. The Oilers are considerable -187 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that has played well lately but was shut out 2-0 last night against the Vancouver Canucks.Source: Jason Gregor