Stuart Skinner will start Friday vs. the New York Rangers. The Oilers snapped a three-game skid on Thursday with a 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils courtesy of a strong performance from Calvin Pickard but will turn back to Skinner on the back end of a back-to-back on Friday. Skinner has lost two consecutive starts, allowing eight goals on 43 combined shots (.814 SV%), but had won his previous seven, boasting a tremendous .934 SV%. The Oilers are slight +107 road underdogs against an Eastern Conference powerhouse in the New York Rangers, who have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 12-4, and will likely turn to Jonathan Quick between the pipes. Source: Tony Brar
Quick led the Rangers onto the ice for warmups. Quick has turned back time this season, grossly outplayed Igor Shesterkin, and will likely start for the Rangers on the front end of a back-to-back on Friday. The 37-year-old Quick has been nearly unbeatable this season, winning his last seven starts while posting a serviceable .916 SV%. Quick's 2.09 GAA and .926 SV% surpass anything he has ended the season with throughout his illustrious career. The Rangers will look for their fourth straight win as -116 home favourites against an Oilers team that snapped a three-game skid last night, courtesy of a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils.Source: Mollie Walker
Swayman led the Bruins onto the ice for warmups.Swayman, as are the Bruins, is winless in his last two outings, but he will return to the crease on the front end of a back-to-back on Friday. Despite sporting only a .500 record in his last four (2-0-2), Swayman has a stellar .958 SV%, only allowing five total goals, and has been a victim of porous goal support from his team. The Bruins have lost four of their last six (2-1-3) and matchup evenly at -105 against the Winnipeg Jets, who have points in four straight games (3-0-1).Source: @NHLBruins
Hellebuyck will start Friday vs. Boston.
Hellebuyck did not play in Wednesday's 5-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings but will return to the crease on Friday when the Jets host the Boston Bruins. Hellebuyck has been terrific lately, allowing two or fewer goals in 10 of his last 11 games (8-2-1) while posting a dazzling .939 SV%. The Jets are among the hottest teams in the league this month, losing only two of nine games in December (7-1-1), yet are slight +105 home underdogs against a Bruins team that has lost three of their last four contests (1-2-1).Source: Ken Wiebe
Cayden Primeau will start Friday in Chicago. Primeau will start for only the second time this month and the first time since December 9th, a sensational performance where he saved 46 of 48 shots (.958 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Despite seeing very limited action between the pipes, Primeau has played pretty well when called upon, allowing nine goals across his last three starts, boasting a .918 SV%. That said, the Canadiens had to travel last night after a 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild and are +104 road underdogs against a Chicago Blackhawks team that surprisingly ended a four-game losing skid with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Source: Renaud Lavoie
Petr Mrzek will start Friday vs. Montreal. Mrazek will return to the crease on Friday, his third straight start, being rewarded for a heroic performance in their last game. On Tuesday, Mrazek was sensational, saving 35 of 37 shots (.946 SV%), holding down the fort and shutting down the Colorado Avalanche en route to a 3-2 victory. Mrazek has fared well this season for the league's fourth-worst defensive team (3.55 GA / GP), posting a 3.04 GAA and .909 SV% through 20 appearances while tallying a respectable .556 quality start percentage. In a rare occurrence on Friday, the Blackhawks are slight -110 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team that played last night, losing 4-3 to the Minnesota Wild in overtime.Source: Charlie Roumeliotis