Ennis was hurt in the second period of Game 2 after being hit into the end boards by Kirby Dach. Ennis was in visible pain and had to be aided off of the ice. With Ennis out, Andreas Athanasiou stepped into a larger role. It remains to be seen if that will be the case again in Game 4.
Buffalo Sabres News
Petr Mrazek started and won the first two games of the series but with Game 3 coming on the tail-end of a back-to-back, Reimer will start tonight. He started 24 games in the regular season, going 14-6-2 with a 2.66 GAA and .914 SV%. He has made seven career playoff starts, but the last one was in 2013. He was 3-4 with a 2.87 GAA and .923 SV% in that series.
The Stars have two very capable goaltenders and both will probably see playing time during the round-robin but Bishop will start the opener. He was 21-16-4 with a 2.50 GAA and .920 SV% in 43 starts this seasons. In two starts vs. the Golden Knights, Bishop was 1-0-1 with a 2.48 GAA and .917 SV%.
Samuelsson was selected No.32 overall in 2018 and the 20-year-old defenseman tallied 14 points (2G / 12A) in 30 games at Western Michigan University in 2020. Samuelsson also represented the USA at the World Juniors for the second straight year but has failed to record a point in those 12 international games.
Tuch was nearing a return to the Golden Knights lineup before suffering a setback at the start of the week. Not travelling suggests that Tuch will miss at least two more games but could be back for next Tuesday's home game vs. the Stars.
Bishop allowed one goal on 23 shots in the Stars loss to the Predators on Saturday. He played well but the Predators couldn't solve Juuse Saros at the other end of the ice. Bishop is on a three-game losing streak, allowing a combined nine goals on 64 shots (.859 SV%). Tonight he faces a Rangers team that has lost four of their last five while averaging 3.20 goals for and 4.80 goals against per game.
Clifton has been out since December 29th but he will play Tuesday in Philadelphia with Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo both out with upper-body injuries. Clifton skated with Matt Grzelcyk in Monday's practice and comes into Tuesday's game with just two goals in 30 games.
Tuch was nearing a return to the Golden Knights lineup but will miss additional games after suffering a setback. With Tuch still sidelined, Nicolas Roy will stay in a prominent role.
Bishop allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Stars loss in Boston on February 27th. Anton Khudobin has started the last three games, partly due to a Bishop lower-body injury, but he's back in the crease this afternoon vs. the Predators. He's 13-9-2 with a 2.19 GAA and .930 SV% on home ice this season and stopped 31 of 33 shots in a win in his first start vs. Nashville.
Pilut missed Friday's practice with an illness so his status for Saturday's game is in doubt. Colin Miller will draw back into the lineup if Pilut can't play.
Gilbert comes up after Lucas Carlsson took a puck to the head on Thursday night. Gilbert has split his 2020 campaign between the AHL and NHL, collecting three points (1G / 2A) in his 20 games with the Blackhawks.
Bishop did not dress on Tuesday due to a minor lower-body injury but is expected to at least back up on Thursday. Jake Oettinger was sent back to the AHL on Wednesday, clearing the way for Bishop to suit up in Nashville. It’s unclear whether he or Anton Khudobin will get the nod.