Hischier left the Devils' game early on Friday after suffering an upper-body injury but was back at practice as a full participant on Monday morning. This is a good indication that Hischier won't miss any more time and will slide back into his usual spot on the second line. He has zero points, seven shots, and four hits in four games this season.
Markstrom will return to the crease for his fourth start of the season after his understudy, Daniel Vladar, served between the pipes in Thursday’s win over the Sabres. Markstrom has endured an up and down start to the season, featuring a pair of solid performances against the Jets and Capitals, and one not-so-solid performance against the Penguins. His record on the season sits at 1-1-1 to go along with an .898 SV% and a 2.96 GAA. He’s in a good spot to get back in the win column tonight in Columbus with the Flames currently being favoured at -145.
Glass left the Predators' previous game vs. NYR early after just three shifts and 1:46 toI due to a lower-body injury and will now be out 7-10 days. The 24-year-old centre had yet to pick up a point this season in five games played, but has nine SOG and two PIMs. He is coming off a career campaign in 2022-23, where he had 14 goals, 21 assists, 20 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus in 72 games.
Allen will return to the crease for the first time since opening night when he allowed five goals on 42 shots in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sam Montembault has been between the pipes in the two games since but hasn't been significantly more effective in helping the Canadiens shut things down defensively. The Canadiens currently rank 25th in the league, allowing an average of 4.00 goals per game. Working in Allen's favour, he will be facing off against a Washington Capitals team that is off to an abysmal start. After three games (1-2-0), the Capitals rank dead-last offensively, averaging only 1.00 goals per game.
Haula is day-to-day and his status remains unclear for the Devils' next game on Friday against the New York Islanders. So far this season, Haula has primarily centred a third line with Dawson Mercer and Alexander Holtz. He has been very effective in this role and is off to a great start, with three points (2G / 1A), nine shots, and four hits in three games.
Markstrom appears to have a firm grip on his role as a workhorse in the Calgary crease this season. The 33-year-old netminder averaged 61 starts over the last two seasons and has been named the starter for each of the Flames' first three games to begin the 2023-24 campaign. How much fantasy value that role will provide remains to be seen. Markstrom put on an impressive 34-save performance on route to a 5-3 victory over the Jets to open the season, but surrendered four goals on just 28 shots in Saturday's loss to Pittsburgh. The Flames are slight favourites in Washington tonight, so fantasy managers can be hopeful for a bounceback game from Markstrom.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Flames' opening night win over the Jets. It was a strong start to the season for Markstorm, who is looking for a bounce-back after a difficult 2022-23 season. He only faced Pittsburgh once last year, stopping 32 of 33 shots in a 4-1 win.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Flames' opening night win over the Jets. It was a strong start to the season for Markstorm, who is looking for a bounce-back after a difficult 2022-23 season. He only faced Pittsburgh once last year, stopping 32 of 33 shots in a 4-1 win.
Markstrom struggled in 2022-23 with a 23-21-12 record, a .892 SV%, and a 2.92 GAA and will take the crease for Calgary's season opener vs. Winnipeg on Wednesday. The 33-year-old veteran is entering his 14th NHL season and fourth with the Flames. He faces the Jets, who finished last season 21st in the NHL in both goals (246) and shots per game (30.3).
Haula is battling an undisclosed injury and his status for the Devils' opening game is uncertain. Last season was Haula's first with the Devils, in which he scored 41 points (14G / 27A) in 80 games. Haula is projected to center a talented third line between Ondrej Palat and Alexander Holtz but if he is unable to play, Michael McLeod might temporarily fill his position.
Allen had an underwhelming preseason, posting a 4.00 GAA and .854 SV% in two games (1-0-0) but will still begin the 2023-24 campaign as the starting goalie for the Montreal Canadiens. In 42 games last season (15-24-3), Allen posted career worsts in GAA (3.55) and SV% (.891), mirroring the Canadiens' 29th-ranked team defence that allowed an average of 3.72 goals per game. However, in his career against the Maple Leafs, Allen sports a respectable 2.60 GAA and .917 SV% in 18 appearances (8-7-0).
Willman played in nine games for Philadelphia in 2022-23 and failed to pick up a point but had nine SOG, four PIMs, and a -3 plus/minus and has officially signed a one-year, two-way deal with New Jersey. The 28-year-old centre has appeared in 50 games for the Flyers over the last two seasons since making his debut in 2021-22 and has four goals, six points, and 16 PIMs on his career. He is expected to start the season with New Jersey's AHL affiliate in Utica.
Tatar had 20 goals, 28 assists, 30 PIMs, 153 SOG, and a +41 plus/minus through 82 games with New Jersey in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $1,500,000 contract with Colorado on Tuesday. The 32-year-old will join his fifth NHL team and has 211 goals, 455 points, and 276 PIMs through 783 career games played. It is a great depth signing for the Avalanche as Tatar comes at a cheap price tag and has seven 20+ goal seasons across his 12 years of playing in the NHL.
Bernier went 4-4-1 with a .902 SV% and 3.06 GAA through 10 games with New Jersey in 2022-23 and has called it a career Monday after 14 NHL seasons. The 35-year-old goaltender was drafted in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft's 1st round (11th overall) and went on to play for six different teams (LAK, TOR, DET, ANA, COL, NJD) picking up a 165-163-40 record, 2.78 GAA, and .912 SV%.
Legare was acquire by Montreal as part of a three-team trade including San Jose and which saw three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson head to Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old right-winger was Pittsburgh's 2019 third-round pick (74th overall) and has yet to see any NHL action through his first two seasons in the AHL. In 2022-23 he had eight goals, 19 points, 76 PIMs and a -17 plus/minus through 68 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
Gruden had 16 goals, 15 assists, 54 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 54 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) in 2022-23 and has re-signed a one-year, $775,000 contract extension with Pittsburgh. The 23-year-old left-winger made his NHL debut with the Penguins in 2022-23, but failed to pick up a point across a short, three-game showing. He was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2018 draft (95th overall) by the Ottawa Senators.
