Kovacevic has a goal, four assists, 40 SOG and 18 PIMs through 34 games this season but will be a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Nashville. David Savard (injury) will take his position in the Canadien's defensive pairings.
Willman failed to pick up a point through nine games with the Flyers after playing only 8:58 ATOI in a bottom-six role. He will head back to Lehigh Valley (AHL) where he had two goals, two assists and 10 PIMs in 11 games prior to his promotion.
Allen allowed three goals on 35 shots (.914 SV%) as he picked up his fourth straight loss in a defeat to Dallas his last time out. The 32-year-old has struggled for most of the season but still holds his starter's spot, with his 9-13-1 record, 3.26 GAA and .900 SV%. He will face the Tampa Bay Lightning, who lost their last game 7-4 to the Detroit Red Wings but are third in the NHL in goals per game (3.59).
Markstrom stopped 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) for his third straight win in a victory over Anaheim in his previous start. The 32-year-old has been struggling through the first half of the season, with his 11-8-4 record, .894 SV% and 2.84 GAA. He will face the Edmonton Oilers, who have lost four of their last five contests after a 5-2 loss to Vancouver last game.
Cotter did not play in the Golden Knights game Wednesday and will head to the injured reserve due to an upper-body injury. Cotter had been playing well in his first full NHL season, with four goals, two assists, 29 SOG and eight PIMs through 22 games prior to the injury.
Allen stopped 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) as he picked up his third straight loss in a 2-1 overtime defeat to the Colorado Avalanche in his last game. The Canadiens starter has struggled at times this season, with his 9-12-1 record, .900 SV% and 3.27 GAA. He takes on the Dallas Stars, who are first in the Central Division but have lost two of their last three games after a 6-3 loss to Edmonton in their previous game.
Bastian has three goals, five assists, 26 SOG and 15 PIMs across 21 games played but will be on the injured reserve indefinitely. The move allows the Devils the space to call up Nikita Okhotiuk.
Allen allowed five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) for his second straight loss as he was defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in his previous start. Allen has fought the puck most nights this season, with his 9-12-0 record, .897 SV% and 3.33 GAA. He will take on the Colorado Avalanche, who have won four of their last five games despite being fairly injured after a 1-0 victory over the Islanders in their last game.
Markstrom allowed two goals on 26 shots (.923 SV%) to snap a six-game losing streak with a win over San Jose in his last start. He has struggled mightily this season, with his 9-8-4 record, 2.88 GAA and .893 SV%. He faces the San Jose Sharks again after beating them 5-2 the last time they met on Sunday.
MacDermid has been out since Nov. 12th due to a lower-body injury but will return to Colorado's lineup Monday. Prior to the injury, the bruising defensemen had one assist, 14 PIMs and just three SOG through eight games played.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%) to pick up his fifth-straight loss in a defeat to the Vancouver Canucks. The 32-year-old has given up some starts this year due to his struggles, as he holds an 8-7-4 record, .897 SV% and 2.81 GAA. He takes on the St. Louis Blues, who have won their last two games and are 23rd in the NHL in goals per game (2.9).
Allen stopped 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a win over Calgary in one of his strongest starts of the season his last time out. The Canadiens' starter has been up and down this season, as shown by his 9-10-0 record, .901 SV% and 3.26 GAA. He draws the Anaheim Ducks, the league's coldest team, after a 7-0 loss to Toronto in their last game, having lost nine of their last ten contests.
