Lundkvist will be a healthy scratch for the fourth time in the last six games as the Stars will welcome Joel Hanley back into the lineup. Lundkvist, who was acquired by the Stars last offseason for a first-round pick, has failed to impress the Stars' coaching staff and establish himself as a permanent fixture in their lineup. He has seven points (0G / 7A), averaging 14:39 time-on-ice in 23 games this season.
Hanley will draw back into the lineup as Nils Lundkvist will be a healthy scratch for the Stars against the Detroit Red Wings. Between a Thomas Harley injury last month and Lundkvist being a frequent healthy scratch lately, Hanley has semi-regularly found himself in the Stars lineup. The 32-year-old serves as a third-pairing defenseman and is averaging 12:48 time-on-ice but has yet to record a point this season.
Oettinger will start on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings after allowing six goals on 27 shots (.778 SV%) in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. After a tremendous start, Oettinger's season totals have fallen rapidly, posting a 2.84 GAA and .905 SV%, triggered by three consecutive losses where he has allowed four or more goals in each game, sporting an ugly .815 SV%. The Stars have been outscored 19-10 over their last four games (1-3-0) but are still sizeable -209 home favourites against a Red Wings team suffering a variety of injuries, most notably Dylan Larkin (upper-body) and J.T. Compher (soreness).
After joining the Blues late last season, Vrana has been unable to make his desired mark with the team and has subsequently been placed on unconditional waivers. Vrana has mostly played this season alongside Kevin Hayes and Alexey Toropchenko, scoring six points (2G / 4A) in 19 games.
After alternating starts evenly for the first six weeks of the season, Vejmelka has served as the backup for the last two weeks as Connor Ingram has demanded the crease, playing exception hockey over that stretch. Vejmelka will start for the first time since November 22nd and hope this extended rest can help him get his season on track, as he has a subpar 3.45 GAA and 892 SV% in 11 games (2-6-2). With Ingram faltering over his last two games, Vejmelka will once again have the chance to win some starts between the pipes as the Coyotes are +112 road underdogs against the Buffalo Sabres.
Berggren has been up and down from the AHL several times over the last few weeks and will make his most recent stop with the Red Wings on an emergency basis as Dylan Larkin, J.T. Compher, and Klim Kostin have been placed on the injured reserve. Berggren has 15 points (5G / 10A) in 16 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) this season.
Czarnik and Zach Aston-Reese have both been recalled from Grand Rapids of the AHL for a Red Wings team that is suddenly experiencing a myriad of injuries, most notably with Dylan Larkin (upper-body) and J.T. Compher (soreness) on the injured reserve. Czarnik has split time this season between Detroit and Grand Rapids, where he has seven points (3G / 4A) in nine games playing for the Griffins.
Aston-Reese and Austin Czarnik have both been recalled from Grand Rapids of the AHL for a Red Wings team that is suddenly experiencing a myriad of injuries, most notably with Dylan Larkin (upper-body) and J.T. Compher (soreness) on the injured reserve. Aston-Reese has not played with the Red Wings yet this season but has seven points (4G / 3A) in 20 games with Grand Rapids.
Compher has been placed on the injured reserve, joining Red Wings centreicemen Dylan Larkin (upper-body) and Klim Kostin (undisclosed). Before his injury, the 28-year-old Compher was pacing for the best season of his career with 19 points (6G / 13A) in 24 games. The Red Wings have recalled Zach Aston-Reese and Austin Czarnik to help fill the void at center-ice for the Red Wings. Coach Derek Lalonde stated that Compher could be available to return on Thursday.
Kostin was expected to re-enter the Red Wings lineup after Dylan Larkin was injured on Saturday but will instead join Larkin on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. Kostin scored in his last game but has only one point (1G / 0A) in his last nine contests. The Red Wings have recalled Zach-Aston Reese and Austin Czarnik from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.
Larkin exited Saturday's contest against the Ottawa Senators, playing only 5:26 time-on-ice, after a scary incident that left him motionless on the ice for several moments. Larkin was able to skate off the ice with the help of his teammates but will be out of the lineup for a minimum of one week as he has been placed on the injured reserve. Zach Aston-Reese and Austin Czarnik have both been recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. Larkin's absence creates a void at the center-ice position for the Red Wings, who are already without J.T. Compher (soreness).
Rosen played seven games with the Sabres, averaging 8:35 time-on-ice, registering a -3 plus/minus, and failed to score a point. The 14th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft will return to the Rochester Americans of the AHL where he was having a terrific season, posting 19 points (8G / 11A) in 16 games.
Samuelsson left morning skate on Monday feeling "sore" and will be a game-time decision ahead of the Sabres' contest against the Arizona Coyotes. Samuelsson has primarily skated as Rasmus Dahlin's defensive partner this season and has three points (1G / 2A) in 25 games, averaging 20:12 time-on-ice.
With Elvis Merzlikins unable to play due to an illness, Greaves was forced to play on the back end of a back-to-back on Friday and was rewarded another start on Sunday after a strong performance. In two games (1-1-), the 22-year-old Greaves saved 72 of 77 shots (.935 SV%) and posted a 2.52 GAA. He will now return to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL as Columbus has recalled Daniil Tarasov.
Jet Greaves has been reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, allowing Columbus to recall Tarasov after a conditioning stint in the AHL. Tarasov posted a 2.57 GAA and .915 SV% in four games (2-1-0) with Cleveland and will likely serve as the backup to Spencer Martin until Elvis Merzlikins (illness) is ready to return to the lineup.
Hutton has only played two games this season, scoring zero points and averaging 8:46 time-on-ice, and has not played since November 28th. His demotion to Bridgeport of the AHL likely means that Sebastian Aho (upper-body) is on the mend and will be activated off the injured reserve.
Tuch participated in practice as an extra skate on Monday, meaning he is unlikely to play but is on the mend and nearing a return Wednesday. Tuch last played on December 3rd and had six points (3G / 3A) in his last six games. Assuming he does not play on Monday against the Arizona Coyotes, his next opportunity to return will be Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche.
Levi was recalled by the Sabres last week after Eric Comrie was injured and has not looked back, playing his best hockey at the NHL level, allowing only three total goals in two games (1-0-1), boasting a .952 SV%. Levi will likely start for the Sabres on Monday as -125 home favourites in a favourable matchup against the Arizona Coyotes who, after winning five straight, have lost two in a row, being outscored 9-4 (0-2-0). Levi had a firm grasp on the Sabres' starting job at the beginning of the season, even when he was playing poorly, so his string of hot play right now could mean he gets priority in the crease again.
Murray was the 99th overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft but has only played 22 games with the club, most recently in the 2021-22 season. He has scored seven points (2G / 5A) in 12 games with the Rochester Americans of the AHL this season. He will make his debut Monday vs. Arizona.
