Balinskis has spent most of the season with the Panthers but is returning from a one-game stint with the Charlotte Checkers, where he scored one point (1G / 0A). In 15 games with the Panthers, the Latvian defender has two points (1G / 1A), six penalty minutes, and a +1 plus/minus rating.
Studenic played two games for the Kraken, recording zero points, one shot, two penalty minutes, and three hits. The Slovak forward will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Max McCormick to make his season debut.
McCormick will make his season debut after being recalled from Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL on Friday. The 31-year-old McCormick has 17 points (8G / 9A) in 16 games with the Firebirds this season and is expected to play on the fourth line with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Kailer Yamamoto.
Burakovsky participated in his first full practice on Monday after not playing since October 21st. Burakovsky had two points (0G / 2A) in six games before suffering an upper-body injury and will be a huge boost for a Seattle Kraken offence that ranks fourth-worst in the league (2.68 GF / GP).
Nedeljkovic will start for the first time since November 24th and has been terrific when called upon this season, especially since returning from a 10-game absence due to a lower-body injury two weeks ago. In his last two games (1-1-0), Nedeljkovic has saved 69 of 72 shots (.958 SV%) and has one shutout. The Penguins have struggled lately, losing six of their last nine (3-4-2), but will hope to get back on track as they are -113 road favourites in a rematch of Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Raanta will start for the first time since a monumentally poor performance on November 24th when he allowed eight goals on 14 shots (.429 SV%) in an 8-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Raanta is posting a career-worst GAA (3.47) and save percentage (.854), well below the usually-dependable netminder's career average of 2.47 GAA and .916 SV%. The 11-year veteran is undoubtedly struggling between the pipes this season, but there is very little room for error being a goaltender for the Hurricanes, who lead the league in shot suppression (24.7 SA / GP). The Hurricanes are -141 road favourites against a Jets team held to three or fewer goals in each of their last six games (3-3-0).
Workhorse Connor Hellebuyck will have the day off on Tuesday when Laurent Brossoit suits up for the Jets against the Carolina Hurricanes. Brossoit has been serviceable but unspectacular in limited action this season, posting a 2.97 GAA and .877 SV% in five games (2-2-1). He owns a sub-.900 SV% in each of his five games and will be hard-pressed to break that trend on Tuesday as the Jets are +127 home underdogs against the Hurricanes, who have scored four or more goals in five of their last seven contests (5-1-1).
Lettieri has seen his ice-time plummet, including several healthy scratches since John Hynes has taken over as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild. Before the coaching change, Lettieri averaged 11:04 time-on-ice, nearly two and a half minutes more than the 8:48 he has averaged since. In a corresponding move, Minnesota has recalled Dakota Mermis from Iowa (AHL).
Vinni Lettieri has been reassigned to the Iowa Wild (AHL) in favour of 29-year-old journeyman Mermis. Mermis spent 13 games wild Minnesota earlier this season, scoring five points (2G / 3A) and 21 penalty minutes.
Montembeault has unquestionably been the strong netminder for the Canadiens this season and will get his first opportunity to tend the twine since signing a three-year, $9.45 million contract extension on Friday. In 10 games this season (5-3-1), Montembeault owns half of the Canadiens' 10 victories and is sporting an impressive 2.73 GAA and .910 SV%. Montembeault has been even more impressive lately, posting a 3-1-0 record and .929 SV% in his last five outings. The Canadiens are +134 home underdogs against a Seattle Kraken team that has lost four straight (0-3-1), scoring only seven goals in the process (1.75 GF / GP).
Greig has missed the last 10 games with a lower-body injury but anticipates playing on Tuesday. The Senators most recently played with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation, meaning that Erik Branstrom or Jacon Bernard-Docker are the likely candidates to be healthy scratched for Greig's return. Before his injury, the 21-year-old Greig had seven points (2G / 5A) in nine games, playing predominantly with Vladimir Tarasenko and Mathieu Joseph.
In his first full season with the Jets, Niederreiter is pacing for his best offensive output in over five years and has been rewarded with a three-year, $12 million contract extension. Niederreiter has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 23 games and is firing 2.7 shots on goal per game, the largest volume of his career and well above his career average of 2.0 shots per game. He has played this season predominantly on the third line with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton.
Dobson ranks seventh in the league with 25:09 average time-on-ice per game and did not participate at the Islanders' practice on Monday for maintenance. Dobson is sixth amongst all defensemen with 21 points (5G / 16A) in 23 games, recording five (0G / 5A) in his last three alone. He is currently on pace to shatter his career-high 51-point output from the 2021-22 season.
Nelson scored two points (0G / 2A) on Saturday against the Florida Panthers but exited the game with an undisclosed injury after playing 15:04 time-on-ice. Nelson did not participate in practice on Monday and is considered day-to-day ahead of the Islanders' next contest on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. Nelson's two-point outburst on Saturday ended a three-game pointless skid for the 11-year veteran.
Chabot was not able to complete Saturday's game, his second game after a 10-game absence due to a hand injury, exiting late in the third period after playing 22:29 with an undisclosed injury. In the two games, Chabot scored one point (0G / 1A) and eight shots on goal while quarterbacking the Senators' top powerplay unit. He did not participate in practice on Monday, but is expected to dress for Ottawa's matchup Tuesday vs. the New York Rangers.
The Flyers have struggled lately with Hart between the pipes but will try to reverse that trend on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hart has lost his last four starts (0-3-1), allowing three or more goals in each contest, posting a .886 SV%. Additionally, each of the Flyers' last three victories have come with Hart on the bench, including Saturday's 4-3 shootout victory against the Penguins. The Flyers are +106 home underdogs against a Penguins team that has scored more than three goals only once in their last six outings (2-2-2).
Tuch exited Sunday's game against the Nashville Predators after playing 16:19 time-on-ice with an undisclosed injury. A more detailed update should be provided for Tuch on Monday. The Sabres, already without Tage Thompson, Jack Quinn, and Jordan Greenway, can ill afford to lose Tuch, who has six points (3G / 3A) in his last six games.
Talbot took the loss in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Capitals on Wednesday despite facing just 15 shots. It snapped a personal three-game winning streak for Talbot, and he'll be eager to get back in the win column against the Avalanche on Sunday. The 36-year-old has been a pleasant surprise for the Kings this season, registering a .928 SV% and a 10-4-1 record in his first season in Los Angeles. He and the Kings are slight home favourites (-135) against Colorado on Sunday.
The Avalanche will hand the reigns back over to Georgiev on Sunday after Ivan Prosvetov got the start in Anaheim on Saturday. Georgiev took the loss in his last start in Thursday's game in Arizona, allowing four goals on 32 shots in the 4-3 overtime defeat. He's struggled to find his form this season, posting an .897 SV% across a league leading 19 appearances. He has a difficult task ahead of him on Sunday with the Avs being slight road underdogs (+115) in Los Angeles.
