Laine was a surprise scratch for Tuesday's game with the Blue Jackets announcing his absence less than 30 minutes before puck drop. Laine's first chance to return to the lineup will be on Long Island on Thursday. He has five goals and two assists in 16 games this season.
Peeke will take the place of the injured Erik Gudbranson. It will be just his fifth game of the season and his first since November 11th. He has no goals and one assist on the season.
Andrew Peeke will draw back into the lineup for the Blue Jackets in place of Gudbranson.Gudbranson has played all 26 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A), averaging 19:47 time-on-ice, and registering a -11 plus/minus through 26 games.
Copley and Cam Talbot were originally slated to be a timeshare tandem, but a horrid start to the season for Copley derailed that plan and saw him see limited action in the first six weeks of the season. Since then, Copley has regained some trust from the Kings' coaching staff, as he has a sensational .980 SV% across his last two outings (2-0-0) and will start for the third time in seven games. The Kings have a favourable matchup for Copley on Tuesday as they are -199 road favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that ranks in the bottom third of the league offensively (2.85 GF / GP).
Merzlikins will return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).
Shesterkin will start on Tuesday after having the night off in the back end of a back-to-back on Sunday. The 27-year-old Russian netminder has elevated his game recently after a sluggish start, by his standards, to the season. Shesterkin has won three of his last four outings (3-1-0), allowing only 10 goals and posting a .929 SV%. The Rangers are -139 road favourites as they visit an Ottawa Senators team coming off a 2-0 shutout victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.
Forsberg saved 39 shots for his first shutout of the season in a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday and will be rewarded with the starter's crease on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Forsberg has a few elite performances this season but has lacked consistency, following up each of his last two quality starts with sub-.810 SV% losing efforts. The Senators are +115 home underdogs against a New York Rangers team that has won three straight and scored four or more goals in three of their last five games (4-1-0).
Cates has not played since November 25th due to a broken foot and was placed on the Injured Reserve Tuesday as the Flyers recalled Olle Lyksell. The 24-year-old Cates had gotten off to a slow start in 2023-24 with only a goal, three assists, 19 SOG, and a -3 plus/minus in 21 games prior to his injury.
Lycksell had 12 goals, seven assists, four PIMs, and a -1 plus/minus in 21 games with Lehigh Valley (AHL) and has been recalled Tuesday. He will replace Noah Cates, who was placed on the Injured Reserve in a corresponding move.
Zadina has not suited up for the last five games due to a lower-body injury but is expected to make his return to the Sharks lineup on Tuesday against the New York Islanders after being activated from the Injured Reserve Tuesday. Zadina has struggled in his first season with the Sharks, as has most of the team, scoring five points (3G / 2A) and registering an ugly -19 plus/minus through 20 games.
Gibson has been a workhorse between the pipes for the Anaheim Ducks lately, starting seven of their last eight games, appearing in all of them, and will start again on Tuesday. The Ducks are 1-7-0 in their last eight, with Gibson posting an undesirable .884 SV% in the process. The Ducks only win over that stretch game in their most recent outing, a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, where Gibson saved 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%). That said, the Ducks are still sizeable +236 road underdogs in a rematch against the Avalanche.
Belpedio hadn't played since November 19th and will report to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL after clearing unconditional waivers. Belpedio has four points (2G / 2A), a +6 plus/minus, 18 blocks, and 14 hits in 12 games with the Flyers this season.
Gibson has been a workhorse between the pipes for the Anaheim Ducks lately, starting seven of their last eight games, appearing in all of them, and will likely start again on Tuesday. The Ducks are 1-7-0 in their last eight, with Gibson posting an undesirable .884 SV% in the process. The Ducks only win over that stretch game in their most recent outing, a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, where Gibson saved 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%). That said, the Ducks are still sizeable +236 road underdogs in a rematch against the Avalanche.
Demko will likely start for the fourth consecutive time and eighth time in the last nine games for the Canucks on Tuesday. Despite a somewhat shaky November, Demko remains among the league leaders with a stellar 2.26 GAA and .924 SV% in 18 games (12-6-0). More recently, Demko has won three of his last four starts (3-1-0), allowing only nine goals and posting a .926 SV%. The Canucks are slight -109 home favourites against a New Jersey Devils team that has scored 19 goals in their last four games (3-1-0).
Nichuskin is battling an illness but is hopeful to play on Tuesday. The Avalanche, already without Cale Makar, can ill afford to lose the offensive talents of Nichushkin, who has been tremendous lately, posting 13 points (8G / 5A) in his last 11 games playing predominantly on the top line and top powerplay unit.
Cogliano will not play on Tuesday due to an undisclosed injury. The 36-year-old veteran has seven points (3G / 4A) in 21 games this season, averaging 10:31 time-on-ice. Oskar Olausson is expected to make his season debut in Cogliano's absence.
Olausson has one NHL game under his belt, last season with the Avalanche, being held without a point in the effort, and will play his second in his season debut on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 28th overall pick of the Avalanche in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft has eight points (5G / 3A) in 20 games with the Colorado Eagles of the AHL this season.
Saros is the likely starter for the Predators on Tuesday after an exceptional performance on Sunday, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Saros has elevated his game considerably lately, winning five of his last six starts (5-1-0) and boasting an impressive .918 SV%. The Predators have a favourable matchup on Tuesday and are -179 road favourites against a Blackhawks team that has been outscored 12-3 during a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).
Pospisil will be a healthy scratch, allowing Walker Duehr to draw back into the lineup. The Slovak-born Pospisil is averaging 13:09 time-on-ice and has five points (3G / 2A) in 14 games this season.
Duehr will draw back into the lineup in favour of Martin Pospisil, who will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday. Duehr has not played since November 22nd, serving as a healthy scratch for the last five games. He has four points (1G / 3A) in 14 games and is expected to play on an offensively-minded second line alongside Nazem Kadri and Connor Zary.
