Brink was a healthy scratch for the Flyers' previous three games and will head to Lehigh Valley (AHL) on loan so that he can continue to get some playing time. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a solid rookie campaign with Philadelphia in 2023-24, with seven goals, 18 point, 55 SOG and a +7 plus/minus in 38 games played prior to being sent down.
Xhekaj spent just over two months with Laval (AHL) but has earned his call up back to Montreal after scoring three goals, 11 points, 34 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in 17 games with the Rocket this season. The 22-year-old tough guy returns to the Canadiens, where he appeared in 17 games prior to being sent down and had a goal and two assists to go along with 47 PIMs.
Saros will start his fifth straight game for the Predators on Monday evening. After allowing five goals in a back-to-back game, Saros has limited the opposition to three or fewer goals in four straight contests (2-2-0), posting a stellar .928 SV%. The Predators are +110 home underdogs against a reeling Panthers club that has lost four straight (0-2-2) immediately after a nine-game winning streak.
Mrazek has won two straight and will return to the crease for the Blackhawks on Monday evening. Mrazek has been impressive lately for a low-scoring Blackhawks club, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (3-3-0), posting a stellar .923 SV%. That said, Mrazek and the Blackhawks are +356 road underdogs against the Vancouver Canucks, who have won two straight and lead the league offensively, averaging 3.83 goals per game.
Varlamov has been sidelined most of the last month, battling a lower-body injury. Varlamov has been serviceable while backing up Ilya Sorokin this season, posting a 2.78 GAA and .918 SV% in 14 appearances (6-4-2). Before his injury, he was playing about one of every three games for the Islanders, but it is unclear if that trend will continue under their new bench boss, Patrick Roy.
Appleby was recalled to serve as the backup to Ilya Sorokin while Semyon Varlamov was sidelined with a lower-body injury. With Varlamov activated from the injured reserve on Monday, Appleby has been reassigned to Bridgeport of the AHL.
Reichel has played every game since December 3rd but will join Cole Guttman as a healthy scratch to allow Ryan Donato and Nick Foligno to make their returns to the lineup. Reichel has only one point (0G / 1A) in his last 11 games.
Guttman has been in the lineup for 12 of the last 13 games but will join Lukas Reichel as a healthy scratch to allow Ryan Donato and Nick Foligno to make their returns to the lineup. The 24-year-old Guttman has eight points (4G / 4A) in 27 games this season.
Lukas Reichel and Cole Guttman will be healthy scratches on Monday as Donato will return to the lineup after a two-game absence. Donato recorded an assist in his last outing, snapping an 11-game pointless skid.
Foligno will return to the lineup for the first time in eight games, playing his first game since signing a two-year, $9 million ($4,500,000 AAV) contract extension. Foligno has made an impact in his first season with the Blackhawks, scoring 17 points (8G / 9A) in 39 games, his best point-per-game pace (0.44) in five seasons.
Mrazek has won two straight and will likely return to the crease for the Blackhawks on Monday evening. Mrazek has been impressive lately for a low-scoring Blackhawks club, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (3-3-0), posting a stellar .923 SV%. That said, Mrazek and the Blackhawks are +356 road underdogs against the Vancouver Canucks, who have won two straight and lead the league offensively, averaging 3.83 goals per game.
Perry hasn't played in the NHL since his contract was terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in late November. In a statement released by the Blackhawks, the team stated Perry engaged in "unacceptable conduct" that violated his contract and team standards. Before having his contract terminated, Perry was amid a somewhat resurgent start to the season, scoring nine points (4G / 5A) in 16 games. Perry will make his Oilers debut on Saturday against the Nashville Predators.
Stephens has been placed on waivers and will report to the Laval Rocket of the AHL if he goes unclaimed. The 26-year-old has three points (2G / 1A) while averaging 9:03 time-on-ice through 23 games this season.
Barron played the last three games for the Canadiens, averaging over 14 minutes of time-on-ice, but has been reassigned to the Laval Rocket of the AHL. Barron has 12 points (6G / 6A), 37 hits, and 51 blocks in 41 games with the Canadiens this season.
Demko has won six straight and will likely return to the crease on Monday evening in a favourable matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. During his six-game winning streak, Demko has allowed three or more goals four times but has salvaged a stellar .923 SV%. The Canucks are significant -416 home favourites against a low-scoring Blackhawks team that has scored fewer than two goals in five of their last six games (2-4-0).
Linus Ullmark returned from a lower-body injury in Saturday's 9-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, but the Bruins will rotate back to Swayman on Monday night. Swayman has allowed two or fewer goals in four of his last five starts (3-0-2), posting a stellar .929 SV%. The Bruins have won four straight and are -135 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team leading the Central division and have won nine of their last 10 (9-1-0).
The Oilers have placed Erne on waivers, a move likely made to help make room for the addition of Corey Perry. Erne has struggled to establish himself in the Oilers roster this season, being limited to only two points (1G / 1A) in 23 games.
Friedman has regularly been a healthy scratch the last two months, resulting in him being loaned to the Abbotsford Canucks on a conditioning loan last week. He participated in Vancouver's practice on Monday as an extra defenseman.
Despite losing two of his last three (1-1-1), Ingram will start for the fifth straight game on Monday night. After a poor game to open the 2024 calendar year, allowing five goals in a 5-1 loss to the New York Islanders, Ingram has allowed three or fewer goals in each of his last six appearances (3-1-1), posting a stellar .932 SV%. The Coyotes are +131 home underdogs against a Penguins club that defeated them 4-2 last month.
