NHL Hockey Player News

Copley, widely believed to be a time-share goalie with Cam Talbot at the beginning of the season, will start for only the second time since the end of October on Monday. Oddly enough, of Copley's four starts this season, two have been against the Arizona Coyotes, who the Kings will face on Monday. In his first contest against the Coyotes, Copley was serviceable, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 6-3 victory, followed up by allowing three goals on six shots (.500 SV%) before being relieved by Talbot, who salvaged an eventual 5-4 victory for the Kings. Even with Copley between the pipes, the Kings are -144 road favourites against a Coyotes team that will be without their top-line center, Barret Hayton.

Manson hasn't placed since November 11th due to the upper-body injury. Sitting in place of Manson will be Samuel Girard, who is out with an undisclosed injury. Manson has no goals and one assist in 13 games this season.

Girard is a surprise scratch for Monday's game against the Predators, presumably due to an undisclosed injury. Girard has one goal and three assists across 15 games with the Avalanche this season. Josh Manson (upper-body) makes his return to the Avalanche lineup in place of Girard.

Shesterkin played his first game in over two weeks on Saturday after recovering from a lower-body injury, making 30 saves (.909 SV%) in a 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils, and will start again on Monday against the Dallas Stars. The Rangers are a significantly stronger team with Shesterkin between the pipes but managed to hold down the fort while he was out of the lineup as the team has collected at least a point in 11 straight games (10-0-1). In two games against the Dallas Stars last season (2-0-0), Shesterkin was phenomenal, boasting a 2.03 GAA and .931 SV%.

The Oilers are opting for a seven defensemen, 11 forward setup on Monday and Gagner appears to be the odd-man out up front. The 34-year-old has two goals and one assist in eight games with the Oilers this season.

Mitchell will take the place of Kevin Shattenkirk alongside Derek Forbort on the Bruins' third pair. Mitchell has no goals and two assists in seven games with the Bruins this season.

Shattenkirk will sit for the third time this season as Ian Mitchell draws back into the lineup on the third line in his place. Shattenkirk has no goals and three assists in 14 games this season.

Barre-Boulet will sit in place of Anthony Cirelli, who is set to return to the lineup after an undisclosed injury. Barre-Boulet has four goals and three assists across 15 games on the season.

Cirelli will return to the Lightning lineup on Monday after missing Saturday's game due to an undisclosed injury. The 26-year-old has just two goals and five assists in 16 games on the season. He is expected to resume his role centering Steven Stamkos and Nick Paul on Tampa Bay's second line.

Swayman allowed two goals on 22 shots in the Bruins' win over the Canadiens on Saturday. Swayman starting on Monday would be the first time that a Bruins' goalie has started in consecutive games this season, as they've stuck to a strict alternating schedule through the first 16 games. Swayman has been nothing short of spectacular this season, going 7-0-1 with a 1.73 GAA (1st in the NHL), and .941 SV% (1st) in eight games. On Monday he'll face a Lightning team that has had an up-and-down season so far, but rank eighth in the NHL in goals per/60 (3.47).

The Lightning's interim starting netminder will make his sixth consecutive start on Monday as Tampa plays host to the Bruins. Johansson was busy in his last appearance, stopping 39 of the 43 shots on Saturday enroute to a 6-4 victory over the Oilers. Johansson has been inconsistent at best this season, with an .896 SV% and a 3.40 GAA to show for it. He draws a difficult matchup on home ice tonight with the Lightning being +120 underdogs to the Bruins.

After being a healthy scratch in favour of Noah Juulsen, Friemdan will draw back into the lineup for Juulsen to play his 14th game of the season. Friedman is averaging 12:45 time-on-ice and has one assist, 21 blocks, and 17 hits this season. He is expected to skate on the Canucks' third defensive pair with Ian Cole.

Anderson-Dolan will draw back into the lineup on Monday as Blake Lizotte will miss the next 7-10 days with an undisclosed injury. Anderson-Dolan has been held pointless in two games with the Kings this season while averaging 8:21 time-on-ice. The 24-year-old is expected to replace Lizotte on the fourth line with Trevor Lewis and Carl Grundstrom.

Lizotte will not play on Monday due to an undisclosed injury that will force him to miss approximately a little more than a week. Lizotte has been a regular in the Kings lineup, tallying seven points (4G / 3A) in 16 games, playing predominantly alongside Trevor Lewis and Carl Grundstrom. Jaret Anderson-Dolan will draw back into the Kings' lineup during Lizotte's absence.

Sandstrom has been assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL after clearing unconditional waivers. The 26-year-old goaltender was serving as a depth netminder for the Flyers while Carter Hart was out of the lineup due to injury.

Walker Duehr will draw back into the Flames lineup on Monday as Ruzicka will sit for the first time since November 4th. Ruzicka has four points (2G / 2A) in 13 games this season, averaging 12:32 time-on-ice.

Duehr will enter the Flames' lineup on Monday as Adam Ruzicka will be a healthy scratch. He last played on November 7th and will likely skate on the Flames' fourth line alongside A.J. Greer and Dillon Dube. Duehr has four points (1G / 3A) in 12 games with the Flames this season.

Starting goalie Jacob Markstrom will rest on Monday after starting the Flames' last three games, allowing Vladar to emerge as the starter against the Seattle Kraken. Vladar was terrific last season, often outperforming Markstrom, but has had trouble regaining that confidence this season. As a result of his inconsistent play, Vladar has been limited to four games this season (2-1-1), posting an ugly 3.92 GAA and .858 SV%. The Flames last played the Kraken on November 4th, a 6-3 win where Vladar saved 17 of 20 shots (.850 SV%).

Demko is the likely starter for the Canucks on Monday against the San Jose Sharks. After an astonishing start to the season, posting a .948 SV% along with two shutouts in his first nine games (7-2-0), Demko has fallen back to Earth hard, allowing 12 goals on 81 shots (.852 SV%) in his past three contests (1-2-0). Demko will be looking to rebound back to early-season form as the Canucks are substantial -351 home favourites against the Sharks and their league-worst offence (1.53 GF / GP).