Kuznetsov is dealing with an illness that kept him out of practice on Monday and is uncertain for the Capitals Wednesday night matchup against the Florida Panthers. Over his last seven games, Kuznetsov has seen a huge uptick in ice time, averaging 23:12 and scoring five points (1G / 4A) while firing 21 shots on goal.
Johansson has been a workhorse for the Lightning with Andrei Vasilevskiy sidelined, starting nine of 11 games thus far, and appears to be the starter on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Expectations were low for Johansson coming into the season with a career average of 3.35 GAA and .886 SV% but has been a marvel between the pipes for the Lightning, posting a 2.87 GAA and .916 SV% in nine games (5-1-3). Johansson was busy in his only other matchup against the Maple Leafs this season, saving 48 of 52 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss on October 21st. The Lightning are +138 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs team that has lost four consecutive games (0-2-2), being outscored 16-9.
Hanley is expected to dress as the Stars' seventh defenseman as he anticipates to make his season debut on Monday against the Boston Bruins. Hanley has become a reliable depth defenseman when called upon by the Stars, playing 129 games over the past five seasons, scoring 18 points (2G / 16A), 125 blocks, and 143 hits.
Mayfield just recently worked his way back into the lineup, playing two consecutive games, after missing seven straight with a lower-body injury. He did not participate in practice on Monday and will be a game-time decision against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Mayfield has one point (0G / 1A), five shots, five hits, and 13 blocks while averaging 19:27 time-on-ice through three games.
Pelech did not play on Saturday because of a lower-body injury but appears likely to return to the Islanders lineup on Tuesday. His status will be confirmed closer to the puck drop. The 29-year-old Pelech is averaging 20:33 time-on-ice and has racked up one point (0G / 1A), 20 blocks, and 12 hits in nine games this season.
Horvat played 20:06 on Saturday, recording two points (0G / 2A), but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, making him a game-time decision for the Islanders' Tuesday night matchup against the Minnesota Wild. Horvat is averaging 19:43 time-on-ice this season and has nine points (4G / 5A) through 10 games.
Olivier will likely slot back into the Blue Jackets' lineup as Emil Bemstrom is expected to be a healthy scratch. Olivier hasn't played since October 30th, but has six games under his belt this season, recording two points (0G / 2A) while averaging 9:12 time-on-ice. He is expected to skate on the third line with Yegor Chinakhov and Cole Sillinger.
Bemstrom has played 10 games with the Blue Jackets this season, recording four points (1G / 3A), 17 shots, and a -5 plus/minus rating. He is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Mathieu Olivier to draw back into the lineup.
Pavel has been held pointless in 10 games with the Eagles this season. The undrafted Czech centericeman was signed by the Avalanche last year, directly out of Minnesota State University.
Duchene left Saturday's game in Vancouver with an upper-body injury after a high hit from Ian Cole and will not dress Monday. Duchene is considered day-to-day and is expecting Joel Hanley to be dressed as at the seventh defenseman or the Stars will have to recall a forward from the AHL for Monday.
Pesce, who has missed the Hurricanes' last seven games with a lower-body injury, participated at practice on Monday in a non-contact jersey. His presence at practice is an encouraging sign for the Hurricanes, though his actual return to the lineup will be dependent on when he is cleared for contact. Pesce has two points (1G / 1A) in five games this season.
Panthers' head coach Paul Maurice said that there's a chance Montour returns after the Panthers' upcoming road trip to California, which runs from Nov. 14 to Nov.17. This puts Montour on track to play somewhere around Nov.20 when they host the Edmonton Oilers.
Panthers' head coach Paul Maurice said that there's a chance Ekblad returns after the Panthers' upcoming road trip to California, which runs from Nov. 14 to Nov.17. This puts Ekblad on track to play somewhere around Nov.20 when they host the Edmonton Oilers.
Lajoie will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Simon Benoit to make his season debut for the Maple Leafs against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Lajoie debuted for the Maple Leafs on Saturday, recording a -1 plus/minute rating in 4:54 time-on-ice.
Petan could make his season debut for Minnesota after being recalled from Iowa on Monday. In 10 games with Iowa, the 43rd overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft has 12 points (1G / 11A). Petan has 164 NHL games, predominantly as a member of the Winnipeg Jets, recording 33 points (7G / 26A).
A concrete update has not been provided yet but Andersen did not participate in practice on Monday due to an undisclosed medical issue. Anderson has a 2.87 GAA and .894 SV% in six games this season (4-1-0). If he misses any significant time, Antti Raanta will be the likely candidate to take on most of the Hurricanes' goaltending duties. The Hurricanes also announced on Monday that veteran goalie Jaroslav Halak will be joining the team on a free-agent tryout.
Benoit is expected to make his Maple Leafs' debut on Monday as Maxime Lajoie will be a healthy scratch. Last season, Benoit played 78 games with the Anaheim Ducks, registering 10 points (3G / 10A), 128 blocks, and 216 hits. The hard-hitting defenceman is expected to skate on the Maple Leafs' third pair alongside William Lagesson.
Biro was off to a hot start after being called upon to enter the Sabres' lineup last week, scoring two points (2G / 0A) in two games and averaging 13:00 time-on-ice. Biro will miss at least the next week as he has been placed on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Matthew Savoie has been called up from Rochester (AHL) in the interim.
Savoie has been recalled from the Rochester Americans of the AHL, coinciding with Brandon Biro being placed on the injured reserve Monday morning. Savoie scored five points (2G / 3A) in six games with Rochester.
After seemingly losing the starting crease early in the season, Joseph Woll's recent struggles have re-opened the doors for Samsonov to make his mark. Samsonov is coming off his best performance of the season, saving 38 of 40 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins. The Maple Leafs are -150 home favourites against their rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are 4-1-3 in their last eight contests. On October 21st, Samsonov was pulled after allowing three goals on four shots to the Lightning in the first period, a game the Maple Leafs ultimately won 4-3 in overtime.
