Sorokin has been perfect so far this week, shutting out the New York Rangers off a 41-save performance his last time out Wednesday. Sorokin has been very solid despite his 2-3-0 record this season, averaging a great 2.26 GAA and .931 SV%. He takes on the Carolina Hurricanes who won their last game 3-2 and ranks third-best in the league in goals against per game (2.33).
Artem Zub will miss at least a week after it was announced Friday that he sustained an upper-body injury. It is a big loss for the Senators as Zub was playing 21:59 ATOI and was +2 with three points (1G/2A) in his first seven games prior to the injury.
Talbot surprisingly returned to full practice Friday for the Ottawa Senators after missing the last few weeks due to a rib injury. Head Coach DJ Smith said "Talbot will come on the trip but won't play. He can skate and take shots each day on the trip." The 35-year-old netminder was acquired in the offseason for Filip Gustavsson after enjoying a 32-win season in Minnesota in 2021-22 while posting a .911 SV% and 2.76 GAA.
Jake Bean will miss his first game of the 2022-23 season due to illness. The four-year veteran has been enjoying a nice start to his year, with four points (1G/3A) and 10 SOG through eight games played.
Bayreuther will get his first game of the season for Columbus after being called up from the AHL to join the Blue Jackets Monday. Across 71 career games played, he has three goals and 14 points to go along with 39 PIMs.
Jiricek was the No.6 pick in the 2022 draft this past June. The 18-year-old prospect will be filling in for Adam Boqvist who was announced out for six weeks (foot) Wednesday.
Olivier has one assist and seven PIMs in eight games played to start 2022-23 prior to heading to the press box as the odd man out of the Blue Jackets' lineup. Liam Foudy will take his place Friday.
Foudy played well in his only game so far of the 2022-23 season, collecting two assists and a +2 plus/minus rating while playing only 13:23 TOI. He draws in for Mathieu Olivier.
Andersen barely broke a sweat in his previous outing, stopping 14 of 16 shots (.875 SV%) on his way to a closer-than-planned 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. He has been his usual hard-to-beat self this season, picking up a 3-1-0 record to far along with a low 2.26 GAA and .913 SV%. He takes on the New York Islanders who are riding high after their 3-1 victory over the cross-state rival Rangers their last time out.
Vanecek will start after winning a 20 save (.909 SV%) 6-2 performance over the Red Wings the Devils' last time out. After being acquired in the offseason, Vanecek has struggled since joining the Devils, posting a 1-1-0 record to go along with his .833 SV% and 3.43 GAA. He draws the task of facing last year's Stanley Cup Champions, the Colorado Avalanche, who are coming off two straight 3-2 victories over NYR and VGK.
Merzlikins stopped five of six shots (.833 SV%) his last time out taking the crease as he came in as relief in a 6-3 loss to Arizona Tuesday. Merzlikins has struggled to find his footing this season, posting a .863 SV% and 4.06 GAA through five starts. He draws the task of taking on a surging Boston Bruins team that is coming off a 5-1 victory last night over the Detroit Red Wings to continue their four-game winning streak and move their record to 7-1-0.
Quick won his last start against Tampa Bay, stopping 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in the 4-2 victory. Quick finds himself below a .900 SV% for the second time in three seasons as he enters Thursday's contest with a.893 SV% and 3.59 GAA. They take on the Winnipeg Jets, who are coming off an impressive 4-0 shutout Monday over the St.Louis Blues.
Oettinger takes the crease for the Central-leading Stars coming off a 26 save (.929 SV%) 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. He has had a very successful start to the season, as indicated by his 4-1-0 record alongside his .953 SV% and 1.40 GAA. He takes on Washington Thursday, who have won two straight games averaging five goals during both victories.
