Gibson started 50-plus games for the third time in 2020 but set career-worts in GAA (3.00) and SV% (.904) behind a Ducks team that finished with the fifth-worst record in the NHL. Anaheim didn't too much to improve this offseason, so it could be a similar storyline in 2021 and he should especially be avoided tonight in Vegas. Gibson was 1-2-1 with a 4.48 GAA and .878 SV% in four games vs. the Golden Knights a season ago.
Hellebuyck is one of the few workhorses remaining in the NHL and his heavy workload will begin tonight vs. the Flames. Hellebuyck has won 30-plus games in three straight seasons and is coming off of a Vezina Trophy winning season, posting a 2.57 GAA, .922 SV% and six shutouts. In the Jets and Flames qualifying round matchup, Hellebuyck struggled with a 3.04 GAA and .904 SV%. He'll be looking for revenge on Thursday.
Markstrom had one of the best years of his career in a contract year, earning a six-year deal in Calgary. He went 23-16-4 with a 2.75 GAA and .918 SV% in 43 games last year and is expected to be a workhorse for the Flames this season. In his debut, he'll face a Jets team that was 17th in GoalsFor (3.00) and 15th in PP% (20.5) in 2020.
Seabrook's injury woes continue as 2021 starts but his movement to regular IR, as opposed to LTIR, suggests that he could be back in the next three weeks. Ian Mitchell has taken Seabrook's spot on the Blackhawks' blueline to begin the season.
Toews is out with a medical issue with no timetable for his return. Moving him to LTIR means he will miss at least 24-days but he wasn't necessarily expected to return before that anyway.
Dach underwent surgery to repair a fractured right wrist in late-December and is expected to miss 4-5 months. Dach is not expected to play this season unless he's ahead of his rehab schedule, so moving him to LTIR was an inevitable move. It provides the Blackhawks with salary cap relief.
With Dylan DeMelo out due to personal reasons, Niku will suit up against the Flames. The 24-year-old defenseman had five assists in 17 games last season, giving him 10 points (2G / 8A) in 48 career NHL games.
DeMelo and his wife just had a baby so he will not play Thursday vs. the Flames. With DeMelo sidelined, Sami Niku will draw into the lineup.
Ehlers missed Wednesday's practice and Thursday's morning skate because he's in COVID-19 protocol but head coach Paul Maurice did not rule him out for tonight's game. Ehlers is a game-time decision while the Jets hope he's cleared to play but Kristian Vesalainen will replace him if he can't go.
Korpisalo is expected to split time in the Blue Jackets crease with Elvis Merzlikins this season but they will go with the more veteran of the two on opening night. Korpisalo was solid in the 2020 regular season, posting a 2.60 GAA and .911 SV% in 37 games but took his game to a new level in the postseason. In nine playoff starts, he posted a playoff-best .941 SV%. He makes for a decent option in his first start of the season vs. a Nashville team that was in the middle of the pack in goal-scoring and below-average on the PP last year.
Hart was sharp in the Flyers season opener, stopping 31 of 34 shots in the Flyers win over the Penguins. With one day off in between games, it's not surprising that the Flyers will go back to the 22-year-old, who is now 2-1-0 with a 2.41 GAA and .929 SV% in his career vs. Pittsburgh.
With Braden Holtby leaving Washington to sign with Vancouver and Henrik Lundqvist forcing to miss the season due to heart complications, Samsonov should be a workhorse for the Capitals this season. In his rookie campaign, he was 16-6-2 with a 2.55 GAA and .913 SV%. Of his 26 games, 14 came on the road, where he was 10-2-1 with a 2.55 GAA and .911 SV%.
In his second year in Carolina, Mrazek went 21-16-2 with a 2.69 GAA and .905 SV%. Mrazek will continue to split time with James Reimer in 2021 but Mrazek will start opening night vs. his former team. Mrazek was 2-0-0 while stopping 52 of 57 shots (.912 SV%) in two starts against the Red Wings in 2020.
In 2020, Saros set a new career-high in starts (34) but a career-worst in GAA (2.70) and SV% (.914). After posting a .924 SV% in the first two years of his career, Saros is t-14th in SV% (.915) over the last two years. Tonight will be the first time that someone other than Pekka Rinne starts a Predators' season opener since 2009.
Zibanejad missed the first few weeks of training camp after testing positive for COVID-19 but was on the ice for Thursday's morning skate and will play vs. the Islanders. Head coach David Quinn said he expects to see "full Mika tonight" so it doesn't sound like Zibanejad is dealing with any limitations. He is coming off of a career year and will look to maintain the blistering pace he set a year ago.
Hutton has struggled mightily in his first two years in Buffalo, posting a 3.07 GAA and .904 SV% in 81 games. Hutton reportedly had a very strong training camp, so the Sabres will go with him on opening night and hope he can rediscover his game from 2018. Hutton was 8-4-2 with a 2.68 GAA and .902 SV% on home-ice in 2020.
After five years with the Islanders, Greiss signed with the Red Wings this offseason and will split time in the crease with Jonathan Bernier this season. Greiss will get an opportunity to make an immediate impact as he starts the season opener vs. Carolina. Going from a structured Barry Trotz team to Detroit will undoubtedly hurt Greiss' numbers. The Red Wings were outscored 14-to-5 in three games against the Hurricanes a season ago.
Blackwood came into 2021 expecting to split time with Corey Crawford but could become a workhorse after Crawford retired prior to the start of the season. Blackwood performed well in 2020, going 22-14-8 with a 2.77 GAA and .915 SV%. He enters the season with a career .916 SV% in 70 appearances, so he should make for a low-end No.2/high-end No.3 fantasy netminder but draws a tough matchup vs. the Bruins on opening night.
Connauton figures to go to the Panthers' taxi squad or the AHL after signing a two-way deal on Wednesday. Connauton had no points in just four games with the Avalanche last season, spending most of the year in the AHL. He had 27 points (5G / 22A) in 38 games with the Eagles.
Arvidsson missed Wednesday's practice but head coach John Hynes expects him to be available for Thursday's game vs. the Blue Jackets. Arvidsson will look to bounce back after a down 2020 season, where he had just 15 goals and 13 assists (28 points) in 57 games.
