Simek has been out since December 7th but appears set to replace Jacob Middleton on Friday. Simek has one goal and three assists in 16 games this season. Simek has some banger league appeal, averaging 2.25 hits and 1.4 blocks per game.
Clague made his NHL debut last Saturday but was a healthy scratch on Monday. He could draw back into the lineup tonight in San Jose. The 2016 second-round pick (No.51 overall) has 15 points (6G / 9A) in 27 AHL games this season.
Frk was called up prior to Monday's game vs. the Blues but did not play. This time he might get a chance. Dustin Brown is out with an illness, so Frk could make his Kings debut on Friday.
Brown comes out of the Christmas break sick and will not play in the Kings back-to-back on Friday/Saturday. With Brown out, Martin Frk has been called up from the AHL but it's unclear who will play with Anze Kopitar.
Jarry stopped 26 of 28 shots in the Penguins win in Edmonton last Friday. Jarry continues to play extremely well, winning four in a row and six of his last seven with a 1.41 GAA, .952 SV% and three shutouts. Tonight he takes on a Predators team on a five-game point streak (4-0-1) while scoring 4.80 goals per game.
Greiss allowed three goals on 35 shots in the Islanders' loss to the Blue Jackets on Monday. Greiss has lost four of his last five starts (1-4-0) while posting a 3.28 GAA and .906 SV% as regression appears to be setting in a little bit. He has struggled a bit recently but has a nice matchup in Chicago. The Blackhawks have lost six of their last nine (3-5-1) while scoring 2.78 goals per game.
Ekblad was forced to leave Monday's game in Tampa Bay and was not on the ice when the Panthers reconvened for practice after the Christmas break. Ekblad, who has six assists in his last five games, will sit out the weekend back-to-back but head coach Joel Quenneville expects to "see on the road trip."
Hart stopped 34 of 35 shots in the Flyers win over the Rangers on Monday. Hart is riding an impressive three-game winning streak, allowing just one goal in each game and posting a .968 SV%. Now he faces a Sharks team that has lost 10 of their last 11 games but Hart has struggled on the road, going 2-6-1 with a 3.59 GAA and .859 SV%.
Driedger made 42 saves on 44 shots in the Panthers' 4-2 win in Carolina last Saturday. Driedger has played very well since being called up from the AHL in late-November, going 2-1-0 with a 1.69 GAA, .948 SV% and one shutout in three starts. With a back-to-back on tap this weekend, Driedger will start the easier of the two matchups and is a great spot-start option with the Red Wings in town.
Mantha was body-slammed by Jake Muzzin in the Red Wings loss to the Maple Leafs and suffered an injury to his rib cage that will keep him out of a minimum of four weeks. Mantha had a terrific start to the season but injuries have completely derailed a career-year.
Boqvist was hurt early in Monday's loss to the Devils and won't play tonight vs. the Islanders. Boqvist should get a chance to play big minutes with Brent Seabrook and Calvin de Haan out for the year but he'll have to wait for his shoulder to be 100 percent.
Dubnyk stopped all 22 shots that he faced in the Wild's shutout win over the Flames on Monday. Since returning to the Wild's crease, Dubnyk has gone 2-0 while stopping 60 of 65 shots (.923 SV%). Tonight he faces the Avalanche for the second time this season--he allowed three goals on 31 shots in a 4-2 loss in Colorado back in early-October.
Rinne allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Predators win over the Coyotes on Monday. Rinne had his struggles in November and early-December but has now won three straight with a 2.61 GAA and .911 SV%. Tonight he faces a Penguins team that is 3-4-2 with 2.78 goals per game in their last nine road games.
Lehner gave up three goals on 24 shots after taking over for Corey Crawford in the Blackhawks' 7-1 loss to the Devils on Monday. Prior to that, Lehner had won three in a row and gets an opportunity to face his former team tonight at the United Center. Lehner has gone 4-2-3 with a 2.80 GAA and .924 SV% in 10 home games this season.
Koskinen allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Oilers loss in Vancouver on Monday. Koskinen has lost four of his last six starts (2-4-0) while posting a 3.04 GAA and .908 SV%. Tonight is the first instalment of the Battle of Alberta and Koskinen played well vs. the Flames last year--going 2-2-0 with a 2.26 GAA, .928 SV% and one shutout in the four meetings.
Grubauer allowed four goals on 31 shots in Colorado's 5-3 loss to the Blackhawks last Saturday. With Pavel Francouz starting against the Wild last night, Grubauer will start tonight in Dallas. Grubauer has lost three in a row while giving up 10 goals on 104 shots (.904 SV%) and is 0-2-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .910 SV% in two games against the Stars this season.
Makar missed the last nine games with an upper-body injury that he suffered on December 7th. Makar will skate with Samuel Girard at even-strength and will be back on the top power-play unit in his return. He has a ridiculous eight goals and 20 assists (28 points) in 29 games this season.
McAvoy did not travel to Buffalo for Friday's game but it's a quick one-game trip, so he could be back as soon as Sunday. This is a huge loss for the Bruins, who also placed Torey Krug on IR this morning.
Ullmark allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Sabres loss in Ottawa on Monday. Ullmark has lost three of his last four (1-2-1) while posting a 2.76 GAA and .903 SV% but will face the Bruins for the second time this season. He allowed three goals on 27 shots in a 3-2 loss in Boston the first time around and is a risky option even with Torey Krug and Charlie McAvoy missing on the Bruins' blueline.
