Halak surrendered four goals on 29 shots in the Bruins loss to the Predators last Sunday. Halak has lost three of their last four (1-2-1) while posting a 3.02 GAA and .887 SV%. The Bruins have been much better on home ice this season but Halak has played well away from home--going 4-2-1 with a 2.43 GAA, .924 SV% and one shutout on the road this year.
Hutchinson stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Maple Leafs win over the Red Wings last Saturday. Hutchinson finally won his first game of the season and will get a chance to string two together tonight in New Jersey. The Devils have gone 3-6-1 while scoring 2.50 goals per game in 10 games since the coaching change.
Francouz allowed three goals on 32 shots in Colorado's win in Vegas on Monday. The Avalanche have committed to Philipp Grubauer as their No.1 netminder but will continue to ride Francouz while he is hot. Francouz has won four in a row while posting a 1.50 GAA and .956 SV%. On the season, Francouz is 5-1-1 with a 2.47 GAA and .922 SV% on home-ice and is a solid option with the Wild in town--they've lost three of their last four road games.
Hellebuyck stopped all 31 shots in the Jets shutout win in Minnesota last Saturday. The win snapped an ugly two-game losing skid for Hellebuyck, who is now 4-3-1 with a 3.00 GAA, .909 SV% and one shutout in December. Tonight he faces a Blues team on a six-game winning streak while scoring 4.00 goals per game.
Samsonov allowed one goal on four shots after replacing Braden Holtby in the Capitals' blowout loss in Boston before the break. In his previous four starts, Samsonov has gone 4-0-0 while posting a 2.01 GAA and .924 SV% and draws a solid matchup with the Blue Jackets in town. Columbus is banged up but they've thrived against Washington this season--outscoring them 8-to-2 in the first two meetings.
Zacha was in the morning skate but left early and is listed as a game-time decision. If Zacha can't play, look for Kevin Rooney to draw into the lineup.
Miller has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace Marco Scandella, who is out with an illness, on Friday. Miller has six points (1G / 5A) in 27 games this season.
Larsson has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury but was on the ice for Friday's morning skate and will likely play vs. the Bruins. Larsson has 12 points (4G / 8A) in 33 games this season.
Harrington comes out of the Christmas break sick and will not play in Washington. With Harrington out, Gabriel Carlsson was called up from Cleveland (AHL) and will draw into the lineup on Friday.
Scandella comes out of the Christmas break sick and will not play Friday vs. the Bruins. With Scandella out, Colin Miller will draw back into the lineup for the first time since December 19th.
Kakko missed the final two games before the break but is expected to be back on the third line on Friday. Kakko has scored six goals with eight assists (14 points) in 32 games this season.
Reimer was pulled after allowing three goals on seven shots in the Hurricanes 8-6 loss in Toronto on Monday afternoon. It was Reimer's first tough outing since early-November, but the Hurricanes will give him a chance to bounce back right after the Christmas break. He is 8-3-0 with a 2.33 GAA and .927 SV% on the road this year.
Lundqvist gave up five goals on 30 shots in the Rangers 5-1 loss to the Flyers on Monday. It was Lundqvist's fifth loss in his last six starts (1-3-2) and he's posted a 2.99 GAA and .898 SV% over that stretch. Tonight he faces Carolina for the third time this season--he is 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .956 SV% in the first two meetings.
Korpisalo allowed two goals on 37 shots in the Blue Jackets' win over the Islanders on Monday. Korpisalo is on a five-game winning streak, posting a really impressive 1.60 GAA, .941 SV% and one shutout. The shutout came against the Capitals, who he'll face for the third time this season--he is 2-0 and has stopped 67 of 69 shots (.971 SV%) in the first two meetings.
With Jonathan Bernier banged up, Pickard comes back up and could get a start this weekend with the Red Wings having a back-to-back in Florida. He has struggled at both levels this season but has gone 9-7-3 with a 3.03 GAA and .893 SV% in 19 AHL games.
Lashoff played in one game with Red Wings before the break but was a healthy scratch in their most recent game. The 29-year-old has six points (2G / 4A) in 25 AHL games this season.
Zadina has played in the last 13 games with the Red Wings and has started heating up, scoring three goals with five assists (8 points) in his last 10 games--ranking second among rookies in Pts/Gm (0.80) over that stretch.
Kotkaniemi has missed the last eight games with a concussion but will play Saturday in Tampa Bay. Kotkaniemi will replace Joel Armia, who is now week-to-week with an upper-body ailment. Kotkaniemi has scored just three goals and two assists (five points) in 22 games this season.
Armia was hurt midway through the Canadiens' final game before the Christmas break and will miss at least a couple of weeks with an upper-body injury. Luckily for the Canadiens, Jesperi Kotkaniemi will be back in the lineup on Saturday.
