Staal has been out with a concussion since December 22nd but is set to return to the lineup on Saturday. Activating him from IR all but guarantees that he will play for the first time in the 2019 calendar year.
Carrick has not played much this season but could get a chance in New Jersey. The 24-year-old, right-shot defenseman has one goal and three assists in 14 games this season, adding 16 shots, five hits and 11 blocked shots to his line as well. He should replace Lovejoy and see some time on the Devils third-pair.
Lovejoy is a defensive-defenseman with pretty good size and excellent mobility but really doesn’t bring any offence to the table. Lovejoy has just two goals and five assists (seven points) in 51 games this season. He has also picked up 70 shots, 59 hits and 77 blocked shots along the way. He provides the Stars with some added depth and will likely play the right-side on the Stars third-pair.
Lovejoy’s name has surfaced as a potential trade deadline rental, so he will be sidelined for the second straight game.
Johansson is fully expected to be traded before Monday’s Trade Deadline, so the Devils will hold him out of the lineup for the second straight game to ensure that he remains healthy. Johansson is getting traded with his value at a season-high, having scored six goals and six assists (12 points) in his last 13 games.
Zacha will miss his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury and it doesn’t appear like there has been any significant progress towards returning to the lineup.
Wood was forced to leave Thursday’s game vs. the Senators with an undisclosed injury but the Devils expect him to play vs. the Rangers. Wood tallied a goal and an assist in just 8:59 TOI before leaving the game and has now scored a goal in three straight contests and has 21 points (8G / 13A) in 54 games.
Brian Elliott was already the confirmed starter for Saturday’s Stadium Series game and now the Flyers have announced that Hart is dealing with a lower-body issue and will miss at least 10 days. Hart has struggled mightily in his last two outings, getting pulled after allowing three goals on nine shots in both starts. Cam Talbot, who the Flyers recently acquired from the Oilers, will backup Elliott on Saturday.
Staal has been sidelined by a concussion since December 22nd but says he’s feeling good and expects to play on Saturday. It remains to be seen where Staal will slot into the lineup but he will most likely serve as the Hurricanes second-line centre and force either Greg McKegg or Saku Manalanen out of the lineup and likely back to the AHL. Staal has 11 points (5G / 6A) in 29 games this season.
Miller stopped all 31 shots that he faced in the Ducks shutout win in Montreal on Tuesday. Miller has been rock-solid since returning from an injury, winnings two in a row while stopping 54 of 56 shots (.964 SV%). In his first start against the Flames, Miller stopped 37 of 39 shots in a 3-2 win (Nov.7).
Delia was pulled after he allowed three goals on 10 shots in the Blackhawks crazy 8-7 win over the Senators on Monday. Delia played really well for a while but has struggled a lot recently, allowing at least three goals in six straight appearances—allowing a combined 23 goals on 192 shots (.880 SV%). On the plus side, Delia is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .956 SV% in two games vs. the Avalanche this year.
Dubnyk allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Wild win in New York last night. With the Wild fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, they will stick with their No.1 netminder tonight in Detroit. He allowed five goals on 37 shots in a 5-2 loss in his first game vs. the Red Wings this season (Jan.12).
The Capitals acquired Jensen from the Red Wings on Friday afternoon and wasted no time signing the 28-year-old to an extension. Jensen carried a +1.1 CF% rel in 60 games with the Red Wings this season, picking up two goals and 13 assists (15 points) along the way.
Anderson allowed four goals on 30 shots after replacing Anders Nilsson in the Senators 8-7 loss in Chicago on Tuesday. Anderson has not recorded a win since December 17th, allowing a combined 22 goals on 199 shots (.889 SV%) in his last six appearances. With Matt Duchene now with Columbus and Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel scratched, the Senators are going to have a hard time winning tonight.
