Sanford was forced to leave Tuesday’s game against the Islanders and will miss Thursday’s game because he’s in concussion protocol. The Blues will dress seven defensemen to replace Sanford.
Honka has been in the lineup for the last three games and will be replaced by Connor Carrick on Thursday.
Carrick has been scratched for the last three games but will replace Julius Honka on Thursday. Carrick enters play with four points (1G / 3A) in 11 games this season.
Ritchie has been a healthy scratch for the last four games but will replace Valeri Nichushkin (upper-body) on Thursday. Ritchie has just four points (2G / 2A) in 24 games this season.
Nichushkin will not play Thursday due to an “upper-body tweak” so Brett Ritchie will draw into the Stars lineup vs. the Kings. Nichushkin’s return to the NHL has not gone very well—he has no goals and seven assists in 37 games.
Santini has been a healthy scratch for the last three games but will replace a banged up Ben Lovejoy on Thursday. Santini has just one assist in 12 games this season.
Lovejoy is day-to-day with an upper-body injury so Steven Santini will draw back into the Devils lineup on Thursday.
Dickinson has missed the last 11 games due to a back issue but will draw into the lineup vs. the Kings. Dickinson, who replaces Erik Condra and will skate on the second line with Jason Spezza and Andrew Cogliano, has 11 points (5G / 6A) in 34 games this season.
Bishop surrenders three goals on 28 shots in the Stars loss to the Blues last Saturday. Bishop hasn’t been great in his last five outings, going 2-2-1 with a 3.03 GAA and .904 SV%. However, he draws a great matchup tonight vs. the Kings—he stopped 31 of 33 shots in a 4-2 win in his first start vs. Los Angeles (Oct.23).
Delia stopped 14 of 15 shots after replacing Cam Ward in the Blackhawks 8-5 loss in New Jersey on Monday. Prior to that, Delia had lost four in a row while allowing a combined 14 goals on 163 shots (.914 SV%). Delia has seen a ton of rubber in his young career, facing an average of 40 shots per game in his first seven starts of the season.
Rinne was pulled after he allowed five goals on 20 shots in the Predators loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday. Dating back to the middle of December, Rinne has gone 3-6-2 with a 3.36 GAA, .890 SV% and one shutout in his last 12 starts. The 36-year-old has been great on home-ice this season though—11-5-0, 2.01 GAA and .923 SV%.
Delia stopped 14 of 15 shots after replacing Cam Ward in the Blackhawks 8-5 loss in New Jersey on Monday. Prior to that, Delia had lost four in a row while allowing a combined 14 goals on 163 shots (.914 SV%). Delia has seen a ton of rubber in his young career, facing an average of 40 shots per game in his first seven starts of the season.
Allen allowed one goal on 29 shots in the Blues win in Washington on Monday. Jordan Binnington gave him a breather on Tuesday, so look for Allen to face the Bruins on Thursday night. The 28-year-old has not seen Boston this season but has played much better on the road—7-5-2, 2.21 GAA, .925 SV% and one shutout in 14 starts.
Price stopped 41 of 43 shots in the Canadiens win in Boston on Monday. Price has been excellent in his last two starts, stopping 69 of 71 shots (.972 SV%). Price has not faced Columbus this season but comes in at 9-4-2 with a 2.49 GAA, .922 SV% and one shutout on the road.
Andersen surrendered four goals on 36 shots in the Maple Leafs loss to the Avalanche on Monday. The Maple Leafs did not play well against Colorado and will need to be significantly better tonight if they want a chance vs. the Lightning. Andersen allowed four goals on 21 shots in a 4-1 loss in his first start in Tampa Bay.
Bishop surrenders three goals on 28 shots in the Stars loss to the Blues last Saturday. Bishop hasn’t been great in his last five outings, going 2-2-1 with a 3.03 GAA and .904 SV%. However, he draws a great matchup tonight vs. the Kings—he stopped 31 of 33 shots in a 4-2 win in his first start vs. Los Angeles (Oct.23).
Blackwood allowed five goals on 32 shots in the Devils win over the Blackhawks on Monday. Keith Kinkaid got the nod the following night, so Blackwood should be well rested as he tries to extend his winning streak to three. The 22-year-old is 1-2-0 with a 2.81 GAA and .930 SV% in four appearances on the road so far.
Stalock allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Wild’s win over the Kings on Tuesday. Following a great outing, Stalock will start again tonight vs. a Ducks team that is on an impressively bad 12-game losing streak. Stalock stopped 20 of 21 shots in a 5-1 win in his first start vs. Anaheim this season.
Grzelcyk has appeared in 45 of the Bruins first 47 games this season but will sit as a healthy scratch on Thursday. John Moore will replace him on the blueline tonight.
