Smith has not played since December 21st, missing 11 straight games, but is nearing a return to the lineup. The 29-year-old Smith was averaging 13:03 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 34 games before his injury.
Dobson exited Monday's 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets after 15:38 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury and will be out of the lineup indefinitely. The Islanders's offense, which ranks fifth-worst in the league with only 124 goals through 46 games, will greatly miss the services of Dobson's 24 points (6G / 18A) from the blue line.
The Senators have been on fire lately, collecting points in six straight games (5-0-1), partly due to the excellent goaltending of Merilainen, who will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. The 22-year-old Merilainen had his first off-night of the season but still salvaged a 6-5 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 28 shots (.821 SV%). He has a 2.20 GAA and .917 SV% in nine games this season (6-2-1). The Senators enter Tuesday's contest as +112 road underdogs against a Rangers squad that defeated them 2-1 in their only other meeting this season.
Gaunce has 182 games of NHL experience but has never been able to secure a spot on an NHL roster. The 30-year-old played five games with Minnesota earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 22 points (12G / 10A) in 26 games with the Iowa Wild.
The Canadiens have points in seven of their last eight games (6-1-1), with their only regulation loss coming in Montembeault's most recent outing, a challenging performance where he allowed six goals on 33 shots (.818 SV%) in a 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 28-year-old netminder has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.98 GAA and .897 SV% in 35 games this season (16-16-3). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as +122 home underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team coming off a 5-3 loss to the Maple Leafs last night.
Soderblom was a sixth-round pick of the Red Wings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The towering 6'8 forward played 21 games with the Red Wings in the 2022-23 season, scoring eight points (5G / 3A), but has not played since. He has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 38 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) this season.
The suddenly hot Rangers have points in eight straight contests (5-0-3) and will turn to Shesterkin between the pipes on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. Shesterkin was tremendous in his most recent outing, saving all 27 shots he faced in a 1-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets for his second shutout of the season. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.87 GAA and .910 SV% in 32 games this season (15-15-2). The Rangers enter Tuesday's contest as -130 home favorites against a Senators team with points in six straight games (5-0-1).
On the tail end of a back-to-back, a night after losing 5-3 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay will likely switch to Vasilevskiy between the pipes. Vasilevskiy was tremendous in his most recent outing, saving 39 of 40 shots (.975 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The 30-year-old netminder has a 2.35 GAA and .915 SV% in 35 games this season (20-13-2). Tampa Bay enters Tuesday's contest as -141 road favorites against a Montreal Canadiens squad with points in seven of their last eight games (6-1-1).
Blumel scored his first goal of the season in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, his only point in six NHL games. The Czech forward was extremely productive at the AHL level before his call-up last week, scoring 32 points (18G / 14A) in 32 games with the Texas Stars.
The 30-year-old Laughton has been productive in a secondary role for the Flyers, scoring 23 points (9G / 14A) in 47 games this season, but only has one point (0G / 1A) in his last seven. Rodrigo Abols will make his NHL debut on Tuesday, drawing in for Laughton.
Abols is a 29-year-old Latvian forward that has yet to play an NHL games. He spent most of the previous five seasons in the Swedish Hockey League but has 19 points (9G / 10A) in 34 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) this season.
The Flyers are riding a two-game winning streak and will roll with Ersson between the pipes on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Ersson saved 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. The 25-year-old netminder has a 2.79 GAA and .889 SV% in 24 appearances this season (13-7-2). The Flyers enter Tuesday's contest as -153 home favorites against a Red Wings squad outscored 9-2 during a two-game losing skid (0-2-0).
The Kings are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken and will revert to Rittich between the pipes on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rittich has only played once this month, a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames when he saved 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%). The Czech netminder has a 2.52 GAA and .887 SV% in 21 appearances this season (11-9-0). The Kings enter Monday's contest as -185 home favorites against a Penguins club without offensive threat Rickard Rakell (personal).
The Jets' three-game winning streak snapped in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, and they will attempt to return to the win column on Monday, reverting to Hellebuyck between the pipes. Hellebuyck was excellent in his previous outing, saving 17 of 18 shots (.944 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. He is a near-unanimous favorite for the Vezina trophy, boasting an immaculate 1.97 GAA and .929 SV% in 36 games (28-6-2). The Jets enter Monday's contest as -170 road favorites against the Utah Hockey Club, coming off a 4-2 win against the St. Louis Blues.
Innala's latest NHL stint lasted less than 24 hours. He was recalled earlier on Monday before being sent down after the Avs' 3-1 loss to the Wild. Ivan Ivan was also reassigned to the Eagles on Monday.
Ivan appeared in just two games after being recalled on Saturday before being sent back down. The Avalanche also reassigned Jere Innala to the Eagles on Monday.
Mateychuk was a surprise scratch on Monday, with the team not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Jack Johnson will draw into the lineup in his place.
Johnson will fill in for Denton Mateychuk, who is listed as a scratch. Johnson has appeared in 27 games this season, registering zero goals and two assists.
Romanov returned from a three-game absence in Saturday's 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, but remained a game-time decision on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old defenseman is averaging 21:49 time-on-ice, recording nine points (0G / 9A), 70 blocks, and 75 hits in 31 games this season.
