Buchnevich has been out since November 10th but is expected to play Friday vs. the Coyotes. Buchnevich has averaged just 14:53 TOI/gm this season but collected nine points (5G / 4A) in 14 games.
Zuccarello has missed the last seven games with a groin injury but is expected to play Friday vs. the Coyotes. Zuccarello has been dealing with a groin injury since the start of November. He has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 17 games this season.
Mrazek allowed four goals on 29 shots in the Hurricanes loss to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Mrazek has gone 1-2-0 while allowing a combined six goals on 82 shots (.927 SV%) in his last three starts. Tonight he will take on a Canadiens team that has won four of their last six games while averaging 3.33 goals for per game.
Reimer allowed five goals on 39 shots in the Panthers loss to the Lightning on December 1st. Reimer has struggled this season, sitting tied for 49th in both GAA (3.36) and SV% (.893). Tonight he faces the Wild in Minnesota and comes in at 2-2-1 with a 3.42 GAA and .885 SV% on the road this season.
Galchenyuk missed Tuesday’s game in Boston and remains questionable for Thursday’s game in Buffalo. Galchenyuk has not been great through 21 games in Arizona, picking up just 11 points (3G / 8A). Galchenyuk’s 45.8 CorsiFor% and -2.1 CF% rel doesn’t lend a lot of hope that things are going to get much better in the near future.
Rinne made 25 saves on 26 shots in the Predators win over the Senators on Tuesday. Rinne has gone 3-1-0 with a 2.18 GAA and .915 SV% in his last four starts and comes into Thursday’s game tied for fourth in the NHL in wins (13). Rinne was yanked after allowing four goals on 25 shots in a surpassing 5-3 loss in Vancouver last Thursday.
Kuemper allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Coyotes loss in Boston on Tuesday. Despite Adin Hill playing spectacularly while Kuemper was out, they will stick with Kuemper tonight in Buffalo. Kuemper has gone 2-4-1 with a 3.30 GAA and .895 SV% on the road this season, so look at your other options before rolling with Kuemper.
Turris has missed the last eight games with an upper-body injury but will return tonight vs. the Canucks. Turris will draw back in on the Predators second line with Craig Smith and Calle Jarnkrok and has 16 points (5G / 11A) in 23 games this season.
Quick allowed three goals on 21 shots in the Kings loss in Detroit on Monday. Since returning from a knee injury, Quick has gone 2-4-0 with a 2.38 GAA and .919 SV% in six starts. The 32-year-old has struggled on the road so far, going 0-3-0 with a 3.46 GAA and .872 SV% in three starts. However, Columbus is .500 on home-ice (7-7-1).
Hellebuyck stopped 36 of 37 shots in the Jets win over the Flyers on Sunday. Hellebuyck has won four of his last five starts but has been especially impressive in his last three games—making 89 saves on 92 shots (.967 SV%). This is the Hellebuyck many expected to see this season but he could have a tough time staying hot tonight—the Oilers come in having won four in a row and eight of their last nine while averaging 2.56 goals for per game.
Dubnyk stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Wild’s 7-1 blowout win over the Canadiens on Tuesday. It was a nice performance from Dubnyk, who has struggled for the better part of a month. Tonight he will try and string two wins together for the first time since November 8th/11th. Despite the recent struggles, Dubnyk remains a solid option at Xcel Energy Center, where he is 6-4-2 with a 2.77 GAA and .910 SV%.
Hutton missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but will be back between the pipes tonight vs. the visiting Arizona Coyotes. Since winning eight in a row, Hutton has lost back-to-back starts while allowing a combined seven goals on 62 shots (.887 SV%). He should be able to bounce-back against a Coyotes team that has lost three in a row and is 28th in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.59 GF/pg).
With Oscar Klefbom out for an extended period of time, it looks like Jones will jump from the AHL to the NHL and leapfrog Chris Wideman and Jason Garrison on the depth chart. Jones, who was a fourth-round pick in 2015, has two goals and 10 assists (12 points) in 21 games with Bakersfield this season.
Tolvanen did not do much during his call-up, scoring just one goal on two shots and adding an assist in four games. Tolvanen is one of the NHL’s top prospects but still needs a little more time in the AHL. His demotion is a good sign that the Predators will get Kyle Turris back on Thursday.
Vasilevskiy will return from his fractured foot and start for the first time since November 10th. Prior to getting hurt, Vasilevskiy was tied for the league-lead in wins (9), 10th in GAA (2.29) and tied for 12th in SV% (.927). He is one of the best goalies in the NHL but does draw a difficult matchup with the Maple Leafs in town.
