Schneider allowed five goals on 37 shots in the Devils loss in Anaheim on Sunday. 2018-19 has been a total disaster for Schneider, who has gone 0-5-1 with a 4.29 GAA and .862 SV% in six starts and two relief appearances. Tonight he will make his first start on home-ice and is still searching for his first win of the season. He’ll have a tough time against a Vegas squad that has won nine of their last 11 (9-2-0).
Murray was activated from IR and served as Casey DeSmith’s backup on Wednesday but is expected to start Friday vs. the Bruins. The 24-year-old has gone 1-5-0 with a horrifying 5.48 GAA and .823 SV% in six starts at the PPG Paints Arena this season. He has a good chance to get back on-track against a Kings team that is 4-10-1 on the road and last in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.15 GF/pg).
DeSmith gave up four goals on 27 shots in the Penguins loss in Chicago on Tuesday. It was a disappointing loss in a great matchup for DeSmith, who is 6-1-2 with a 2.45 GAA, .926 SV% and one shutout on home-ice coming into Friday’s game. The Bruins are 17-10-4 but rank 27th in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.71 GF/pg).
With Mike Green out for 3-5 weeks, Hronek comes up from Grand Rapids for the second time this season. Hronek had three points (1G / 2A) in six games with the Red Wings at the start of the season and was even more impressive with 18 points (5G / 13A) in 20 AHL games. Hronek could play big minutes while Green is out thanks to a lack of depth on the Red Wings’ blueline.
Green was forced to leave Monday’s game in Washington and head coach Jeff Blashill announced that he will miss at least three weeks with a lower-body injury. With Green out, Filip Hronek has been recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL).
Holtby stopped 35 of 37 shots in the Capitals win over the Red Wings on Tuesday. Holtby has won two in a row while stopping 63 of 65 shots (.969 SV%) and is re-entering must-start territory. Since returning from a minor injury, Holtby has gone 7-2-0 with a 2.20 GAA, .932 SV% and one shutout in nine games.
DeSmith gave up four goals on 27 shots in the Penguins loss in Chicago on Tuesday. It was a disappointing loss in a great matchup for DeSmith, who is 6-1-2 with a 2.45 GAA, .926 SV% and one shutout on home-ice coming into Friday’s game. The Bruins are 17-10-4 but rank 27th in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.71 GF/pg).
Niku played in five games with the Jets but was a healthy scratch for the last three games. The 22-year-old is one of the Jets’ top prospects but needs some more seasoning while the Jets are loaded on the blueline. Niku has five points (1G / 4A) in 12 games with Manitoba this season.
Djoos’ injury is more severe than the Capitals originally believed. Djoos was initially listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury but underwent a procedure on Thursday and will miss an extended period of time. Jonas Siegenthaler will likely draw in on Friday.
Murray was activated from IR and served as Casey DeSmith’s backup on Wednesday but is expected to start Friday vs. the Bruins. The 24-year-old has gone 1-5-0 with a horrifying 5.48 GAA and .823 SV% in six starts at the PPG Paints Arena this season. Things likely won’t get any easier against a Bruins team that has won three in a row but rank 27th in goal-scoring (2.71 GF/pg).
Schneider allowed five goals on 37 shots in the Devils loss in Anaheim on Sunday. 2018-19 has been a total disaster for Schneider, who has gone 0-5-1 with a 4.29 GAA and .862 SV% in six starts and two relief appearances. Tonight he will make his first start on home-ice and is still searching for his first win of the season. He’ll have a tough time against a Vegas squad that has won nine of their last 11 (9-2-0).
Koskinen surrendered four goals on 43 shots in the Oilers win in Colorado on Tuesday. It was another solid performance from Koskinen, who has now won five of his last six starts—allowing just 10 goals on 183 shots (.945 SV%). Koskinen has been a great find for the Oilers and he is a must-start against a Flyers team that has lost nine of their last 12 (3-6-3).
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.
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).
Hanzal recently returned from a long injury absence so they’ll bench him for the second game of a back-to-back. Brett Ritchie will replace Hanzal in San Jose.
Russell suffered an undisclosed injury in Colorado on Tuesday and was placed on IR this afternoon. The Oilers are without two of their top-6 defenseman, with Russell joining Oscar Klefbom (hand) on the injured list.
Varlamov was pulled after he gave up three goals on 18 shots in Colorado’s loss to the Oilers on Tuesday. Varlamov has struggled as of late, losing three in a row while giving up a combined 14 goals on 73 shots (.808 SV%). In his first start against the Stars, Varlamov stopped 27 of 29 shots in a 3-2 win on November 24th.
Grubauer allowed three goals on eight shots in a relief appearance of Semyon Varlamov against the Oilers on Tuesday. Grubauer has posted a 3.16 GAA and .900 SV% in 12 appearances this season but has been able to turn that into a 7-2-2 record. Tonight he faces a Blues team that has lost eight of their last 12 (4-7-1).
Khudobin allowed one goal on 29 shots in the Stars win over the Oilers on December 3rd. Khudobin has won his last two starts, allowing just four goals on 62 shots (.935 SV%). Khudobin draws a tough task as the starter behind a fatigued team in San Jose. He stopped 33 of 36 shots in a 4-3 win in his first start against the Sharks this season.
Rieder has been out since November 13th, missing 13 games, but will return to the lineup on Thursday. Rieder will skate on the fourth line and has no goals and seven assists in 18 games this season, so keep him on the waiver wire.
