Kruger will miss his second straight game with a left leg injury, which means Luke Johnson will remain as the Blackhawks’ fourth line centre. Kruger is day-to-day and questionable for Wednesday’s game vs. the Blues.
Saad was a late scratch from Saturday’s game in Philadelphia and his status for Monday’s game remains in question. Saad will not take part in the morning skate and his status will be determined later, making him a game-time decision.
Zuccarello missed the Rangers two-game road-trip and will miss his third straight game tonight. This leaves the Rangers without Zuccarello and Pavel Buchnevich on the right-side. Filip Chytil could move up the Rangers’ lineup for the time being.
Lundqvist surrendered three goals on 31 shots in the Rangers 3-2 overtime loss in Detroit last Friday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Lundqvist, who will make his 14th start of the season tonight. The 36-year-old is 4-3-0 with a 2.27 GAA and .932 SV% in seven starts at Madison Square Garden this season.
Howard allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Red Wings overtime win over the Rangers last Friday. Howard has won four straight games while posting a 2.40 GAA and .927 SV% and draws a solid matchup tonight with the Coyotes in town. Arizona is 24th in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.75 GF/PG) through 16 games.
van Riemsdyk was scratched in favour of Haydn Fleury on Saturday, but will replace Brett Pesce (lower-body) tonight. van Riemsdyk was a minus-3 in 14:42 TOI against his former team last Thursday and has just three assists and 19 shots in 14 games this season.
Pesce is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury that he suffered against the Red Wings on Saturday. Pesce was reportedly injured in a knee-on-knee collision, but is not expected to be sidelined long-term. With Pesce out, Trevor van Riemsdyk will draw back into the lineup on Monday.
Darling allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Hurricanes 4-3 shootout loss to the Red Wings on Saturday. Since making his season debut on October 30th, Darling has gone 1-2-1 while allowing three goals in every start, allowing a combined 12 goals on 126 shots (.905 SV%). The only win came against his former team, who he will face again tonight.
Darling allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Hurricanes 4-3 shootout loss to the Red Wings on Saturday. Since making his season debut on October 30th, Darling has gone 1-2-1 while allowing three goals in every start, allowing a combined 12 goals on 126 shots (.905 SV%). The only win came against his former team, who he will face again tonight.
Buchnevich, who has served as a healthy scratch a few times, started playing well right before getting hurt. Buchnevich picked up two goals and two assists in his last three games, but will miss at least one month after suffering a broken thumb on Saturday. This leaves the Rangers without two of their best right-wingers, Buchnevich and Mats Zuccarello.
