Howard allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Red Wings 3-2 shootout loss in Anaheim on Monday. Howard has played well so far this season, stopping 61 of 66 shots (.924 SV%), but has a terrible matchup tonight with the high-powered Maple Leafs in town. Toronto is averaging 5.00 goals per game and their power-play is clicking at 50 percent.
Subban stopped all nine shots that he faced after replacing Marc-Andre Fleury in the Golden Knights loss to the Flyers last Thursday. With Fleury facing the Capitals last night, Subban is expected to see the Penguins tonight. The 24-year-old was 5-3-2 with a 3.07 GAA and .905 SV% on the road last season.
Weal played just 9:45 TOI in his season debut on Tuesday and will be replaced by Dale Weise tonight in Ottawa.
Weise has not played yet this season but will enter the lineup tonight in place of Jordan Weal. Weise had just four goals and four assists (eight points) in 46 games for the Flyers.
Pickard spent all of last season with the Maple Leafs organization. Pickard appeared in just one NHL game but started 33 with the Marlies (AHL) going 21-9-1 with a 2.31 GAA, .918 SV% and one shutout. The 26-year-old is expected to make his Flyers debut tonight and makes for a desperate spot-start option against a Senators team that has opened the season at 1-1-1.
Dries has averaged just 6:19 TOI/GM in the first three games of the season, but will be a healthy scratch tomorrow. Vladislav Kamenev will replace him vs. the Sabres.
It will be Kamenev’s fourth appearance with the Avalanche after being acquired from the Predators last season. The 22-year-old had one assist in two games with Colorado (AHL) before he was called up last week.
Lyon is not waiver exempt, so he has been loaned to Lehigh Valley but will need to clear waivers in order to be sent to the AHL. The 25-year-old was 16-8-2 with a 2.75 GAA and .913 SV% in 27 games with the Phantoms a year ago.
Jokiharju’s rookie season is off to a great start and he was moved to the top power-play unit on Tuesday, but he’s questionable for Thursday’s game vs. the Wild. Keep an eye on his status during Thursday’s morning skate.
Raanta stopped 19 of 20 shots in the Coyotes 1-0 loss to the Ducks on Saturday. Despite stopping 41 of 45 shots (.911 SV%) in his first two starts, Raanta sits at 0-2-0. Raanta should be a strong starting option tonight against a Ducks team that is missing five of their top-9 forwards.
Kesler was surprisingly skating on the Ducks second line in Wednesday’s morning skate and is officially listed as a game-time decision. Kesler has not been medically cleared to play, but that could come later today. Keep an eye on Kesler’s status as the Ducks hit the ice for warmups at 9:30pm ET.
The Red Wings are still waiting for Ericsson to make his season debut and it does not look like it will come until next Monday at the earliest. With Ericsson and Trevor Daley both still out, Libor Sulak and Joe Hicketts will remain on the blueline vs. the Maple Leafs.
Daley was injured early in Monday’s game in Los Angeles and missed Tuesday’s game in Anaheim. The veteran defenseman has been ruled out of Thursday’s game vs. the Maple Leafs and Saturday’s game in Boston. Libor Sulak and Joe Hicketts will remain in the lineup with both Daley and Jonathan Ericsson out.
Kovar signed with the Islanders this summer after spending the last five years in the KHL. Kovar did not make the team out of training camp and was sent to Bridgeport (AHL). Kovar refused to report to Bridgeport, so the Islanders will terminate his contract and he will likely return to the KHL.
Dunn has been featured on the Blues top power-play to start the season, but is expected to sit tomorrow with Joel Edmundson set to make his season debut. With Dunn out, Alex Pietrangelo will take his spot on the top power-play unit.
Edmundson said he wants to get through tomorrow’s morning skate before making a decision but it looks like he will play. Vince Dunn is expected to sit for Edmundson, meaning that Alex Pietrangelo will move to the top power-play and Colton Parayko on the second. Edmundson had 17 points (7G / 10A) in 69 games a season ago.
Dzingel was a game-time decision on Monday, but ended up playing and scoring two goals. He was not on the ice again this morning, so he’s questionable for tonight’s meting with the Flyers. It sounds like it is a very similar situation to Monday and the young winger should be expected to play.
Johnson missed the Lightning’s season opener vs. the Panthers last Saturday but will play on Thursday barring a setback in the morning skate. Johnson is expected to skate on the Lightning’s second line with Yanni Gourde and Brayden Point and should see some time on the power-play as well.
Kronwall missed the first three games of the season but will draw in for Dennis Cholowski (upper-body) tomorrow vs. the Maple Leafs. Kronwall will likely be limited to third pair minutes with some power-play time in his first game back.
