Nielsen missed the final game before the Red Wings' bye week but is expected to play tonight in New York. Expect him to replace Christoffer Ehn in the lineup and skate with Darren Helm and Adam Erne.
Halak stopped 27 of 29 shots in the Bruins win over the Golden Knights on January 21st. Halak went 3-3-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .886% in January and will make his 24th start of the season in game two of the Bruins back-to-back. He'll take on a Wild team that has gone 3-4-1while scoring 3.38 goals per game in their last eight.
Howard allowed four goals on 33 shots in the Red Wings loss in Minnesota on January 22nd. Howard is 0-6-1 with a 4.13 GAA and .882 SV% in seven starts in January and is winless (0-14-2) in his last 16 starts. As bad as he's been this year, the New York native has been great at Madison Square Garden--going 3-2-2 with a 1.99 GAA and .938 SV% there over the last five years.
Subban gave up five goals on 23 shots in the Golden Knights loss to the Kings on January 9th. Marc-Andre Fleury started the last five games but is serving his one-game suspension tonight, so Subban will face the Hurricanes. Subban is 5-5-2 with a 2.82 GAA and .906 SV% on the road while Carolina comes in at 5-0-1 with 2.83 goals per game in their last six at home.
Rask surrendered two goals on 37 shots in the Bruins win over the Islanders on January 11th. HE started January 14th but left before even facing a shot and ended up missing the next three games with a concussion. Rask is 4-0-1 with a 2.18 GAA and .936 SV% in his last six starts and gets set to face Jets team that has lost four in a row while averaging just 1.75 goals per game.
Koskinen allowed four goals on 3 33 shots in the Oilers loss in Calgary on January 11th. Mike Smith has started the last three games but Koskinen will make his 26th start of the season tonight vs. the Blues. He's gonna 7-4-2 with a 3.28 GAA, .896 SV% and one shutout on home ice this year and stopped 42 of 44 shots in a 2-1 loss in his first start vs. St. Louis (Dec.18).
Samsonov stopped all seven shots that he faced after replacing Braden Holtby in the Capitals' come-from-behind win over the Islanders on January 18th. Holtby ended up starting the last two games, but Samsonov draws a terrific matchup tonight in Ottawa. He stopped 26 of 27 shots in a 6-1 win in his first start vs. the Senators.
With Cody Glass and William Karlsson both still out, Roy will return to the fourth line on Friday. Roy has two goals and three assists (five points) in 14 NHL games this season.
Marc-Andre Fleury has to serve a one-game suspension for skipping the All-Star game, so Dansk will serve as Malcolm Subban's backup on Friday. He'll likely return to the AHL following tonight's game.
Malcolm Subban will likely start in Carolina on Friday with Fleury serving his one-game suspension. Oskar Dansk was recalled from the AHL to serve as Subban's backup. Look for Fleury to start Saturday in Nashville.
Howard allowed four goals on 33 shots in the Red Wings loss in Minnesota on January 22nd. Howard is 0-6-1 with a 4.13 GAA and .882 SV% in seven starts in January and is winless (0-14-2) in his last 16 starts. As bad as he's been this year, the New York native has been great at Madison Square Garden--going 3-2-2 with a 1.99 GAA and .938 SV% there over the last five years.
Niederreiter was late to arrive at practice on Thursday and stayed on with the scratches at Friday's morning skate, suggesting that he will be scratched tonight. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour wouldn't commit to making him a scratch but all signs are pointing towards that being a reality.
Varlamov allowed five goals on 29 shots in the Islanders loss to the Capitals on January 18th. Varlamov has lost four straight starts (0-3-1) while posting a 4.44 GAA and .864 SV%. Today he faces a Canucks team that has won four in a row while scoring 3.75 goals per game.
There's no indication whether or not Gravel is being called up to play. The 27-year-old hasn't played a lot of hockey this season, appearing in just three games with the Maple Leafs and eight with the Marlies.
Fleury has been a healthy scratch for the last four games, so he'll go to Laval to get some playing time. The 21-year-old has just one goal in 41 NHL games this season and had 23 points (9G / 14A) in 60 AHL games a season ago.
Jarry allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Penguins loss in Philadelphia on January 21st. Jarry has lost his last two starts and is now 3-3-1 with a 2.83 GAA and .907 SV% in January. He's been a lot better on home-ice but his road numbers are decent, going 6-5-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .919 SV% in 11 appearances.
Mrazek allowed one goal on 17 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Jets on January 21st. The Hurricanes return from their bye week with Mrazek facing the Golden Knights. Mrazek has gone 14-6-0 with a 2.35 GAA and .910 SV% on home ice this season and Vegas comes in having lost six of their last seven (1-5-1) while scoring 2.43 goals per game.
With Kyle Okposo suffering an upper-body injury in Thursday's game, Dea returns to the NHL for the second time this season. Dea has spent most of the year in the AHL, where he has 30 points (13G / 17A) in 41 games. He has picked up seven points (5G / 2A) in 30 career NHL games with the Penguins, Devils and Sabres.
Okposo was forced to leave Thursday's game vs. Montreal early (3:47 ATOI) and did not return. Head coach Ralph Krueger said that it's not a head injury, which is good news, however, Jean-Sebastien Dea was called up on Friday which suggests that Okposo will miss Saturday's game.
Lagesson appeared in two NHL games earlier in the year but has spent most of the season with Bakersfield, where he has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 23 games. Lagesson or Caleb Jones will draw into the lineup for Kris Russell (concussion protocol) on Friday.
