After a one-game conditioning stint with Binghamton (AHL), Schneider is ready to start in the NHL for the first time since January 23rd. He will face a familiar foe, as he goes head-to-head with former teammate Roberto Luongo in Florida.
There’s no word on what happened to Schmidt but his status for Friday’s game appears to be in question, according to head coach Gerrard Gallant. The Golden Knights have also lost Luca Sbisa, who will be sidelined long-term with an undisclosed injury of his own.
Sbisa left Wednesday’s game vs. the Kings early and head coach Gerrard Gallant said that he is going to be out for a while. Shea Theodore will replace the veteran defenseman on Friday.
Panik has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury but is expected to skate on the third line with Freddie Hamilton and Josh Archibald vs. the Wild. Panik has just four assists in 15 games since being traded to the Coyotes.
Theodore has missed the last six games with an illness, but will play on Friday. Theodore will replace Luca Sbisa, who is heading to IR. The young defenseman has picked up four goals and 14 assists (18 points) in 42 games in his first year with Vegas.
Warsofsky will be replaced by Anton Lindholm (upper-body) in the lineup on Friday, so Warsofsky returns to the Rampage, where he has 20 points (4G / 16A) in 44 games this season.
Lindholm has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury but will play vs. the Wild on Friday. Lindholm has no fantasy value at all as he’s collected just three assists in 43 games this season.
Varlamov allowed two goals on 32 shots in Colorado’s win over the Flames on Wednesday. Varlamov has won his last two outings while stopping 61 of 64 shots (.953 SV%) and will make his ninth consecutive start tonight vs. the Wild. The 29-year-old netminder has gone 11-4-1 with a 2.29 GAA and .933 SV% at the Pepsi Center this season.
Korpisalo allowed five goals on 27 shots in the Blue Jackets’ loss in Toronto on February 14th. Korpisalo will start the front-end of Columbus’ back-to-back tonight in Los Angeles. Korpisalo has gone 1-4-0 with a 4.04 GAA and .877 SV% on the road this season and he has a stiff test vs. a Kings team that has won five of their last seven.
Bernier has missed the last six games with a concussion but was back at practice facing shots on Thursday. As is always the case with concussions, there is no firm timetable for Bernier’s return to Colorado’s crease, but Thursday was a big step.
Dubnyk allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Wild’s win over the Blues on Tuesday. He was given last night, so he will start tonight in Colorado. Dubnyk is riding a four-game winning streak while posting a 2.21 GAA and .919 SV%. The 31-year-old was pulled in his first start vs. the Avalanche—he allowed six goals on 32 shots before being pulled.
Fehr has one assist in four games since joining the Sharks but will not play tonight vs. the Blackhawks. Fehr will be replaced by either Marcus Sorensen or Jannik Hansen in the lineup tonight.
Jones allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Sharks win over the Oilers on Tuesday. Jones has now won four of his last six starts while posting a strong 1.98 GAA and .942 SV%. One of those losses came against the Blackhawks, who he will take on again tonight—he allowed two goals on 35 shots in 3-1 loss last Friday.
Mason has been out with a concussion since January 9th and will play with Manitoba this weekend. After his conditioning stint he should re-join the Jets and once again serve as Connor Hellebuyck’s backup.
Russell has missed the last two games and will be a game-time decision tonight vs. the Predators. With Ethan Bear making his NHL debut tonight in place of Adam Larsson, there’s no word on who Russell will replace if he does play.
Larsson was back in the lineup for the last seven games but will return to Sweden for his father’s funeral and will be replaced by Ethan Bear tonight vs. the Predators. Larsson could be back in the lineup next Monday vs. the Coyotes.
Bear, 20, was a fifth round pick of the Oilers in 2015 and will play his first NHL game tonight. Bear will replace Adam Larsson in the lineup and comes to the Oilers with 16 points (6G / 10A) in 34 games with Bakersfield (AHL) this season.
Enstrom did not come on the ice for warmups vs. the Predators on Tuesday and will remain out of the lineup on Friday. With Enstrom out, newcomer Joe Morrow will remain on the blueline for the second straight contest. Enstrom is considered day-to-day.
Stalock allowed two goals on 40 shots in the Wild’s win in New Jersey last Thursday. Stalock will start the front-end of the Wild’s Thursday/Friday back-to-back and draws a great matchup in Arizona. Stalock has gone 4-7-1 with a 3.31 GAA and .907 SV% on the road this season, but he remains a high-end option tonight.
Barre-Boulet, 20, is an undrafted free agent in his fourth season in the QMJHL. The undersized forward (5-foot-9 / 167 lbs) isn’t the first small, undrafted free agent the Lightning have signed in years past. Barre-Boulet has picked up an impressive 49 goals and 55 assists (104 points) in just 57 games with Blainville-Boisbriand this season.
