Johnston has been a healthy scratch for the last four games, but will replace Alan Quine tonight in Buffalo. Johnston has one goal and one assist despite averaging 7:36 TOI in his first three games with the Islanders this season.
Reimer has missed the last five games with a groin injury, but the emergence of Harri Sateri during his absence will have Reimer return in a back-up role. Reimer could get the nod in Edmonton next Monday.
Sateri allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Panthers win over the Canucks on Tuesday. Even with James Reimer back, Sateri earned another start tonight vs. the Kings. Sateri has won four in a row while stopping 114 of 120 shots (.950 SV%) that he has faced. It has been an impressive run for the young netminder, who will look to win his fifth straight against a Kings team that has won four of their last five.
Pionk, 22, was an undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, who has collected 17 points (1G / 16A) in 48 games in his first season with Hartford (AHL). Pionk could make his NHL debut this weekend after Brendan Smith was placed on waivers this afternoon.
Rittich allowed one goal on four shots after replacing Mike Smith in the Flames loss to the Lightning last Thursday. Rittich has not seen a lot of action this season, but has played very well. In six starts and two relief appearance, Rittich has gone 4-1-2 with a 2.23 GAA and .926 SV%. He makes for an interesting spot-start on a busy nine-game night.
Hutton was pulled after giving up three goals on eight shots in the Blues’ loss to Minnesota on Tuesday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Hutton, who will stick in net tonight despite a rough outing vs. the Wild. It might have something to do with the fact that Hutton is 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .949 SV% vs. the Avalanche this season.
Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Lightning’s loss in Edmonton on Monday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Vasilevskiy, who will make his 44th start of the season tonight vs. the Canucks. On Saturday, Vasilevskiy stopped 31 of 33 shots in a 4-2 win in Vancouver.
Forsberg allowed four goals on 21 shots in the Blackhawks loss in Vancouver last Thursday. Forsberg will face the Stars for the second time this season—he stopped 33 of 35 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss in Dallas on December 2nd. Forsberg has gone 1-3-1 with a 2.39 GAA and .930 SV% on home-ice this season.
Halak allowed five goals on 47 shots in the Islanders overtime loss to Nashville on Monday. In his last eight starts, Halak has gone 3-3-2 while posting a 3.23 GAA and .919 SV%—however it has not been all on Halak because he’s faced an average of 40.13 shots per game during that stretch. Tonight he faces the Sabres, who he is 2-0-0 with a 2.48 GAA and .924 SV% against this season.
Boucher failed to record a point in three games with Vancouver earlier this year, but leads the Comets in that category with 41 (22G / 19A) in 38 games this season. He is expected to replace Brendan Gaunce tonight.
Dowd came out for Sam Gagner on Tuesday, but with Gagner back in Vancouver with a sprained ankle, Dowd will return tonight in Tampa Bay. Dowd has just two points (1G / 1A) in 36 games with the Kings/Canucks this season.
With a handful of forwards hurt and Alex Burrows suspended for the next 10 games, Blunden will play his first NHL game of the season. The 31-year-old has 126 games of NHL experience, but has registered a measly 13 points (7G / 6A).
Brassard will miss his second straight game with an undisclosed injury. The Senators have not said a lot about Brassard’s injury, but he was possible for tonight’s game on Wednesday, so that suggests it is minor and that he could be back on Saturday.
After sitting for the first couple of games of his call-up, the 21-year-old is ready to play tonight vs. the Flames. Quenneville has 10 goals and 11 assists (21 points) in 31 games with Binghamton (AHL) this season. He will replace with Mirco Mueller as the 12th forward or Brian Boyle (personal) as the 11th forward depending on Boyle’s status at game time.
Leier was in the lineup for the last three games, recording one assist, but will go back to being a scratch tonight vs. the Canadiens. Leier will be replaced by Dale Weise, who draws in for the first time since January 4th.
Weise will be drawing into the Flyers lineup for the first time since January 4th. Weise will replace Taylor Leier in the lineup and comes in with just six points (4G / 2A) in 34 games this season.
Kinkaid was pulled after he allowed four goals on 20 shots in the Devils loss in Ottawa on Tuesday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Kinkaid, who will make his fifth straight start tonight vs. the Flames. In his first start vs. the Flames, Kinkaid allowed four goals on 34 shots in a 5-4 shootout loss in early-November.
Nilsson allowed one goal on 36 shots in the Canucks loss in Winnipeg on January 21st. Jacob Markstrom has started the last six games, but Nilsson will get back between the pipes tonight. The 27-year-old has not recorded a win since November 30th and has posted an ugly 4.38 GAA and .887 SV% in his last seven appearance.
