Mantha is dealing with a “nagging” injury according to head coach Jeff Blashill, leaving him as a game-time decision vs. the Rangers. Monitor Mantha’s status when the Red Wings hit the ice for warmups at 7:00 pm ET.
Dubnyk stopped all 10 shots that he faced prior to getting hurt in the Wild’s December 12th game vs. the Flames. He went on to miss six games before backing up Alex Stalock vs. Dallas on Wednesday. Dubnyk has gone 7-2-2 with a 2.30 GAA and .927 SV% in 12 home starts this season and is 4-0-0 vs. the Predators dating back to last season.
Stralman was a late scratch from Thursday’s game vs. the Canadiens and likely won’t play tonight either. Stralman is “more likely” to play vs. the Blue Jackets on Sunday according to Jon Cooper.
Budaj allowed five goals on 37 shots in the Lightning’s win in Colorado on December 16th. He hasn’t seen a lot of playing time because Andrei Vasilevskiy has been fantastic all season. Budaj comes in at 3-1-0 with a 3.50 GAA and .888 SV% in his last four starts.
Pickard has gone 10-5-0 with a 2.20 GAA and .919 SV% in 15 games with the Marlies this season. With Curtis McElhinney hurt, it looks like Pickard will start against his former team tonight in Colorado. Pickard has gone 28-44-6 with a 2.77 GAA and .914 SV% in 86 career NHL games (all with Colorado).
Pickard has gone 10-5-0 with a 2.20 GAA and .919 SV% in 15 games with the Marlies this season. With Curtis McElhinney out with a lower-body injury, Pickard has been recalled and should start against his former team on Friday.
McElhinney was scheduled to start tonight in Colorado but has reportedly come down with a lower-body injury. The Maple Leafs have recalled Calvin Pickard from the Marlies (AHL) and he is now the projected starter.
Darling surrendered eight goals on 36 shots in the Hurricanes loss in Toronto on December 19th. Darling has struggled recently and Cam Ward has played very well as of late, but Ward will get a night off on the tail-end of a back-to-back. Darling is an ugly 3-7-3 with a 2.98 GAA and .890 SV% in 13 road games this season.
Ward allowed one goal on 24 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Canadiens on Wednesday. Ward has won his last five starts while stopping 130 of the 140 shots (.929 SV%) that he has faced. As good as he has been as of late, he draws a tough matchup tonight vs. the Penguins. Ward is 4-1-0 with a 2.27 GAA and .921 SV% on home ice.
Ward allowed one goal on 24 shots in the Hurricanes win over the Canadiens on Wednesday. Ward has won his last five starts while stopping 130 of the 140 shots (.929 SV%) that he has faced. As good as he has been as of late, he draws a tough matchup tonight vs. the Penguins. Ward is 4-1-0 with a 2.27 GAA and .921 SV% on home ice.
Quick allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Kings loss in San Jose last Saturday. Quick has gone 5-3-0 with a 2.12 GAA and .927 SV% in eight starts in December. Tonight he faces a still red-hot Vegas team at the STAPLES Center where he has gone 8-5-1 with a 2.13 GAA and .932 SV% this season.
Claesson will miss the Senators back-to-back set on Friday and Saturday, so look for Ben Harpur to draw into the lineup. Claesson is eligible to return to the lineup next Wednesday in Detroit.
Quick allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Kings loss in San Jose last Saturday. Quick has gone 5-3-0 with a 2.12 GAA and .927 SV% in eight starts in December. Tonight he faces a still red-hot Vegas team at the STAPLES Center where he has gone 8-5-1 with a 2.13 GAA and .932 SV% this season.
Bishop gave up three goals on 30 shots in the Stars loss in Minnesota on Wednesday. Bishop will make his sixth straight start tonight having lost three of his last five starts with a 2.33 GAA, .917 SV% and one shutout. Wednesday’s loss came on the road where he has struggled this season, but starts tonight on home ice where he is 11-3-1 with a 2.08 GAA and .928 SV%.
Forsberg stopped 21 of 22 shots after replacing Corey Crawford in the Blackhawks loss in New Jersey before the Christmas break. With Crawford landing on IR on Wednesday Forsberg becomes the Blackhawks No.1 going forward. Forsberg has gone 1-3-2 with a 3.71 GAA and .894 SV% on the road this season.
Smith allowed three goals on 35 shots in the Flames loss to the Canadiens before the Christmas break. Smith has lost four of his last five starts (1-3-1) while allowing 10 goals on 136 shots (.926 SV%). With David Rittich going last night, Smith will face the Ducks for the second time tonight—he posted a 43-save shutout in his first start in Anaheim.
Rittich allowed one goal on 17 shots in the Flames win in Vancouver on December 17th. Rittich came up to the NHL as a relative unknown but has played well in his first four career NHL games—the 25-year-old enters Thursday at 3-1-0 with a 2.10 GAA and .919 SV% but draws a tough road matchup in San Jose tonight.
Tanev returned to practice on Wednesday but is not quite ready to play. Tanev will miss his sixth straight game but it looks like he’s trending towards a return on Saturday.
