With Jay Beagle missing Tuesday's game, Graovac's call-up suggests that he will replace Beagle in the lineup on Thursday. Graovac, who has nine points (7G / 2A) in 62 career NHL games, has one goal in six AHL games this season.
Tuch missed the last four games with an upper-body injury that he suffered in his second game of the season (Nov.2) but will suit up vs. the Blackhawks. Tuch scored a goal in his season debut and will play on the same line tonight (with Cody Eakin and Cody Glass).
Caggiula was slated to skate on the Blackhawks top line with Jonathan Toews but will end up sitting due to an illness. Zack Smith was originally expected to be a healthy scratch but now he'll likely suit up in the bottom-6.
Bishop stopped 36 of 37 shots in the Stars win over the Avalanche last Tuesday. With Anton Khudobin starting on Sunday, Bishop has had over one week of rest prior to tonight's game in Calgary. In his last six starts, Bishop has gone 4-1-0 with a 1.51 GAA and .955 SV%, while the Flames enter play at 6-1-2 while scoring 3.78 goals per game in nine games at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Bishop stopped 36 of 37 shots in the Stars win over the Avalanche last Tuesday. With Anton Khudobin starting on Sunday, Bishop has had over one week of rest prior to tonight's game in Calgary. In his last six starts, Bishop has gone 4-1-0 with a 1.51 GAA and .955 SV%, while the Flames enter play at 6-1-2 while scoring 3.78 goals per game in nine games at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Fleury allowed four goals on 33 shots in the Golden Knights loss in Washington on Saturday. The veteran netminder has lost three of his last five starts while posting an ugly 3.54 GAA and .880 SV% but draws a nice matchup on Wednesday. Chicago is 1-4-2 while scoring only 1.86 goals per game on the road this season.
Andersen gave up two goals on 32 shots in the Maple Leafs loss to the Flyers last Saturday. As is customary, Andersen will start every game until the tail-end of a back-to-back, so look for him to start Tuesday and Thursday with Kasimir Kaskisuo making his NHL debut on Friday. Andersen has not lost on the road (3-0-0) this season and has won his last five starts against the Islanders while stopping 150 of the 160 shots (.938 SV%) that he has faced.
Talbot allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Flames loss in Washington 10 days ago. Talbot has lost two in a row and is 1-3-0 with a 2.84 GAA and .899 SV% in five appearances this season. While his early numbers aren't great, the Stars come into the night at 3-5-1 with just 2.33 goals per game in their first nine road games.
Kostin was selected in the first round (No.31 overall) in 2017 and is one of the Blues' top prospects. The 20-year-old forward has scored three goals with five assists (eight points) in 14 AHL games this season and he is poised to make his NHL debut in Columbus on Friday.
Blackwood stopped 30 of 31 shots in the Devils win in Vancouver on Sunday. Blackwood has won three of his last four starts while posting a solid 2.45 GAA and .922 SV%. He has clearly taken over as the Devils' No.1 starter--Tuesday will be his ninth start in their last 11 games. He is 2-1-3 with a 2.54 GAA, .896 SV% and one shutout on home ice.
With Vladimir Sobotka out for at least four weeks, Lazar makes his return to the NHL. The 24-year-old currently ranks second on the Americans (AHL) in points, picking up four goals and five assists (nine points) in 11 games. He has not suited up for Buffalo yet but comes up with 51 points (15G / 36A) in 246 career NHL games.
Sobotka was hurt in the first game in Sweden after taking a low hit from Nikita Kucherov. The veteran winger will be out until at least mid-December and Curtis Lazar has been called up from Rochester (AHL) to take his spot on the roster.
Varlamov allowed four goals on 39 shots in the Islanders' loss to the Penguins last Thursday. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Varlamov, who will make his ninth start of the season on Wednesday. The 31-year-old enters play at 3-2-1 with a 3.04 GAA and .904 SV% in six starts on home ice.
Quick surrendered three goals 37 shots in the Kings loss in Montreal on Saturday. Quick is in the middle of an ugly four-game losing streak, where he has allowed 17 goals on 133 shots (.872 SV%). A home matchup vs. the 23rd ranked offence could help him get back on track, but he allowed five goals on 27 shots in a 5-1 loss in his first game vs. Minnesota.
Bernier allowed two goals on 19 shots in the Red Wings win over the Golden Knights on Sunday. Bernier has won two straight while stopping 43 of the 47 shots (.915 SV%) that he has faced. He will look to stay hot against a Ducks team that has lost three in a row on home-ice and will start their backup.
Rinne was yanked after allowing five goals on 22 shots in the Predators' 9-4 blowout loss in Colorado last Thursday. It was the second time in three games that Rinne allowed five-plus goals but outings like that are usually few and far between for the veteran. He was 2-1-0 with a 3.33 GAA and .886 SV% in three games vs. the Canucks last season.
