Girardi has been sidelined by an ankle injury since February 28th, but is nearing a return to the lineup. Girardi will travel to New Jersey, but head coach Alain Vigneault will stick with the same lineup that beat the Wild on Saturday.
Talbot stopped all 33 shots that he faced in the Oilers’ shutout win over Vancouver on Saturday. Talbot has won three in a row while stopping 87 of 92 shots (.946 SV%). In his first start against the Kings, Talbot was great, stopping 28 of 29 shots a 3-1 win in late-December.
Granlund had been playing well on a line with the Sedin twins, but will undergo surgery that is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the regular season. The 22-year-old will look to build off of his 19-goal, 13-assist season next year.
Dell allowed three goals on 35 shots in the Sharks’ loss to St. Louis on Thursday. Dell has seen a lot of playing time down the stretch and could see two starts this week with the Sharks’ having two back-to-backs. He has an impressive 1.90 GAA and .936 SV% in 16 games this season.
Malkin will not travel to Buffalo for the Penguins game on Tuesday, which puts his status for Thursday’s game in Ottawa in question as well. Monitor Malkin’s status as the week progresses.
Austin will be making his NHL debut in Detroit because Taylor Fedun is out with an undisclosed injury. Austin was a seventh round pick in 2012 and has nine points (2G / 7A) in 61 games with the Americans this season.
Nelson, 24, has 13 points (4G / 9A) in 45 games with Rochester this season and tonight he will suit up for his 10th NHL game of the season. He will replace Cody Franson in the lineup in Detroit.
Fedun left Friday’s game with an undisclosed injury and will not play Monday in Detroit. Fedun was filling in for Justin Falk but only lasted two games. Brady Austin has been recalled from the AHL to fill-in for Fedun vs. the Red Wings.
Franson is dealing with an undisclosed ailment and will miss tonight’s game in Detroit. With Franson out, Casey Nelson has been called up from Rochester to fill-out the blueline.
Hansen left Saturday’s game in the third period and did not return. There is no word how Hansen suffered the injury, but he remains questionable for tonight’s game in Dallas. Hansen has just one assist in six games with the Sharks despite playing on the top line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski.
Backes missed the Bruins' morning skate and is listed as a game-time decision for tonight's game vs. the Maple Leafs. It is a crucial game for both teams so expect Backes to gut it out and be in the lineup.
Rinne allowed one goal on 23 shots in the Predators’ OT win in Washington last Thursday. Juuse Saros started on Saturday, so look for Rinne tonight vs. the Coyotes. Rinne has yet to beat Arizona this season, going 0-1-1 with a 2.89 GAA and .903 SV% in the previous two meetings.
Spezza left Friday’s game in Calgary did not return and was not on the ice this morning so Spezza has been listed as doubtful for tonight’s contest vs. San Jose. He will be replaced by Jamie Benn, who returns after missing one game with an eye injury.
Benn missed Friday’s game with an eye injury that he suffered in a fight on Thursday. He was back on the Stars’ top line this morning and will play tonight. He has 24 goals and 39 assists (63 points) in 66 games this season.
Lehner allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Sabres’ loss in Los Angeles last Thursday. He was given Friday night off, but will be back in goal tonight in Detroit. Lehner is just 2-4-1 with a 2.99 GAA and .911 SV% in March, but has gone 1-0-1 with a 1.92 GAA and .940 SV% vs. the Red Wings.
Lehtonen allowed three goals on 24 shots in the Stars’ loss in Calgary on Friday. Lehtonen is 3-3-0 with a 3.06 GAA and .908 SV% in the month of March and one of those losses came against the Sharks, who he will see again tonight—they night he was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots.
Carrick has been sidelined by an upper-body injury since February 21st, but will play tonight vs. the Bruins. Carrick will skate with Morgan Rielly and has seven points (2G / 5A) in 55 games this season.
Nogier, 20, has two goals and 11 assists (13 points) in 57 games with Manitoba this season and he could make his NHL debut this week. The Jets’ blueline is banged up, so the former fourth round pick could draw into the lineup.
Mrazek allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Red Wings’ shootout win in Arizona last Thursday. Jimmy Howard starts on Saturday, but the Red Wings will go back to Mrazek tonight vs. the Sabres. Mrazek has gone 0-1-1 with a 3.41 GAA and .881 SV% in his first two starts against Buffalo.
