Anisimov was hurt Wednesday vs. the Penguins and despite taking part in the morning skate, Anisimov will sit vs. the Islanders. With Anisimov out, Andrew Desjardins will draw back into the Blackhawks lineup.
Hellebuyck was pulled after he allowed six goals on 21 shots in the Jets’ loss to the Wild on Tuesday. Hellebuyck has now allowed 10 goals on 58 shots (.828 SV%) in his last two starts, but will start again tonight vs. the Blues. Hellebuyck has gone 11-7-1 with a 2.62 GAA And .915 SV% on home ice this season.
Hellebuyck was pulled after he allowed six goals on 21 shots in the Jets’ loss to the Wild on Tuesday. Hellebuyck has now allowed 10 goals on 58 shots (.828 SV%) in his last two starts, but will start again tonight vs. the Blues. Hellebuyck has gone 11-7-1 with a 2.62 GAA And .915 SV% on home ice this season.
McGinn will not play for the third time in four games because of an upper-body injury. Luckily for the Hurricanes, they’ll get Jeff Skinner (neck) back in the lineup, but McGinn remains day-to-day.
Ward allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Hurricanes’ loss in Florida on Tuesday. Eddie Lack has started three of the last four games, but Ward will make his 50th appearance tonight vs. the Coyotes. Ward is on a five-game losing streak, having allowed a combined 16 goals on 141 shots (.887 SV%).
Murray allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Penguins’ loss in Dallas on Tuesday. Marc-Andre Fleury started and lost on Wednesday, so they’ll go back to Murray tonight vs. the Lightning. Murray was excellent in February, going 5-2-2 with a 1.98 GAA, .936 SV% and one shutout. Murray allowed three goals on 23 shots in a 4-3 win in his first start vs. the Lightning.
Budaj will get thrown right into the fire in his first start with the Lightning as he goes up against the NHL’s highest scoring team on the road. Budaj was excellent replacing Jonathan Quick in L.A. this season, going 27-20-3 with a 2.12 GAA and .917 SV%. However, he will likely find it tougher playing behind a less-defensive Lightning team.
Skinner has missed the last two games with a stiff neck, but was on the ice for the morning skate and is expected to play tonight vs. the Coyotes. Skinner, who has been skating on the third line, has just three goals and two assists (five points) in his last 16 games.
Sheary has been sidelined by an upper-body injury since January 31st, but has been skating and took part in the morning skate, so there’s a good chance he returns to the lineup tonight. He skated with Sidney Crosby this morning, so if he plays, make sure you get him back in your lineup. He has registered 17 goals and 18 assists (35 points) in 42 games this season.
Connauton played just 9:17 before departing last night’s loss in Buffalo. He was injured on a hit from Sabres’ forward Marcus Foligno and is listed as day-to-day. Don’t expect him to be in the lineup in Carolina on Friday night.
Domingue stopped all 11 shots that he faced after replacing Mike Smith in the Coyotes’ loss in Boston on Tuesday. Smith struggled again last night, so head coach Dave Tippet said that he’ll “probably” give him the night off. Domingue is an ugly 2-10-1 with a 4.19 GAA and .871 SV% on the road.
Roussel left Thursday’s game after blocking a Johnny Boychuk shot and did not return. Stars’ head coach Lindy Ruff said that “it’s not good news” and added that “in all likelihood, the rest of the season.” It looks like Roussel’s season will end with 12 goals and 15 assists (27 points) in 60 games.
Shore played just 8:17 before coming out of Thursday’s game with an upper-body injury. There was no update on Shore’s status postgame, so consider him as questionable for Saturday’s game vs. the Canucks.
Ellis scored a goal in 9:25 TOI before leaving last night’s game in Montreal with a lower-body injury. Head coach Peter Laviolette did not have Ellis’ condition so consider him as day-to-day.
Okposo hurt his rib cage when he went crashing into the boards and was forced to exit the game. Sabres’ head coach Dan Bylsma did not have an update on Okposo’s injury, so consider him day-to-day until they release more information.
Berra has gone 12-14-2 with a 2.53 GAA and .910 SV% in 31 games with Springfield this season and he has been called up to serve as James Reimer’s backup while Roberto Luongo nurses a lower-body injury.
Luongo stopped all 13 shots that he faced before having to leave after the first period of last night’s loss in Philadelphia. With Luongo out, James Reimer takes over as the Panthers’ No.1 and Reto Berra has been called up to be the backup.
Crawford allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Blackhawks win over the Coyotes on February 23rd. Scott Darling has started the last two games, but Crawford will get back in goal tonight vs. the Islanders. Crawford has won six of his last seven starts while posting a 2.71 GAA and .913 SV%. Tonight he takes on an Islanders team that has won four of five.
