Bozak did not hit the ice this morning, but head coach Mike Babcock said he expects his centre to be in the lineup tonight. If Bozak can’t play, Eric Fehr will make his Maple Leafs’ debut and Brian Boyle will move up the lineup.
Halverson, 20, was a second round pick (No.59 overall) in 2014 and turned pro this season after spending three years with Sault Ste. Marie (OHL). Halverson has gone 9-14-0 with a 3.40 GAA and .886 SV% in 24 games with Hartford (AHL) and 3-1-0 with a 1.70 GAA and .943 SV% in four games with the Swamp Rabbits. He will serve as Antti Raanta’s backup with Henrik Lundqvist (lower-body) day-to-day.
Nash is battling an upper-body injury, but there is no word when he suffered the injury. With Nash out and Michael Grabner still not ready to play, Matt Puempel will draw into the lineup on Thursday. Nash is day-to-day, so monitor his status leading up to Sunday’s game in Detroit.
Lundqvist tweaked something in the Rangers’ win in Florida on Tuesday. Lundqvist finished the game with 43 saves, but won’t be available for tonight’s game in Carolina. He is listed as day-to-day, so monitor his status leading up to Sunday’s game in Detroit.
Raanta stopped all 38 shots that he faced in the Rangers’ shutout win in overtime on Monday. Henrik Lundqvist has started five of the last six games, but he is out with a lower-body injury, so Raanta will start tonight in Carolina. Raanta is on a three-game winning streak while posting a 1.63 GAA, .954 SV% and one shutout. He has also gone 9-1-0 on the road this season.
Enstrom was crushed from behind by Penguins’ tough guy Tom Sestito and was brought to hospital to get “checked for facial fractures” according to head coach Paul Maurice. Enstrom will likely miss Saturday’s game vs. the Flames.
Vasilevskiy allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Lightnings’ overtime loss to the Rangers on Monday. Since Ben Bishop was traded, Vasilevskiy has gone 3-0-1 while allowing just six goals on 137 shots (.956 SV%). The 22-year-old has been excellent as Tampa Bay’s No.1 and tonight he faces the Wild for the second time—he stopped 37 of 38 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss in the first meeting.
Ward allowed three goals on 21 shots in the Hurricanes’ loss to the Coyotes last Friday. Eddie Lack started the last two games, but it looks like Ward will start tonight vs. the Rangers. Ward is riding a six-game losing streak while posting a 3.21 GAA and .883 SV%. The veteran is also 1-1-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .902 SV% against the Rangers this season.
Andersen gave up two goals on 24 shots in the Maple Leafs’ win over the Red Wings on Tuesday. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Andersen, who will make his 54th start tonight. Andersen has gone 3-2-3 with a 2.48 GAA and .919 SV% in his last eight home starts. He stopped 30 of 33 shots in a 6-3 win in his first start against the Flyers.
Zykov, 21, was a second round pick of the Kings (No. 37 overall) in 2013 and it looks like he could make his NHL debut on Thursday. Zykov has recorded 15 goals and 15 assists (30 points) in 55 games with the Checkers this season. He is expected to play on the Hurricanes’ top line with Jordan Staal and Sebastien Aho.
Hjalmarsson has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury, but will play Thursday vs. the Ducks. Hjalmarsson skated with newcomer Johnny Oduya in practice and is expected to be his partner in Oduya’s Blackhawks re-debut. Hjalmarsson has five goals and nine assists (14 points) in 60 games this season.
Crawford surrendered three goals on 35 shots in the Blackhawks win in Nashville last Saturday. Crawford has won four straight games while posting a 2.46 GAA and .926 SV%. The 32-year-old netminder has been great on home ice, going 13-5-3 with a 2.23 GAA and .928 SV% at the United Center this season. He also made 34 saves in a 3-2 win in Anaheim in his first start vs. the Ducks.
Howard’s conditioning stint stopping 31 of 33 shots in a 5-2 win over Texas on Saturday and posted a 21-save shutout against San Antonio on Tuesday. Howard’s conditioning stint was a success and he should start Friday vs. Chicago or Sunday vs. the Rangers.
Gibson has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury, but he will travel for the Ducks’ back-to-back in Chicago and St. Louis. This is a pretty good indication that he will start one of the games, so monitor his status tomorrow afternoon.
Pickard stopped 25 of 26 shots in Colorado’s win over the Hurricanes’ on Tuesday. It was a great outing for a struggling netminder, who will make his second straight start tonight vs. the Devils. Pickard is 5-9-2 with a 2.79 GAA and .909 SV% at the Pepsi Center this season and New Jersey is 12-16-6 on the road.
Elliott turned aside 33 of 35 shots in the Flames’ win over the Islanders on Sunday. Elliott and the Flames are red-hot heading into tonight’s matchup with Carey Price and the Canadiens. Elliott has won six straight starts while posting an impressive 2.13 GAA and .931 SV%. However, Montreal come in riding a six-game winning streak of their own.
