Pastrnak has missed the last two games after undergoing an elbow procedure, but is surprisingly expected to return to the lineup tonight. Pastrnak has been great this season, scoring 19 goals with seven assists (26 points) in 27 games. He will skate with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
Bobrovsky allowed three goal on 17 shots in the Blue Jackets’ win in Vancouver on Sunday. Bobrovsky has won eight consecutive starts while posting a 1.50 GAA and .941 SV%. The 28-year-old has been outstanding in 2016-17, but draws a tough matchup against a Penguins team that has gone 8-0-2 while averaging 4.70 goals for per game in their last 10.
Rask was yanked after he allowed three goals on 13 shots in the Bruins’ loss to the Islanders on Tuesday. It was a rough outing for Rask, who is now 4-2-2 with a 2.51 GAA and .907 SV% in eight December starts. Tonight will be his third start vs. the Panthers—in the first two, he has gone 2-0-0 with a 1.98 GAA and .938 SV%.
Murray allowed just two goals on 28 shots in the Penguins’ 7-2 win over the Rangers on Tuesday. The 22-year-old has gone 6-0-1 with a 1.63 GAA and .947 SV% in December, but draws a stiff test tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. Columbus comes into play on a 10-game winning streak and possess the NHL’s top power play.
Schneider surrendered five goals on 32 shots in the Devils’ 5-1 loss to the Predators on Tuesday. Schneider has lost five in a row while posting an terrible 4.16 GAA and .876 SV%. It has been a rough season for Schneider, who will face the Flyers tonight. Philadelphia has been great as of late and the way Schneider is struggling…look elsewhere tonight.
Hammond suffered the injury early in the Senators’ win in Brooklyn on Sunday and will miss at least a few weeks. The Senators have recalled Matt O’Connor from Binghamton (AHL) to serve as Mike Condon’s backup until either Craig Anderson (personal) returns or Hammond is healthy.
Stone missed the Senators' morning skate because of an illness and will be a game-time decision vs. the Ducks. Monitor Stone's status when the Senators hit the ice for warmups at 7:00 pm ET.
Palat was on the ice for the Lightning's morning skate, but will miss his fourth consecutive game with an undisclosed. His availability for the morning skate is a good sign that he should be available after the Christmas break.
Condon allowed three goals on 26 shots in the Senators’ win in Chicago on Tuesday. Condon has won three in a row while registering a 2.21 GAA and .925 SV%. Condon has gone 7-3-2 with a 2.38 GAA and .919 SV% since being acquired by the Senators. Tonight he will take on the Ducks for the second time—he was pulled in the first meeting after allowing three goals on 13 shots.
Dubnyk stopped all 18 shots in the Wild’s shutout win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. Dubnyk has won seven straight games while posting a 1.26 GAA, .955 SV% and one shutout. Dubnyk leads the NHL in GAA (1.55), SV% (.948), shutouts (5) and is tied for fifth in wins (16). It has been an outstanding season and Dubnyk is a must-start whenever he gets the nod.
Roberto Luongo is dealing with an undisclosed injury, so McKenna has been recalled to serve as James Reimer's backup on Thursday. The 33-year-old has gone 4-6-0 with a 3.10 GAA and .894 SV% in 13 AHL games.
Luongo is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, so Mike McKenna has been recalled from Springfield (AHL) to serve as James Reimer’s backup. Luongo was scheduled to start on Friday, but his status is in question now.
Smith will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury, so they moved him to IR to crease a roster spot to recalled Byron Froese. Smith won’t be back until after the Christmas break.
Froese, 25, has scored 12 goals and five assists (17 points) in 26 games with the Marlies. Froese appeared in 56 games with he Maple Leafs last season and he is expected to make his season debut tonight vs. the Avalanche.
Lehner allowed three goals on 39 shots in the Sabres’ shootout loss in Florida on Tuesday. The 25-year-old has gone 2-2-2 with a 2.63 GAA and .920 SV% in six December starts. Tonight he’ll face the Hurricanes on home-ice, where he has gone 3-5-2 with a 2.38 GAA and .921 SV% this season. The Hurricanes are averaging 2.58 goals per game (16th) this season.
Leighton played OK when he was called upon during Eddie Lack’s 14-game absence with a concussion. With Lack activated from IR yesterday, Leighton returns to the AHL, where he has gone 7-2-0 with a 1.80 GAA and .933 SV% in 12 games.
Lack has missed the last 14 games with a concussion, but will return as Cam Ward’s backup on Thursday. With Lack back, there’s a chance that he could draw the final start before the Christmas break on the second game of a back-to-back tomorrow vs. the Bruins. The 28-year-old is 1-2-1 with a 3.79 GAA and .856 SV% on the season.
Couturier has been sidelined with a sprained MCL but has been working out on the ice recently and expects to be back after the Christmas break and before the New Year kicks in. Couturier’s two-way game will help a Flyers team that is already playing very well. He scored five goals with three assists (eight points) in 20 games before getting hurt.
Bournival, 24, has no points in three games with the Lightning, but has collected 13 points (5G / 8A) in 24 games with Syracuse this season. His recall suggests the Lightning may have someone banged up and questionable for Thursday’s game.
