Chychrun played just 11:09 in Wednesday’s game vs. the Oilers and will not play tonight vs. the Maple Leafs. The rookie defenseman is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and should be ready to go after the Christmas break.
Pitlick was hurt Monday in St. Louis and will miss the rest of the regular season with a torn ACL. Pitlick scored eight goals in 31 games and showed he was a capable NHL player, but his struggles with injuries continue.
Elliott allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Flames’ win in Arizona on Monday. Elliott has had his struggles this season, but with Chad Johnson losing three in a row while allowing a combined 12 goals, Elliott will start for the second time in three games. The veteran is 1-5-0 with a 3.20 GAA and .891 SV% on the road this season.
Roussel missed Friday’s morning skate because of an undisclosed injury and is listed as doubtful for Friday’s game vs. the Kings. Roussel, who has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 34 games this season, will be replaced by Patrik Nemeth as the Stars go with seven defensemen.
Johns suffered an undisclosed injury in the Stars’ loss to the Blues on Tuesday. It looks like Johns will sit out for the final game before the Christmas break, which means with Jamie Oleksiak or Patrik Nemeth will get back into the lineup. a
Coreau allowed four goals on 36 shots in the Red Wings’ loss in Pittsburgh on December 3rd. Coreau has gone 11-6-0 with a 2.18 GAA and .924 SV% in 17 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) this season. With Jimmy Howard out, Coreau is back with the Red Wings and will start tonight in Florida. The Panthers come in having lost three of their last five.
Bjorkstrand has been a healthy scratch for the last five games, so he will swap places with Dalton Prout, who had reached the end of his conditioning stint. Bjorkstrand has picked up 10 goals and four assists (14 points) in 20 AHL games this season.
Prout had two assists in seven games with Cleveland during his conditioning stint. He returns to the Blue Jackets, where he will likely serve as an extra defenseman.
Andrighetto, 23, has two assists in eight games with the Canadiens this season and 22 points (8G / 14A) in 19 AHL contests. Andrighetto is not expected to be in the lineup on Friday though.
Luongo was scheduled to start tonight, but missed Thursday’s game with some “bumps and bruises” so it remains to be seen if he will still end up starting tonight. He stopped 33 of 36 shots in a win over Buffalo on Tuesday and draws a great matchup against the Red Wings, who he is 2-0-0 with a 0.99 GAA and .953 SV% against this season.
Johnson allowed four goals on 34 shots in the Flames’ loss in San Jose. Despite losing three in a row while allowing four goals in each contest and Brian Elliott winning his last start,, it looks like Johnson will start vs. the Canucks on Friday. He allowed one goal on 31 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss in his first start vs. Vancouver.
Lehtonen allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Stars’ loss in Chicago on December 11th. Antti Niemi started the last four games, but Lehtonen will get the nod tonight vs. the Kings. Lehtonen has gone 2-3-0 with a 2.02 GAA and .921 SV% in December and tonight will be the second time he faces Los Angeles. In the first meeting, he allowed four goals on 39 shots in a 4-3 OT loss.
Howard left Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury and was unable to put any weight on his right leg. An MCL sprain will cost him at least one month, but that is better than what it could have been. With Howard out, the Red Wings will turn back to Petr Mrazek and Jared Coreau until at least late-February.
Holtby allowed two goals on 38 shots in the Capitals’ shootout loss in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Holtby has lost his last two starts despite stopping 59 of 63 shots (.937 SV%). Through his first eight December starts, Holtby has gone 4-2-2 with a 1.85 GAA and .937 SV% and tonight he faces the Lightning for the second time. He stopped 32 of 33 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss on December 3rd.
Greiss allowed two goals on 50 shots in the Islanders win in Boston on Tuesday. It was a masterful outing by Greiss, who now owns a 2.61 GAA and .918 SV% in 13 appearances this season. the Islanders have been rolling with whoever the hot hand is, so Greiss will go tonight vs. the Sabres. Greiss is 5-3-0 with a 2.91 GAA and .905 SV% on home-ice.
Bibeau allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Maple Leafs’ loss to the Avalanche in his only NHL start of the season. During his time with the Marlies, the 22-year-old netminder has gone 7-6-1 with a 2.48 GAA and .910 SV% and could make for a decent spot-start option vs. the Coyotes. Arizona comes in as losers of their last three games.
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%.
