Scheifele finished the morning skate without a hitch, but news has emerged that he will be a game-time decision tonight. There's no word on what is ailing the start centre, but be sure to monitor his status during pregame warmups.
Hutchinson stopped all four shots that he faced after replacing Connor Hellebuyck in the Jets’ loss to the Oilers on Thursday. Hellebuyck has started the majroiry of games recently, but Hutchinson will get a chance tonight in St. Louis. The Blues enter having won seven of their last eight.
Talbot gave up three goals on 25 shots in the Oilers win in Winnipeg on Thursday. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Talbot, who is tied for fourth in the NHL with 12 wins on the season. Talbot surrendered four goals on 27 shots in a 4-1 loss in his first start vs. the Ducks.
Gibson allowed a single goal on 28 shots in the Ducks win in Vancouver on Thursday. Gibson has been great in his last two games, stopping 66 of 68 shots (.971 SV%) to earn back-to-back victories. In his first start vs. the Oilers, Gibson stopped 33 of 34 shots in a 4-1 win.
Crawford was schedule to start Saturday’s game in Philadelphia but was forced to undergo an emergency appendectomy and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. Scott Darling will take over as the Blackhawks’ No.1 netminder.
Sharp suffered an undisclosed injury on Thursday and will not play on Sunday. He has been moved to IR retroactive to December 1st.
Lehtonen gave up two goals on 19 shots in the Stars’ loss in Detroit on Tuesday. Lehtonen has a 3.28 GAA and .885 SV% in 14 games this season and just isn’t a reliable fantasy option. However, he draws a strong matchup tonight against an Avalanche team that has lost four consecutive games.
Rinne allowed three goals on 40 shots in the Predators win in Colorado on Tuesday. Rinne has won four straight starts while posting a 1.75 GAA and .943 SV%. Rinne has been lights out recently and he draws a good matchup vs. the Devils—Rinne is 7-1-1 with a 1.33 GAA and .953 SV% on home ice this season.
Nurse is expected to be out long-term with a lower-body injury. This is a big blow to the Oilers’ blueline and thrusts Matt Benning into bigger role. With Nurse out, the Oilers have recalled Dillon Simpson from Bakersfield (AHL).
Boucher has appeared in just nine games with the Devils this season. Boucher has been an accomplished scorer at lower levels, including 32 points (19G / 13A) in 34 games with Albany (AHL) last year.
Lindholm will not play this afternoon in New York because of a lower-body injury. Andrej Nestrasil will replace Lindholm in the lineup. Consider him as day-to-day.
Mason allowed two goals on 21 shots in the Flyers’ win in Ottawa. Mason has won three of his last five starts while allowing a combined 12 goals on 159 shots (.925 SV%). Mason has gone 5-4-2 with a 2.73 GAA and .904 SV% on home ice this season.
Rask allowed two goals on 21 shots in the Bruins’ shootout loss in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Rask has lost three of his last four starts while posting a 2.24 GAA and .914 SV%. Tonight he will start today in Buffalo—Rask is 7-2-1 with a 1.48 GAA and .947 SV% on the road this season.
Leighton allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Hurricanes’ win over the Panthers on November 27th. It was a surprising performance by the veteran netminder, who has spent the majority of his career in the AHL. Despite a solid first start, Leighton draws a brutal matchup vs. the Rangers.
Luongo gave up one goal on 21 shots in the Panthers’ overtime win in Detroit on Thursday. Luongo is heating up—he has gone 6-1-1 with a 1.57 GAA and .948 SV% in his last eight starts and tonight he faces the Senators for the second time this season. He stopped 39 of 40 shots in a 4-1 win in the first meeting.
Manning has missed the last three games with a concussion, but he will replace Radko Gudas (illness) in the lineup on Saturday. Manning has nine points (3G / 6A) in 21 games this season.
Gudas will be scratched from Saturday’s game vs. the Blackhawks because of an illness. Brandon Manning is expected to return from an injury to replace Gudas, who should be considered day-to-day.
Kunitz has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury, but took part in the Penguins’ morning skate and could be in the lineup tonight vs. the Red Wings. Kunitz skated with Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel this morning and enters play with 11 points (2G / 9A) in 18 games this season.
Coreau, 25, is a 6-foot-6 undrafted netminder who has played very well in the American Hockey League. Coreau was 29-15-2 in 47 games with Grand Rapids last season and has gone 8-5-0 with a 2.39 GAA and .923 SV% in 13 games this season. He will be in tough in his NHL debut in Pittsburgh.
Holtby gave up three goals on 28 shots in the Capitals’ loss to the Islanders on Thursday. All of a sudden, Holtby has lost two straight while giving up a combined seven goals on 65 shots (.892 SV%). Holtby has gone 4-2-1 with a 2.40 GAA and .924 SV% in seven starts on the road this season.
