Boucher failed to record a point in three games with Vancouver earlier this year, but leads the Comets in that category with 41 (22G / 19A) in 38 games this season. He is expected to replace Brendan Gaunce tonight.
Dowd came out for Sam Gagner on Tuesday, but with Gagner back in Vancouver with a sprained ankle, Dowd will return tonight in Tampa Bay. Dowd has just two points (1G / 1A) in 36 games with the Kings/Canucks this season.
With a handful of forwards hurt and Alex Burrows suspended for the next 10 games, Blunden will play his first NHL game of the season. The 31-year-old has 126 games of NHL experience, but has registered a measly 13 points (7G / 6A).
Brassard will miss his second straight game with an undisclosed injury. The Senators have not said a lot about Brassard’s injury, but he was possible for tonight’s game on Wednesday, so that suggests it is minor and that he could be back on Saturday.
After sitting for the first couple of games of his call-up, the 21-year-old is ready to play tonight vs. the Flames. Quenneville has 10 goals and 11 assists (21 points) in 31 games with Binghamton (AHL) this season. He will replace with Mirco Mueller as the 12th forward or Brian Boyle (personal) as the 11th forward depending on Boyle’s status at game time.
Leier was in the lineup for the last three games, recording one assist, but will go back to being a scratch tonight vs. the Canadiens. Leier will be replaced by Dale Weise, who draws in for the first time since January 4th.
Weise will be drawing into the Flyers lineup for the first time since January 4th. Weise will replace Taylor Leier in the lineup and comes in with just six points (4G / 2A) in 34 games this season.
Kinkaid was pulled after he allowed four goals on 20 shots in the Devils loss in Ottawa on Tuesday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Kinkaid, who will make his fifth straight start tonight vs. the Flames. In his first start vs. the Flames, Kinkaid allowed four goals on 34 shots in a 5-4 shootout loss in early-November.
Nilsson allowed one goal on 36 shots in the Canucks loss in Winnipeg on January 21st. Jacob Markstrom has started the last six games, but Nilsson will get back between the pipes tonight. The 27-year-old has not recorded a win since November 30th and has posted an ugly 4.38 GAA and .887 SV% in his last seven appearance.
Erne, who appeared in 26 games with the Lightning last year, has collected 12 goals and 14 assists (26 points) in 41 games with the Crunch this season. Erne will look to follow in the footsteps of fellow Crunch alumni Yanni Gourde and Matthew Peca, who have played well this year. He’ll debut on a line with Vladislav Namestnikov and Cory Conacher.
Stone will miss his ninth consecutive game with a knee injury despite talking about potentially retuning tonight vs. the Predators. Monitor his status heading into Saturday’s game in Toronto.
Dubnyk allowed two goals on 37 shots in the Wild’s win in St. Louis on Tuesday. Dubnyk has won three of his last four outings while posting a 3.05 GAA and .901 SV%. The 31-year-old is an impressive 13-2-3 with a 2.13 GAA and .930 SV% on home ice this season and is a must-start with the 12-32-9 Coyotes in town.
Demers has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury, but is ready to go in Minnesota. Demers has had a solid season, posting numbers similar to what he had with the Stars and Panthers. The 29-year-old is also playing a career-high 21:46 TOI/GM in his first year with the Coyotes.
McCabe was hurt against Anaheim and did not return on Tuesday and will miss at least three games after undergoing thumb surgery this week. There’s no word how McCabe suffered the injury, but he recorded three blocked shots on Tuesday, so you have to think one of those shots did the damage.
Elliott allowed one goal on 28 shots in the Flyers’ overtime win in Carolina on Tuesday. IT was a nice return to the crease for Elliott, who has won three in a row while posting a 1.29 GAA and .948 SV%. He draws a great matchup tonight with the Canadiens in town—he is 9-5-3 with a 2.92 GAA and .896 SV% on home ice this season.
Lehner allowed four goals on 33 shots in the Sabres loss to the Ducks on Tuesday. Lehner has now lost three straight while allowing seven goals on 93 shots (.925 SV%). Lehner has had a tough campaign and has gone 0-1-1 with a 4.78 GAA and .860 SV% in his first two starts against the Islanders this season.
