Khudobin has not appeared in a game since October 22nd because of an upper-body injury, but he has been cleared to start Saturday with Providence. He will likely make one start before returning as Tuukka Rask’s backup.
Ryan was hurt in the Senators’ loss to Nashville on Thursday. With Ryan sidelined, the Senators have recalled Curtis Lazar from Binghamton (AHL) and he will draw into the lineup. Consider Ryan as day-to-day.
Hoffman took part in the Senators’ optional morning skate, but he remains doubtful to play vs. the Panthers. With Hoffman likely out, Max McCormick will remain in the lineup for the second straight game.
Pastrnak continues to battle an upper-body injury and will miss a second straight game. With Pastrnak sidelined, Riley Nash will skate on the Bruins’ top line again. Pastrnak is considered day-to-day.
Eller played just one shift in Friday’s shutout win over the Red Wings. He left with what the Capitals are now describing as an upper-body injury. There’s no word on how Eller got hurt, but it sounds like it will keep him sidelined for at least a few weeks.
Oshie played just 2:34 before leaving Friday’s win in Detroit. Oshie was hurt in an attempt to hit Red Wings’ forward Riley Sheahan and it sounds like the upper-body injury will keep Oshie sidelined for at least a couple of weeks.
Lehtonen allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Stars’ win over the Avalanche on Thursday. Lehtonen has won three of his last four games while allowing a combined 11 goals on 137 shots (.934 SV%). Tonight it looks like he will take on an Oilers team that has dropped five consecutive games.
Dubnyk stopped all 25 shots that he faced in the Wild’ shutout win over the Bruins on Thursday. Dubnyk has gone just 2-4-0 in November despite posting a phenomenal 1.52 GAA and .951 SV%. Tonight he will make his second start of the year vs. Colorado—he stopped 31 of 32 shots in a 1-0 loss in their first meeting.
Rask allowed one goal on 29 shots in the Bruins’ 1-0 loss in Minnesota on Thursday. Rask held a shutout late into Saturday’s game, but was unable to hold onto it. Rask has emerged as a high-end option again this season, winning 10 of his first 12 starts with an amazing 1.49 GAA and .947 SV%. He is a must-start every night.
Andrighetto was a healthy scratch on Friday and failed to record a point in four games with the Canadiens. The 23-year-old returns to St. John’s, where he has 11 points (5G /6A) in 10 games this season.
Nilsson allowed two goals on 43 shots in the Sabres’ overtime loss to New Jersey on November 11th. Nilsson has impressed in his first four starts with the Sabres—he has gone 1-1-2 with a1.96 GAA and .942 SV% so far, but will be in tough tonight against a Penguins team that has won four of their last six.
Andersen allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Maple Leafs’ 6-1 win over the Panthers’ on Thursday. Andersen went from being awful to awesome in a short period of time. The 27-year-old is 6-2-0 with a 2.68 GAA and .930 SV% in November, but will be in tough as he goes head-to-head with Carey Price tonight.
Nilsson allowed two goals on 43 shots in the Sabres’ overtime loss to New Jersey on November 11th. Nilsson has impressed in his first four starts with the Sabres—he has gone 1-1-2 with a1.96 GAA and .942 SV% so far, but will be in tough tonight against a Penguins team that has won four of their last six.
Schneider, 26, has been great in the AHL this season, picking up 17 points (7G / 10A) in 13 games with Rochester. Schneider has one assist in two games with the Sabres and tonight he is expected to appear in his third NHL game of the season.
O’Reilly, 30, has picked up 18 points (3G / 15A) in 15 games with Rochester this season. With some Sabres forwards banged up, including his brother Ryan, Cal has been recalled and is expected to make his season debut on Saturday. O’Reilly had seven points (3G / 4A) in 20 games with Buffalo last season.
Petrovic was hurt in the Panthers’ win in Montreal on Tuesday. He missed Thursday’s game in Toronto and was moved to IR on Friday so the Panthers’ could recall Jakub Kindl to join them on their road-trip.
Kindl has registered seven points (1G / 6A) in 13 games with Springfield this season. He has been called-up to serve as the Panthers’ seventh defenseman with Alex Petrovic out. Kindl had two assists in 19 games with the Panthers a season ago.
Lazar has spent the start of the year in Binghamton, where he collected three goals and one assist in 13 games. Lazar’s return to the NHL means the Senators are concerned that they could be without Mike Hoffman and Bobby Ryan on Saturday.
Richardson was injured in a collision with Canucks’ defenseman Nikita Tryamkin in Thursday’s win over Vancouver. Richardson had to be stretchered off of the ice and underwent surgery to repair the broken bones on Friday. The Coyotes have not ruled out a possible return to the lineup this season, but expect Dylan Strome to step back into the lineup with Richardson out.
Smith gave up two goals on 24 shots in the Coyotes’ loss in Calgary on Wednesday. It was a strong return to the crease for Smith, who missed 12 games with a lower-body injury. Tonight he faces a Sharks team that has surprisingly struggled this season—they come in ranked 25th in the NHL in scoring (2.29 G/PG).
