Vasilevskiy stopped all 34 shots that he faced in the Lightning’s shutout win over the Islanders on Monday. Vasilevskiy has won his last two starts while turning aside 65 of 66 shots (.985 SV%). This afternoon he faces a Flyers team that has lost four of their last six games.
Hertl has returned to San Jose and will miss Saturday’s game and possibly more depending on the result of his MRI. With Hertl out, Michael Haley will draw into the lineup and rookie Kevin LaBanc will skate on the top-line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski.
Because of the early start in Arizona tonight, the Sharks have elected not to hold a morning skate, which means we won’t know who their starting goalie is until later. They may announce their starter when they get to the rink around 6 p.m. ET or we may have to wait until warmups (7:30 p.m. ET).
Dvorak has bounced around from the NHL and AHL so far this season, but has yet to appear in a game with Tucson (AHL). In 12 games with the Coyotes, he has one goal and four assists (five points) and will draw back onto the second line tonight with Brad Richardson (leg) out indefinitely.
Hutchinson allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Jets’ loss in Colorado on November 11th. Connor Hellebuyck hast started the last three games, but Hutchinson will go tonight in Boston. He carries a 3.15 GAA and .896 SV% into tonight’s matchup with one of the NHL’s hottest goaltenders.
Kristo, 26, was a second round pick in 2008, but has never made it to the NHL. The American-born winger has collected two assists in eight games with Chicago (AHL) this season and will report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
McNeill, 24, was a sixth round pick (170th overall) in 2010 and has never appeared in an NHL game. The 6-foot-4, 215 lbs. defenseman has one goal and one assist in 14 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season and will report to Chicago (AHL).
Allen allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Blues’ win over the Sharks on Thursday. Allen has won his last two starts while stopping 52 of 55 shots (.946 SV%). He’ll get the nod against a surging Predators team—Nashville has won four of their last five while averaging 3.60 goals per game.
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.
