Rask stopped 34 of 35 shots in the Bruins’ win in Winnipeg on Monday. It was an excellent outing for the Finnish netminder, who is now 2-0-0 with a 2.01 GAA and .939 SV% to start the young season. This is exactly the start Rask needed coming off of a disappointing 2015-16 season by his lofty standards. He draws a great matchup tonight vs. the low-scoring Devils.
Mason gave up two goals on 11 shots after replacing Michal Neuvirth in the Flyers’ loss in Chicago on Tuesday. Mason will make his second start of the year tonight in what is the Flyers’ home opener. He’s off to a tough start to the season, but draws a good matchup with the Ducks in town. Anaheim is 0-3-1 and is averaging just 1.75 goals per game so far.
Bishop allowed three goals on 31 shots in the Lightning’s win over the Panthers on Tuesday. Bishop has won each of his first two starts of the year despite allowing seven goals on 63 shots (.889 SV%). Tonight he draws a solid matchup against an Avalanche team that came flying out of the gate but were shutout by Philipp Grubauer on Tuesday.
Betker, 22, was a sixth round pick in 2013 and has never appeared in an NHL game. He has not appeared in an AHL game this season, but had two assists in 14 games with Bakersfield a year ago.
Fayne played just 2:27 TOI in his season debut on Tuesday before leaving the game with an undisclosed injury. With Fayne on IR that opened up a roster spot for the Oilers to recalled Ben Betker from Bakersfield (AHL).
Pulock has not appeared in an NHL game this season and has one assist in two games with Bridgeport. Pulock could draw into the lineup for his season debut on Friday.
The 22-year-old netminder hasn’t appeared in a game this season thanks to a broken hand that he suffered in the World Cup of Hockey, but earned an extension with an excellent postseason, en route to a Stanley Cup. Murray was 9-2-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .930 SV% in 13 regular season starts a season ago. Marc-Andre Fleury is off to a good start to the year, but Murray should rejoin the fold in the next week or so.
Domingue was torched for three goals on 11 shots after replacing an injured Mike Smith in Tuesday’s loss in Ottawa. With Smith sidelined, Domingue will start his first game of the season tonight in Montreal. The Quebec native is 16-21-6 with a 2.80 GAA and .910 SV% in 47 career NHL appearances. Domingue won his only start vs. Montreal last year, stopping 17 of 19 shots.
Lehtera suffered an upper-body injury in the Blues’ win over the Rangers on Saturday. Lehtera’s movement to IR means that Lehtera will miss Thursday’s game in Edmonton, but he is eligible to play on Saturday.
McGinn is eligible to come off of IR and play whenever he is healthy, but remains without a firm timetable for when that will be. He is not with the Coyotes on their road-trip, so they might not get him in the lineup until after they return home at the end of the month.
Markstrom allowed one goal on 24 shots in the Canucks’ overtime win over the Blues on Tuesday. Markstrom has won each of his first two starts while stopping 42 of 46 shots (.913 SV%). With Ryan Miller still a nicked up, Markstrom will make his third consecutive start tonight vs. the Sabres. A banged up Buffalo team presents a good matchup for Markstrom.
Hutchinson surrendered four goals on 31 shots in the Jets’ loss in Minnesota on Saturday. The Jets’ netminders have split the first three games of the season and the rotation will continue tonight with Hutchinson facing the Maple Leafs. Toronto has scored four goals in each of their first two games, making Hutchinson look like a risky start.
Peters, 30, has appeared in one AHL games this season, he allowed five goals on 43 shots (.884 SV%), but has been recalled to serve as Louis Domingue’s backup while Mike Smith is sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Smith left Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury, but is reportedly up and walking around and the Coyotes are just awaiting test results before they can determine how long he will be out. With Smith sidelined, Louis Domingue becomes the Coyotes’ starter and Justin Peters has been recalled from Tucson (AHL).
Quick will undergo a non-surgical procedure, but will about three months with a groin injury according to GM Dean Lombardi. The Kings will likely bring a goalie in from another team because Jeff Zatkoff proved he is not the answer in his two starts since Quick got injured.
Raffl was injured in the Flyers’ loss to the Blackhawks on Tuesday and could miss up to two weeks. Thankfully for the Flyers, Brayden Schenn has served his suspension and can take Raffl’s spot on the top line.
Letang left Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury and did not return. The Penguins did not give much of an update on Letang, other than to call him day-to-day. Letang has had a difficult time staying healthy throughout his career, so add this to a lengthy list. Monitor his status during Thursday’s morning skate.
Bergeron missed the first three games of the season, but was skating between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak at Wednesday’s practice and is “on track to play tomorrow” according to head coach Claude Julien. With Bergeron back, David Backes will move to the wing on the second line.
Price reportedly lost five-to-seven lbs. because of the flu, but he is feeling better and hopes to make his season debut on Thursday. Monitor Price’s status during the Canadiens’ morning skate for confirmation that he will start.
Petr Mrazek started the first three games of the season, but Howard will make his season debut tonight in New York. Howard was 14-14-5 with a 2.80 GAA and .906 SV% in 37 games last year. Howard has played great vs. the Rangers over the last three seasons, going 2-3-2 with a 1.84 GAA and .945 SV%.
