Head coach Jeff Blashill called Abdelkader a game-time decision, but Abby said that he will play on Thursday. There is no indication as to who will come out of the lineup for Abdelkader.
Niemi allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Stars win over the Jets on Tuesday. Tonight they will wrap up a home-and-home series in Winnipeg, where Niemi will go for his third win of the season. Given his success on Tuesday, you’d like to think Niemi is trust-worthy but he’s had a tough time stringing two strong starts back-to-back during his time in Dallas.
Jones stopped 19 of 20 shots in the Sharks win over the Ducks on Tuesday. It was an easy night for Jones, who snapped a three-game losing streak and now sits at .500 for the year with a 2.54 GAA and .899 SV%. Tonight, Jones will take on a Blue Jackets team that has started the year off at 2-2-1, but are averaging just 2.60 goals per game—24th in the NHL.
Forsling suffered a lower-body injury in Monday’s game and will miss Friday’s game vs. the Devils. Forsling is reportedly doing better and remains day-to-day.
Jooris left Wednesday’s game vs. the Bruins after separating his shoulder in just three minutes of playing time. Jooris could miss up to one month and he will be replaced by Pavel Buchnevich in the lineup on Friday.
Buchnevich has missed the last five games with a back issue, but will be back in the lineup on Friday. Buchnevich has one assist in two NHL games and will take Josh Jooris’ spot in the lineup.
Spezza is expected to miss his second straight game because of an undisclosed injury. Head coach Lindy Ruff said Spezza is “probably ruled out” for tonight’s game vs. Winnipeg.
Crawford allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Blackhawks’s shootout loss to the Flames on Monday. Crawford is 1-3-1 with a 3.02 GAA and .897 SV% in his first five starts of 2016-17. However, he draws a solid matchup on Friday, versus a Devils team that is averaging just 2.17 goals per game (29th in the NHL).
Lundqvist allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Rangers win over the Bruins on Wednesday. Lundqvist has won three straight starts while posting a 2.00 GAA and .930 SV%. Lundqvist is heating up and tonight he faces a Hurricanes team that has just one win in their first six games of 2016-17.
Budaj turned aside 19 of 21 shots in the Kings’ win over the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Don’t look now, but Budaj has won three in a row and has stopped 67 of the 75 shots (.893 SV%) that he’s faced in four appearances. Budaj won’t post great numbers, but he could rack up wins as long as the Kings continue to limit their opponents to 22 shots per game.
Driedger, 22, has gone 1-0-1with a 0.96 GAA and .961 SV% in two AHL starts this season. With Craig Anderson heading back Ottawa to deal with a personal matter, Driedger has been recalled to backup Andrew Hammond over the weekend.
Anderson is coming off of a shutout on Tuesday and was likely in line to start Saturday’s game, but has returned to Ottawa to deal with a personal matter. With Anderson back in Ottawa, look for Andrew Hammond to start over the weekend and Chris Driedger has been recalled from Binghamton (AHL).
Abdelkader took part in the Red Wings’ morning skate and will be a game-time decision on Thursday. Monitor Abdelkader’s status during pre-game warmups at 7:30pm ET. The American-born forward has one goal in five games this season.
Zalewski, 24, picked up one assist in five games with Utica before being recalled ahead of Friday’s game. Zalewski has two assists in five career NHL games.
Tanev will miss his second straight game when the Canucks take on the Oilers on Friday. With Tanev out, Troy Stecher will play for a second consecutive game.
Mrazek allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Red Wings’ 4-2 win over the Hurricanes on Tuesday. Mrazek has won his last three starts while posting a 2.00 GAA and .938 SV%. Mrazek draws a difficult matchup in St. Louis—the Blues have started 4-2-1 and Detroit has been outplayed in all three of their road games this season.
Dubnyk stopped all 27 shots that he faced in the Wild’s shutout win over the Bruins on Tuesday. Dubnyk has won three of his last four starts while posting a 1.75 GAA, .936 SV% and one shutout. Tonight Dubnyk draws a strong road matchup in Buffalo—the Sabres are banged up and come into the game at 1-2-2 while averaging 2.80 goals per game.
Elliott stopped 23 of 24 shots in the Flames’ win in St. Louis on Tuesday. After a rough start to his Flames’ career, Elliott has won two in a row while turning aside 54 of 57 shots (.947 SV%). Elliott has been brilliant this week, but draws a rough matchup vs. the Senators who are averaging 3.33 goals per game.
Schneider allowed three goals on 31 shots in the Devils’ win over the Coyotes on Tuesday. Keith Kinkaid got the nod last night, so Schneider will go tonight vs. the Lightning. Schneider comes into Saturday having won three of his last four while posting a 1.75 GAA and .942 SV%. He’ll be in tough against a Lightning team that has won five of their first seven.
Allen allowed four goals on 27 shots in the Blues’ win in Calgary last Saturday. The win snapped a brief two-game losing streak and now sits at 3-1-1 with a 2.39 GAA and .896 SV%. Allen draws a rough matchup vs. a Red Wings team that has won five in a row while averaging 3.80 goals per game over that stretch.
