Burmistrov was a healthy scratch in the Jets’ season opener on Thursday, but it looks like he will draw in on Saturday after it was announced that fellow centre, Bryan Little is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. Burmistrov centred the third line with Shawn Matthias and Nikolaj Ehlers on his wing in Friday’s session. The 24-year-old had just 21 points (7G / 14A) in 81 games last year.
Sergachev made his NHL debut on Thursday, blocking two shots in 11:48 of ice time. With Jeff Petry (knee) expected to return to the lineup on Saturday, it looks like it will be the rookie Sergachev who will sit. If he can’t work his way back into the lineup, look for the Canadiens to send him back to the Windsor Spitfires (OHL).
Petry travelled with the team but didn’t play on Thursday, but he was back at practice on Friday and should be in the lineup on Saturday. Petry was practicing with Andrei Markov and will bump rookie Mikhail Sergachev from the lineup. Petry had 16 points (5G / 11A) in 51 games a season ago.
Rakell missed the first game of the season because of a contract holdout, but the Ducks were able to sign him to a six-year deal this afternoon. Rakell is imperative to the Ducks success as their second/third line centre. He is coming off of a career-year, having scored 20 goals with 23 assists (43 points) in 72 games.
Michal Neuvirth started the Flyers’ season opener on Friday, leaving Mason for tonight’s game in Arizona. A season ago, Mason was 23-19-10 with a 2.51 GAA and .918 SV% and is a solid start more often than not. Tonight he faces an Arizona team that he lost to last year. They are an extremely young team, so it’s hard to know what to expect from them. However you can do worse than Mason tonight.
Neuvirth played very well during the 2015-16 season, winning 18 of his 32 games while posting a 2.27 GAA and .924 SV%. He outplayed starter Steve Mason, but played 22 fewer games. The Flyers start the 2016-17 season with a back-to-back, so Neuvirth will go tonight with Mason playing tomorrow in Arizona. Neuvirth makes for a nice start as he takes on a Kings team who is without Tanner Perason and goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Little suffered the injury in the first period of the Jets' season opener on Thursday and will be out long-term. This is a tough break for the Jets' second line centre, who has missed 37 games over the last two years and finished last season on IR. Alex Burmistrov is expected to draw into the lineup for Little after serving as a healthy scratch yesterday. This will also elevate Mathieu Perreault to the second line.
Talbot allowed four goals on 41 shots in the Oilers win over the Flames on Wednesday. It wasn’t Talbot’s best showing or an ideal start to the season, but it was enough for him to secure his first victory of the year. The Flames were extremely sloppy defensively which led to seven Oilers’ goals. He will see Calgary again tonight, this time on the road. He was 9-11-5 with a 2.55 GAA and .919 SV% on the road a season ago.
Kane was brought to hospital for precautionary reasons after crashing into the end boards last night. Further evaluation revealed that Kane cracked three ribs and he will be out for “weeks” according to head coach Dan Bylsma. This is a tough blow for the Sabres, who will already be without Jack Eichel for what appears to be 6-8 weeks.
Kulikov missed the Sabres’ season opener on Thursday but was on the ice for practice on Friday and is encouraged that he will be able to play on Sunday. Kulikov was skating on the third pair with Cody Franson.
After missing Thursday’s season opener, Okposo was on the ice on Friday and is encouraged that he will be in the lineup on Sunday. Okposo said that his knee swelled to the size of a beach ball—I don’t believe him—but it looks like he will be in the lineup in Edmonton this weekend. This is big news for a Sabres team that has already lost Jack Eichel and Evander Kane.
Jake Allen started the Blues’ first two games, but they will turn to Hutton for his Blues’ debut tonight. The 30-year-old netminder has gone 33-24-12 with a 2.56 GAA and .910 SV% in 76 career NHL games with the Predators (75) and Blackhawks (1). He draws a tough matchup in his debut with the Rangers in town.
The oft-injured Blue Jackets’ defenseman was injured while blocking a shot in the season opener and likely won’t play vs. the Sharks on Saturday. With Scott Harrington being sent on a conditioning stint, expect Dalton Prout to replace Murray in the lineup.
Rinne had a tremendous 2014-15 season, winning 41 games with a GAA under 2.20 and SV% above .920, but he struggled last year with a 2.48 GAA and .908 SV%. He used to be considered an elite goaltender, but that depiction has taken a hit in recent years, but he remains an above-average goalie at the very least. This year he will play behind one of the deepest lineups in the NHL and should easily top 30 wins with splits comparable to his career averages (2.37 GAA / .917 SV%).
Crawford allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Blackhawks’ opening night loss to the Blues. There are going to be growing pains for the Blackhawks this season as they transition to a lineup with multiple first-year NHL players. Crawford was busy on Wednesday and there’s a strong chance that will be the case against tonight in Nashville. The Predators are an extremely talented and deep team heading into 2016-17.
Hjalmarsson was handed a three-game suspension for his preseason hit on Blues’ forward Ty Rattie, but only missed one regular season game. He returns to the Blackhawks blueline tonight and will be paired with Duncan Keith.
Hunwick only played 2:11 in the Maple Leafs’ opener after being crushed by Senators’ forward Chris Neil in the first period. Hunwick’s face was cut on the hit and he never returned to the game. He was in practice on Friday and said he was good-to-go, but head coach Mike Babcock said that they will see where Hunwick is at on Saturday.
Motte picked up one assist in 12:16 in his NHL debut on Wednesday and will be rewarded by being bumped up to the second line tonight. In the Blackhawks’ morning skate, Motte skated with Kane in Anisimov, a spot usually reserved for Artemi Panarin, who was moved to the top line with Jonathan Toews. Marian Hossa was bumped out of the top-6—this is a look the Hawks gave in the preseason, let’s see how it works out in Nashville tonight.
Elliott was torched for six goals on 27 shots in his Flames’ debut on Wednesday. The Flames went on to lose 7-4 to the Oilers, but it can’t be pinned on Elliott. Calgary left their netminder hung out to dry on multiple occasions and one goal was a Connor McDavid penalty shot. With the same opponent tonight, Elliott looks like a risky start, but the Flames should be better in front of him in this one—they frankly can’t be worse.
