Howard was pulled after allowing five goals on 26 shots in the Bruins 5-2 loss to the Bruins on Thursday. Howard has gone 4-2-0 with a 2.39 GAA, .914 SV% and one shutout in the Red Wings last six games and today he starts a must-win in New York. He stopped 29 of 30 shots in an OT loss in his first game vs. the Rangers and New York comes in shorthanded this afternoon.
Abdelkader left Thursday’s game with a lower-body injury and did not return. He left early in the third period when the game was out of reach, so it could have been a precautionary measure taken by the Red Wings’ medical staff.
Zacha, 19, was the Devils first round pick (6th overall) in 2015 and has finished up his second season with Sarnia. In 51 regular season games he collected 64 points (28G / 36A) and 13 points (6G / 7A) in seven playoff games. Look for him to make his NHL debut in the Devils’ season finale.
Girardi suffered an upper-body injury on Tuesday and missed Thursday’s game vs. the Islanders. With the Rangers having little to nothing to play for in Saturday’s game, expect him to sit out in an attempt to be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs.
Dickinson, 20, scored his first career NHL goal in his NHL debut on Thursday. With some of the Stars’ forwards returning to health, Dickinson returns to Texas, where he has 50 points (20G / 30A) in 69 games this season.
Andersson, 27, has split his time between the Red Wings and the Griffins this season. He has just three points (1G / 2A) in 28 games with Detroit and three goals, two assists in 19 games with Grand Rapids. There’s no word if his recall is injury related or if the Red Wings are looking to get a more defensive minded player on their fourth line in Saturday’s season finale.
Rodrigues, 22, was 28 points (9G / 19A) in 68 games in his first professional hockey season. He spent four years at Boston University before going to the Rochester Americans this season.
Schneider, 25, was an undrafted free agent that was acquired in an AHL trade with Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline. The 6-foot-1 right winger has registered 12 points (3G / 9A) in 15 games with Rochester since the trade and has 20 goals and 34 assists (54 points) in 69 AHL games between Rochester and Binghamton.
Hammond allowed four goals on 27 shots in the Senators loss to the Penguins on Tuesday. Craig Anderson started on Thursday, but Hammond will close out the Senators’ season today vs. the Bruins. After bursting on the scene in 2014-15, Hammond has limped to a 6-11-4 record, 2.72 GAA and .911 SV% in 2015-16.
O’Reilly suited up in the last four games, but will come out of the lineup after playing under 10 minutes in his last two games. O’Reilly picked up two goals and an assist in the last four games, but will come out for Evan Rodrigues tonight.
Fasching has appeared in six consecutive straight games, but will be a healthy scratch vs. the Blue Jackets this evening. He has collected one goal on nine shots on goal to start his NHL career. He will be replaced by Cole Schneider, who will be making his NHL debut.
Nelson played in six straight games, picking up four helpers to start his NHL career. Tonight he will come out of the lineup in favour of Carlo Colaiacovo.
Colaiacovo has been a healthy scratch in the last six games, but will get back into the lineup on Friday. Casey Nelson will take a seat in the press box with Colaiacovo back in the lineup. He has one goal and four assists in 34 games this season.
Lee was hit by a Johnny Boychuk slap shot in Thursday’s win over the Rangers. This is a terrible injury for the Islanders, who are already without key members in Jaroslav Halak and Travis Hamonic.
Kasdorf, 23, is with the Sabres after finishing up his season with R.P.I. (NCAA). The former sixth round pick of the Winnipeg Jets was 12-12-5 with a 2.30 GAA and .931 SV% in 30 games with R.P.I. and will make his NHL debut tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. Columbus comes in having lost five of their last seven games.
Korpisalo allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Blue Jackets loss to the Rangers on Monday. Korpisalo has lost three of his last four starts while posting a 2.79 GAA and .913 SV%. Tonight he will face the Sabres, who he is 0-1-0 against, on the road where he has gone 6-7-1 with a 2.83 GAA and .913 SV% this season.
Miller allowed two goals on 42 shots in the Canucks win over the Kings on Monday. He has won his last two starts while stopping 72 of 76 shots (.947 SV%). He has faced the Flames on three separate occasions this season—he has gone 1-1-1 with a 1.99 GAA and .938 SV% in the those meetings. The 35-year-old has gone 8-10-5 in 24 starts on the road this year.
Lehtonen allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Stars win in Los Angeles on Saturday night. Lehtonen has won five of his last six games while posting a 2.01 GAA, .927 SV% and one shutout. Tonight he faces an Avalanche team that has lost four in a row. Lehtonen is 12-6-0 with a 2.82 GAA and .900 SV% on home ice this season.
Rinne allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Predators win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. The win snapped three-game losing streak for Rinne, who will start his 66th game of the year. He is 21-9-5 with a 2.30 GAA and .913 SV% on home ice. Tonight he will take on a Coyotes team that has lost four of their last five games while averaging just 2.00 goals per game.
