Quick went 9-7-2 in March and April, so he doesn’t come into the playoffs very hot. The 30-year-old has struggled against the Sharks this season, losing each of the three starts while posting an ugly 4.40 GAA and .845 SV% in three regular season meetings. Despite his lack of success vs. the Sharks, the playoffs is where Quick plays best. He has an impressive 45-31 playoff record while posting a 2.22 GAA, .911 SV% and nine shutouts.
Jones was pushed by James Reimer down the stretch, but will start Game 1 against his former team. Jones ranked third in the NHL in wins (37) this season while posting a 2.27 GAA, .918 SV% and six shutouts. He started five games against the Kings, going 3-1-1 with a 2.57 GAA and .913 SV%. He has appeared in two NHL playoff games, but this will be his first career playoff start.
Lehtonen won his last three starts prior to the playoffs and finished the season with 25 wins, a 2.76 GAA And .906 SV% on the year. He was 2-0-0 with a 3.13 GAA and .897 SV% in three starts against the Wild. He has struggled in the playoffs in his career, going 2-6 with a 3.88 GAA and .874 SV% in eight career playoffs starts.
Dubnyk stumbled down the stretch, losing four straight games entering the playoffs. It was certainly not the way he wanted to back into the playoffs, especially with Zach Parise sidelined for the Wild. Dubnyk has gone 59-35-8 in 105 regular season starts with the Wild. Three of those starts came against the Stars this season—he was 1-1-1 with a 2.64 GAA and .922 SV% in those contests.
Stars head coach Lindy Ruff said if it were game seven that Seguin would likely be in the lineup tonight, but he will sit out of game one because he needs more practice time. Despite missing tonight’s contest it looks like the 24-year-old will be in the lineup for Game 2 on Saturday.
Berube has missed the last five games of the regular season, but will return as Thomas Greiss’ backup in Game 1 vs. the Panthers. The 24-year-old went 3-2-1 with a 2.71 GAA and .914 SV% in six starts and one relief appearance in the NHL this season.
Lehtonen won his last three starts prior to the playoffs and finished the season with 25 wins, a 2.76 GAA And .906 SV% on the year. He was 2-0-0 with a 3.13 GAA and .897 SV% in three starts against the Wild. He has struggled in the playoffs in his career, going 2-6 with a 3.88 GAA and .874 SV% in eight career playoffs starts.
Hamonic missed the final six games of the regular season with a knee injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday. Hamonic, who plays very well at both ends of the rink, has picked up 21 points (5G / 16A) in 72 game this season.
Greiss won four of his last five regular season starts and finished the year at 23-11-4 with a 2.36 GAA and .925 SV%. He had a strong year as the Islanders’ backup, but has been the starter since early March when Jaroslav Halak went down with a lower-body injury. Tonight will be his first career NHL playoff start and it comes in Florida—Greiss was 9-7-1 with a 2.55 GAA and .924 SV% on the road this season.
Mason lost three of his final four regular season starts and finished the season with a 23-19-10 record, 2.51 GAA and .918 SV%. The 27-year-old has gone 1-2-0 with a 2.94 GAA and .902 SV% in three starts against the Flyers’ first round opponent this season. He has only made eight career playoff starts, going 2-6-0 with a 3.11 GAA and a .907 SV% in those starts.
McDonagh missed the final three games of the regular season and game one. He will sit out at least one more game with a small fracture in his right hand. The Rangers could be playing an important game two without their top defenseman and goaltender.
Luongo won his final three starts of the regular season and had a great year for a 37-year-old netminder. The veteran went 35-19-6 with a 2.35 GAA and .922 SV% in 60 starts and tonight he makes his first playoff start with the Panthers. He was 2-1-0 with a 1.96 GAA and .931 SV% in three starts vs. the Islanders this season—he has gone 32-31 with a 2.54 GAA, .916 SV% and five shutouts in 62 career playoff starts.
The Rangers’ star netminder Henrik Lundqvist left game one after Marc Staal’s stick went inside his mask and caught him near the eye. Hellberg’s recall suggests that Lundqvist’s status for game two is up in the air. Losing Lundqvist would be devastating to the Rangers chances of getting out of the first round. Helberg, 25, was 30-20-3 with a 2.40 GAA and .918 SV% in 53 games with Hartford this season.
Holtby closed out the season losing three of his last five starts, but it was an outstanding year for the 26-year-old, who tied Martin Brodeur for the most wins in a single season with 48. He only had nine regulation losses all year and posted a great 2.20 GAA and .922 SV% in 66 starts. He started four games against the Flyers and went 2-0-2 with a 2.68 GAA and .926 SV% in those contests.
Bishop comes into the playoffs having won six of his last eight starts and will look to duplicate his performance from the 2015 playoffs. Bishop was 2-2-0 with a 1.77 GAA and .931 SV% in four starts against the Red Wings this season and was 4-3 with a 1.87 GAA, .922 SV% and one shutout in Round 1 last year. Bishop will likely be a Vezina Finalist after posting a great 35-21-4 record.
Crawford allowed five goals on 25 shots in the Blackhawks loss in Columbus in the season finale. It wasn’t a great return to the crease, but it was great for Crawford that least get a game in before the playoffs. Crawford will likely be a Vezina Trophy finalist after going 35-18-5 on the year. The 31-year-old has gone 2-0-2 with a 2.42 GAA and .913 SV% in four starts against the Blues this season.
Howard allowed two goals on 19 shots in the Red Wings’ 3-2 loss in New York on Saturday. Despite the loss, the Red Wings still clinched their 25th straight playoff berth and it was because of strong play by Howard down the stretch. Overall, he only won 14 games with a sub-par 2.80 GAA and .906 SV% this season, but he gets the start in Game 1. He was 2-1-0 with a 2.14 GAA and .925 SV% in three starts against the Lightning this season.
