MacKinnon will miss at least the next two games before he is reevaluated on Sunday. The Avalanche said there will be no further updates until that time. This is obviously a massive hit to the Avs’ playoff chances—they are currently clinging to the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, just one spot up on Minnesota, who they’ll play on Saturday with out MacKinnon or Matt Duchene.
Duchene will miss at least the next two games before he is reevaluated on Sunday. The Avalanche said there will be no further updates until that time. This is obviously a massive hit to the Avs’ playoff chances—they are currently clinging to the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, just one spot up on Minnesota, who they’ll play on Saturday with out Duchene or Nathan MacKinnon.
Ekman-Larsson has missed the last six games with an upper-body injury, but will return tonight vs. the Oilers. Ekman-Larsson has 19 goals and 30 assists (49 points) in 66 games this season and should immediately be activated on all fantasy formats. His two goals and three assists in three games vs. Edmonton this season also suggest that he is worth the price in daily leagues as well.
Smith turned aside 33 of 35 shots in the Coyotes loss in San Jose on Sunday. Smith has played extremely well since returning to the Coyotes crease, going 2-1-0 with a 1.00 GAA, .972 SV% and one shutout. That shutout came against the Oilers, who he’ll face again tonight. That evening he turned aside all 44 shots and should make for a strong start again tonight.
Jones allowed one goal on 26 shots in the Sharks win over the Rangers on Saturday. James Reimer started on Sunday, so it will be Jones who faces the Blues tonight. Reimer has played very well in a Sharks uniform, but Jones has not slowed down either, going 4-2-0 wit ha 1.67 GAA and .939 SV% since the trade deadline. Tonight he faces a Blues team he is 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .927 SV% against this season.
Lundqvist allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Rangers win over the Panthers on Monday. The win snapped a personal five-game losing streak to start March for Lundqvist, who will face the Bruins for the third time this season. He has gone 20-5-2 in 27 starts on home ice and is 1-1-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .925 SV% against Boston.
Enstrom has been reportedly dealing with the injury for months and will finally undergo surgery with the Jets well out of the playoff picture. With Enstrom out, the Jets have recalled Julian Melchiori from Manitoba to take his spot in the lineup tonight. Enstrom’s season is likely over and he will finish with 16 points (2G / 14A) in 72 games.
Cammalleri has been sidelined by a hand injury since January 26th and will miss the rest of the season. The Devils said that Cammalleri doesn’t need surgery, he just needs time. Cammalleri finishes the season with 46 points (17G / 29A) in 51 games.
Holtby was pulled after he allowed five goals on 26 shots in the Capitals loss in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Holtby is now 4-2-1 with a 2.46 GAA and .908 SV% in March and 19-6-3 with a 2.45 GAA and .916 SV% on the road this season. Tonight he faces an Ottawa team that has won three of their last four—Holtby stopped 26 of 27 shots in a 2-1 win in his first start vs. the Sens.
Lehtonen stopped all 27 shots that he faced in the Stars 3-0 shutout win over the Islanders on Saturday. He has won two in a row and three of his last four while posting a 2.69 GAA and .889 SV%. Tonight marks his third start vs. the Blackhawks of the season—he has gone 2-0-0 with a 2.25 GAA and .929 SV% in the first two.
Pavelec allowed four goals on 36 shots in the Jets loss to the Blackhawks last Friday. Pavelec has lost four of his last five starts while posting a 3.25 GAA and .897 SV%. He has struggled, but tonight he draws a strong matchup vs. a Canucks team that has lost four in a row and been shutout in two straight. The matchup is there, but starting Pavelec comes with obvious risks.
Johnson surrendered four goals on 31 shots in the Sabres loss in Toronto on Saturday. It was a rough outing for Johnson, who was starting on back-to-back nights. Johnson is 3-1-0 with a 2.13 GAA and .928 SV% in March and tonight he makes his third start vs. Carolina. The 29-year-old is 2-0-0 with a 1.44 GAA and .948 SV% in the first two meetings of the season.
Gibson allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Ducks win in Winnipeg on Sunday. The win snapped a three-game losing skid (0-2-1) for Gibson, who is now 6-4-1 with a 2.39 GAA and .906 SV% on the road this season. Tonight he faces a Montreal team that has lost four of his last five games while averaging just 1.20 goals per game.
Darling stopped 32 of 34 shots in the Blackhawks shootout loss to the Wild on Sunday. Darling has gone 1-1-1 with a 1.72 GAA and .941 SV% since taking over for the injured Corey Crawford. He has faced Dallas in relief twice this season, stopping 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%). The Stars come in having gone 5-1-2 in their last eight contests.
Subban took part in the Canadiens morning skate on Tuesday, but will be sidelined for a sixth consecutive game, however he is expected to return on Thursday vs. the Red Wings. The Canadiens are way out of the playoff picture, so don’t expect them to put Subban in their lineup until he is 100 percent healthy.
Michalek served as Devan Dubnyk’s backup for the last two games, but with Darcy Kuemper back, he returns to Iowa where he has gone 6-3-0 with a 2.46 GAA and .919 S% in nine games this season.
Kuemper has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, but will return in a backup role tonight vs. he Kings. With Kuemper back the Wild have reassigned Steve Michalek to Iowa (AHL).
Dubnyk allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Wild’s win in Chicago on Sunday. Dubnyk has won his last two starts while turning aside 60 of 64 shots (.938 SV%). Dubnyk has played very well in March, going 6-1-1 with a 2.47 GAA and .912 SV% in nine starts. Tonight he faces a Kings team that has won six of their last eight.
Ward allowed two goals on 32 shots in the Hurricanes 3-2 shootout loss in Minnesota. Ward has lost two extra-time games in a row and now sits at 2-0-2 with a 2.36 GAA and .911 SV% in his last four outings. Tonight he will make his third start vs. the Sabres—Ward is 0-1-1 with a 3.43 GAA and .842 SV% in the first two meetings.
Filppula will miss his fourth consecutive game with an upper-body injury he suffered nine days ago. He is day-to-day, but took part in the morning skate which suggest that he should be good-to-go for Friday’s game vs. the Islanders.
