Smith has been sidelined since December 8th, missing the last 40 games with a lower-body injury. Smith will get back between the pipes and make his 23rd start of the season. He has gone 10-9-1 with a 3.06 GAA and .901 SV% this season and one of those wins came in a 27-save performance vs. the Oilers back in Edmonton.
Talbot allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Oilers win in Minnesota on Thursday. Talbot has won five of his last six starts while posting a 1.15 GAA, .964 SV% and one shutout. Tonight he’ll make his second starts vs. the Coyotes—he stopped 31 of 34 shots in a 4-3 shootout win in the first meeting.
Quick allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Kings win over the Capitals on Wednesday. Quick has won three of his last four starts while posting a 2.23 GAA and .901 SV%, Tonight will be Quick’s first start vs. the Devils, but his 32nd start on home ice—the eight-year veteran has gone 19-11-1 with a 2.26 GAA and .908 SV% at STAPLES Center this season.
Niemi was pulled after he allowed four goals on 18 shots in the Stars loss in Nashville on March 1st. Kari Lehtonen started the last four games, but it looks like Niemi will go tonight vs. the Blues. Niemi is 0-1-1 with a 2.40 GAA and .921 SV% in his first two starts vs. St. Louis.
Ward made 30 saves on 32 shots in the Hurricanes OT win in Boston on Thursday. After siting for two games, Ward has won his last two starts while stopping 51 of 56 pucks (.911 SV%). He had a rough outing in his last start vs. the Sabres—he was yanked after allowing three goals on 14 shots in the first two periods.
Rask allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Bruins OT loss to the Hurricanes on Thursday. Rask has gone 3-0-2 with a 2.34 GAA and .925 SV% in March and this afternoon he faces the Islanders for the second time this season—he stopped 36 of 37 shots in a 2-1 win in Brooklyn back in November.
Mrazek allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Red Wings 3-2 win over the Jets on Thursday. The win snapped a brief two-game personal losing streak for Mrazek. The Red Wings’ netminder has gone 6-1-1 with a 2.08 GAA and .917 SV% in his last eight starts at Joe Louis Arena. He faces a Rangers team that has won five of their last seven.
Dubnyk was pulled after allowing three goals on 16 shots in the Wild’s loss to the Blues last Sunday. He missed Thursday’s game with an illness, but will be back in goal tonight in Montreal. He has had an inconsistent year and has been a lot better on home ice than on the road—tonight he starts in Montreal, the 29-year-old is 11-12-3 with a 2.59 GAA and .913 SV% on the road.
Anderson allowed six goals on 31 shots in the Senators 6-2 loss to Florida on Thursday. It was an ugly outing for Anderson, who had missed the four previous games with a lower-body injury. Tonight will mark his third start vs. the Maple Leafs—he has gone 2-0-0 with a 2.40 GAA and .926 SV% in the first two meetings.
Pavelec allowed four goals on 31 shots in the Jets loss to the Predators on Tuesday. Michael Hutchinson started Thursday in Detroit, so they’ll go back to Pavelec tonight vs. the Avalanche. Pavelec has lost six of his last seven games while posting a 3.18 GAA and .886 SV%. Tonight he faces the Avalanche on home ice, where he is 3-7-1 with a 2.70 GAA and .907 SV% on the season.
Luongo allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Panthers win over the Senators. The win snapped a two-game losing skid for Luongo, who will be making his third start vs. the Flyers this season. Bobby Lu has gone 1-1-0 with a 1.01 GAA and .972 SV% in the first two meetings. Luongo has gone 18-7-2 on home ice this season.
Greiss allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Islanders shootout loss to the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. With Jaroslav Halak likely out for the remainder of the regular season, this is Greiss’ crease and he’ll look to get back in the win column tonight in Boston. Greiss starts in Boston—he has gone 8-3-1 with a 2.34 GAA and .928 SV% on the road this season.
