Niemi allowed three goals on 15 shots in the Stars’ 3-1 loss to the Avalanche on Saturday. Despite the Stars badly outplaying Colorado, Semyon Varlamov outplayed Niemi. It looks like he will make his third consecutive start tonight, having gone 1-3-2 with a 3.36 GAA and .877 SV% in the month of January.
McNeill, 22, was the Blackhawks’ first round pick (18th overall) in 2011. He has 19 points (9G / 10A) in 29 games with Rockford this season and could make his NHL debut before the All-Star break.
The Blues are done until after the All-Star break so they’ve sent Rattie down to play with Chicago. Rattie had three goals in his last six games, but Jaden Schwartz will likely be back after the break, so Rattie will probably stick in the minors.
The Blues are done until after the All-Star break so they’ve sent Binnington down to play with Chicago until after the break. If Jake Allen isn’t ready to go immediately following the break, then Binnington will likely be called back up.
Mrazek stopped all 19 shots that he faced in the Red Wings shutout win in Buffalo on Friday. Jimmy Howard started on Saturday, so look for Mrazek to go tonight in Brooklyn. Mrazek has been exceptional in January, going 6-1-1 with a 1.24 GAA, .955 SV% and two shutouts this month. He will face an Islanders team that has won three of their last four.
Johnson stopped 26 of 27 shots in the Sabres win in Arizona last Monday. Robin Lehner started the last two games, but Johnson will go tonight having won his last two starts while stopping 59 of 61 shots (.967 SV%). Tonight he will make his 15 road start of the season—he has gone 6-8-0 with a 2.60 GAA and .919 SV% in cities not named Buffalo this season.
Umberger has just six assists in 31 games this season and has not played over 10 minutes in his last four games, so expect him to sit tonight vs. the Bruins.
Despite posting one goal, two assists and a plus-3 rating in his last seven games, Medvedev will come out of the lineup on Monday. He will be replaced by Brandon Manning.
Manning was a healthy scratch in the last four games, but is expected to replace Yevgeni Medvedev in the lineup tonight. Manning has just three assists in 30 games this season.
Weal was acquired in the Vincent Lecavalier, Luke Schenn deal, but served as a healthy scratch in his first nine games with the Flyers. On Monday, that is expected to change. Weal had no points in 10 games with the Kings, but had 69 points (20G / 49A) in 73 games with Manchester (AHL) last season.
Korpisalo allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Blue Jackets shootout loss in Boston on Saturday. Korpisalo has gone 2-1-2 with a 2.20 GAA and .933 SV% in January. Tonight he will take on a Canadiens team that has gone 1-4-1 while averaging just 2.00 goals per game in their last six games.
Neuvirth stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Flyers win in Detroit on January 17th. Steve Mason was not on the ice for the Flyers’ morning skate for an unknown reason, so Neuvirth will start vs. the Bruins. Neuvirth has been nearly unbeatable on home ice this season, going 6-1-1-with a 1.79 GAA and .942 SV% in seven starts and one relief appearance at Wells Fargo Center.
Halak allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Islanders win in Ottawa on Friday. Saturday’s game was postponed, so Halak will get the nod on Monday having played just once in the last week. He has won two of his last three with a 1.30 GAA and .956 SV% and will face a tired Red Wings team who has gone 1-2-1 in their last four.
McDavid is eyeing a return when the Oilers resume play after the All-Star break. To make that a real possibility, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick will practice with Bakersfield over the break. He will not appear in any games, but will practice and could be back in the lineup next Tuesday (Feb. 2nd) vs. the Blue Jackets.
Condon allowed two goals on 19 shots in the Canadiens’ shootout win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Condon, who is 3-3-1 with a 2.13 GAA and .915 SV% in January. He draws a great matchup on Monday—he stopped 22 of 23 shots in a 2-1 win in his first start vs. the Blue Jackets.
Lack allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Hurricanes loss to the Rangers on Friday. Lack had a shutout sandwiched in between two ugly performances, in which he allowed a combined nine goals on 64 shots (.859 SV%). Lack has gone 1-5-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .883 SV% in seven starts at PNC Arena this season.
