Gibson made stopped 19 of 20 shots in the Ducks win over the Jets on Sunday. Gibson has won four straight games while posting a 0.75 GAA and .963 SV%. Gibson has been excellent since being recalled, going 8-4-2 with a 1.63 GAA and .932 SV%. The 22-year-old was chosen as an NHL All Star on Wednesday and tonight he draws a strong matchup vs. the Maple Leafs on home ice.
Bernier stopped 39 of 40 shots in the Maple Leafs win over the Blues on Saturday. Bernier has won five of his last seven starts while posting a 2.54 GAA and .916 SV%. Things have certainly turned around for Bernier, who will start in Anaheim tonight. The Ducks used to represent a great matchup, but they’ve now won four of their last five and appear to be finding their stride.
Lack gave up two goals on 21 shots in the Hurricanes loss to the Predators on Saturday. Cam Ward got the nod on Monday, but Lack will go tonight in Vancouver against his former team. Lack is 2-0-1 with a1.64 GAA and .944 SV% in his last three starts. It will be his first start vs. the Canucks—they come in at 3-2-1, averaging 1.83 goals per game in their last six.
Varlamov allowed one goal on 31 shots in Colorado’s 4-1 win over the Kings on Monday. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Varlamov, who is 13-10-3 on the year. The 27-year-old ranks 17th in wins, 24th in SV% (.913) and 30th in GAA (2.66). It’s been rollercoaster season for Varly, who made 42 saves in a 3-1 win over the Blues in their first meeting.
Rinne made 27 saves on 28 shots in the Predators win in Carolina on Saturday. It was a nice way to start January after a rough month of December for Rinne. Rinne leads the NHL with 33 starts and is eighth in wins (16), but ranks 17th in GAA (2.41) and 33rd in SV% (.909)—not exactly the numbers we’ve come to expect from Pekka Rinne. Tonight he’ll face a Jets team averaging just 2.36 goals per game on the road.
Rask allowed five goals on 30 shots in the Bruins loss to the Canadiens in the Winter Classic. The stat line looks bad, but Rask was the only reason the Bruins didn’t get blown out in the first period. It was a tough start to 2016 for Rask, but if he can pick up where he left off in December, the Bruins will be in tremendous hands.
Halak has been out of the lineup since December 21st but was activated from IR on Tuesday. Halak is 10-6-3 with a 2.09 GAA and .923 SV% in 20 games this season. His activation from IR suggests that he could start on Thursday.
Niemi allowed three goals on 30 shots in the Stars loss in New Jersey on Saturday. Kari Lehtonen starts on Sunday, but they’ll go back to Niemi tonight in New York. Niemi is 5-4-4 with a 2.51 GAA and .914 SV% on the road this season—and tonight he faces a Rangers team that is fourth in the NHL in scoring on home ice (3.15 G/PG).
Bishop allowed three goals on 24 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Rangers last Tuesday. Andrei Vasilevskiy started on Saturday, but it looks like Bishop will go tonight in Calgary. Bishop has lost three of his last four starts while posting a 2.48 GAA and .908 SV%. Bishop stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 3-1 win in his first start of the season vs. Calgary.
Johnson suffered a lower-body injury in Monday’s win over the Kings. The injury is not serious but will keep him out of the lineup for at least five days. To provide the team with some blueline depth, the Avalanche claimed Andrew Bodnarchuk off of waivers from Columbus on Tuesday.
Gibson only entered one game during his call-up, stopping 16 of 17 shots in the Islanders loss in Pittsburgh last night. Gibson heads back to Bridgeport where he is 11-5-3 with a 1.99 GAA and .928 SV% this season.
Allen gave up three goals on 32 shots in the Blues loss in Toronto on Saturday. Brian Elliott started on Monday, but Allen will go tonight in Colorado. Allen has had a great year and he has been impressive on the road, going 7-4-1 with a 2.34 GAA and .927 SV% in 12 away starts. He lost his first start against the Avs, but he should make for a great start tonight.
Bishop allowed three goals on 24 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Rangers last Tuesday. Andrei Vasilevskiy started on Saturday, but it looks like Bishop will go tonight in Calgary. Bishop has lost three of his last four starts while posting a 2.48 GAA and .908 SV%. Bishop stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 3-1 win in his first start of the season vs. Calgary.
Schneider allowed one goal on 21 shots in the Devils’ 1-0 loss to the Red Wings on Monday. The loss snapped a two-game winning skid for Schneider, who will start his fourth straight game tonight in Montreal. It will be his third matchup with the Habs—he has gone 1-0-1 with a 1.89 GAA and .932 SV% in their first two meetings.
Holtby allowed four goals on 29 shots in the Capitals loss in Columbus on Saturday. Wait, what? Yep, Holtby actually lost. It was the first time Holtby allowed more than three goals in a game since November 3rd. Tonight he starts in Boston—he is 1-0-0 vs. the Bruins this season and 10-2-2 with a 1.98 GAA and .933 SV% on the road this season.
Smith-Pelly was scratched in the last three games, but will be back in the lineup on Tuesday in Philadelphia. Smith-Pelly will replace Dale Weise in the lineup—he had eight points (3G / 5A) in 28 games this season.
Weise (upper-body) will be scratched on Tuesday because of an upper-body injury that he suffered at the Winter Classic. With Weise out, Devante Smith-Pelly will be back in the lineup.
