Korpisalo made 30 saves on 32 shot attempts in the Blue Jackets win over Philadelphia on Saturday. It was his first win of his NHL career and it was done in impressive fashion. He has posted a 2.94 GAA and .909 SV% in three starts and tonight he will face a Penguins team that will be without Sidney Crosby and that has lost five in a row while averaging just 1.20 goals per game.
Murray stopped 24 of 26 shots in the Penguins 2-1 loss to the Hurricanes in his NHL debut on Saturday. Murray fell behind 2-0 just 15 minutes into the game, but was able to close the door for the remaining 45 minutes, but it still wasn’t enough. He draws a solid matchup tonight vs. a Blue Jackets team that has won two in a row, but have lost five of their last seven.
Dzingel, 23, was a seventh round pick (204th overall) in 2011 and is getting his first taste of the NHL. Dzingel has registered 22 points (7G / 15A) in 26 games with Binghamton this season. The Ohio State standout could make his NHL debut on Tuesday vs. the Panthers.
Crosby suffered a lower-body injury on Saturday night and he will miss tonight’s game vs. the Blue Jackets. With Crosby out, Evegeni Malkin will be leaned on to play big minutes. Scott Wilson is expected make his season debut with Crosby out.
Mason surrendered two goals on 37 shots in the Flyers 3-2 shootout loss in Columbus on Saturday. Despite the loss it was another strong outing for Mason, who has now stopped 71 of the last 73 (.973 SV%) shots that he has faced. Tonight it looks like he will make his third straight start—he would face a Blues team that has won three in a row.
Ward stopped 37 of 38 shots in the Hurricanes 2-1 over the Penguins on Saturday. Starting on back-to-back nights, Ward was sensational, earning his 10th win of the season. Wards 3-1-0 with a 2.79 GAA and .903 SV% in December and tonight will be his second start vs. Washington—in their first meeting he surrendered four goals on 34 shots.
Strait has been a healthy scratch in the Islanders last four games, but he will replace Marek Zidlicky in the lineup on Monday. Strait has two assists and a minus-3 rating in 21 games this season.
Halak made 28 saves on 29 shots, but still walked away on the losing end of a 1-0 shutout loss in Arizona on Saturday. Louis Domingue shut the door on the Isles offence and Halak suffered his second straight loss. Halak is now 3-2-1 with a 2.25 GAA and .924 SV% in December and he should make for a strong start tonight vs. a Ducks teams that ranks last in the NHL in scoring.
Jordan was in Charlotte on a conditioning stint and scored three goals in four games. With his conditioning stint finished, Jordan was recalled, but is not expected to be in the lineup on Monday.
Mason surrendered two goals on 37 shots in the Flyers 3-2 shootout loss in Columbus on Saturday. Despite the loss it was another strong outing for Mason, who has now stopped 71 of the last 73 (.973 SV%) shots that he has faced. Tonight it looks like he will make his third straight start—he would face a Blues team that has won three in a row.
With Sidney Crosby likely unavailable for Tuesday’s game, the Penguins gave recalled Rust from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to serve as an extra forward. Rust has oe goal and three assists in 10 games with WBS this season. Unless someone in addition to Crosby doesn’t play, Rust isn’t expected to be in the lineup.
Karlsson was scratched from Sunday’s game because of the flu and he is in danger of missing Tuesday’s contest. With Karlsson out, the Sharks went with seven defensemen. Monitor his status prior to Tuesday’s game.
Boyle was crushed by Mark Borowiecki in Sunday’s game and hit his head off of the ice and had to be helped off of the ice. The immediate concern is a concussion and that would likely keep him out of Tuesday’s game vs. Vancouver.
Ceci left Sunday’s game with an upper-body injury and his status for Tuesday’s game is up in the air. There was no update on Ceci’s status on Monday, so monitor his status on Tuesday morning.
Ryan aggravated his broken finger in Sunday’s loss in Tampa Bay. There is no word on how severe the injury is and Ryan is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game. With a three-day Christmas break around the corner, there’s a good chance that Ryan will sit for a few extra days.
Miller left after the first shootout attempt and Jacob Markstrom was forced to take over. Miller’s injury is not believed to be serious and he could be back in goal on Tuesday, but if he can’t Markstrom has proven to be a capable backup.
Hossa was a late scratch in the Blackhawks win over the Sharks on Sunday. With Hossa out, Brandon Mashinter shifted back into the lineup and Andrew Shaw took Hossa’s spot on Toews line. The Blackhawks will hold him out of Tuesday’s game so that he can get back to full health over the Christmas break.
Smith will play in his first NHL game since October 31st. He was out with an injury, then was with San Jose (AHL) on a conditioning stint and now will replace Joel Ward in the lineup tonight. Prior to getting hurt he had no points and a minus-1 rating in four games.
Ward will be held out of Sunday’s game with an undisclosed injury, which opens the door for Ben Smith to play in his first game since October 31st. There is no word on the nature or severity of Ward’s injury, but he is listed as day-to-day and questionable for Tuesday’s contest. With the Christmas break looming, he could be held out of that game just to give him and additional six days of rest.
Jones allowed four tallies on 31 shots in the Sharks OT win in Toronto on Thursday. Alex Stalock started and struggled on Friday, so it will be Jones tonight in Chicago. In his first start against the Blackhawks, Jones allowed four goals on 25 shots in a 5-2 loss back in late November.
