Gustavsson allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Bruins win in Detroit last Wednesday. Tonight is the first night of a back-to-back for the Bruins, so it looks like Gustavsson will get the nod vs. the Flames, which leaves Rask fro Saturday in Vancouver. Gustavsson has gone 5-1-0 with a 2.15 GAA and .920 SV% in six starts this season.
Mrazek allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Red Wings shootout win over the Sabres on Tuesday. Jimmy Howard get the call on Thursday, but will go to Mrazek tonight vs. the Predators. Mrazek has gone 3-1-3 with a 2.04 GAA and .929 SV% in seven starts on home is ice this season. He should make for a solid start against a Nashville team that is struggling offensively.
Gibson gave up two goals on 22 shots in the Ducks loss to the Lightning on Wednesday. Gibson has played very well since being called up—he has gone 2-2-1 with a 1.87 GAA and .932 SV% in four starts and one relief start. Tonight he will start against a Sharks team that has been excellent on the road this season. San Jose comes in with a 10-3-0 road record.
Nilsson allowed two goals on 40 shots in the Oilers win over the Bruins on Wednesday. Nilsson has allowed two goals in each of his last three starts while posting a .943 SV%. Tonight will be Nilsson’s second start against the Stars—he stopped 48 of 51 shots in a loss to Dallas in his season debut. He comes in with a 6-7-1 record, 2.63 GAA and .915 SV%.
Neuvirth allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Flyers win over the Predators last Friday. Steve Mason started the last two games, but he has terrible numbers against the Devils, so Neuvirth goes tonight. Neuvirth has won his last two games while stopping 64 of the last 68 shots (.941 SV%). The NHL’s SV% leader should make for a great start.
DeMelo, 22, has not registered a point with the Sharks this season, but has recorded five assists in 13 AHL games.
Anderson allowed three goals on 38 shots in Ottawa’s win over Chicago on Thursday. The win snapped a two-game losing skid for Anderson, who will start his 21st game of the season. The 34-year-old comes into play at 11-6-3 with a 2.81 GAA and .916 SV% on the season and 5-3-3 with a 2.47 GAA and .922 SV% on home ice.
Miller suffered a broken jaw after being hit in the head by Coyotes defenseman Klas Dahlbeck. Miller will be out until mid-January which means he will likely go on IR and the Red Wings should recall a forward. Joakim Andersson is expected to draw into the lineup for Miller on Saturday.
Pulkkinen was injured on a hit from Coyotes’ forward Martin Hanzal. Pluckiness hasn’t have a great start to the season, registering just 11 points (6G / 5A) in 24 games but now he will be sidelined until mid-January. With Pulkkinen out, expect Tomas Jurco to get a permanent spot in the lineup. Detroit will likely recall another forward as well.
Neuvirth allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Flyers win over the Predators last Friday. Steve Mason started the last two games, but he has terrible numbers against the Devils, so Neuvirth goes tonight. Neuvirth has won his last two games while stopping 64 of the last 68 shots (.941 SV%). The NHL’s SV% leader should make for a great start.
Smith was yanked after allowing three goals on 16 shots in the Red Wings loss in Detroit last night. He let in a stinker from centre ice and that was the end of his evening. He’ll try to get back on track tonight in Buffao. Smith has allowed seven goals on the last 56 shots (.875 SV%) that he has faced. It is a solid matchup, but Smith remains a risky option.
Halak made 33 saves on 34 shots in the Islanders’ win over the Rangers on Wednesday. Thomas Greiss got the nod last night, so expect Halak to go tonight in Ottawa. Halak has gone 3-1-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .927 SV% in his last five starts and comes into play on Saturday with a 1-2-2 record, 1.76 GAA and .929 SV%on the road this season.
Johnson stopped 28 of 29 shots in the Sabres win in Nashville last Saturday. Linus Ullmark got the nod on Tuesday, but it will be Johnson tonight vs. the Coyotes. Johnson has played well as of late, winning two in a row while stopping 55 of 57 shots (.965 SV%). He draws a fantastic matchup tonight vs. a Coyotes team playing their second game in as many nights.
Tyutin appears close to be returning to the Blue Jackets lineup but tonight he will miss his sixth consecutive game with a broken nose. Monitor his status prior to Saturday’s contest.
Greiss allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Islanders win over the Avalanche on Monday. Greiss will start for the third time in four games, he comes in having won two in a row while posting a 2.50 GAA and .915 SV%. The matchup with the Blues is not a good one, but Greiss has already defeated St. Louis this season—he stopped 38 of 40 shots in an overtime win back in October.
Greening only played 4:00 in his season debut on Thursday. He has been sent back to the AHL which suggests that Mika Zibanejad could play on Saturday.
Jones gave up four goals on 28 shots in the Sharks loss to the Penguins on Tuesday. Since returning home after winning five straight on the road, Jones has lost two of three while posting a 3.37 GAA and .875 SV%. Thankfully for Jones owners the Sharks head on the road tonight, where he is 9-1-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .943 SV% this year. In two starts against the Ducks this season, Jones has gone 1-1-0 while allowing just one goal on 44 shots (.977 SV%).
Kulikov missed the last eight games with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to back in the lineup tonight in Columbus. Kulikov has just three assists in 17 games this season.
Montoya was taken out of the game due to injury on November 23rd. He stopped eight of nine shots before leaving the game, but it forced him to sit the last four games, including last night. Montoya comes into play with a 2-1-1 record, 2.39 GAA and .920 SV% on the season. The Blue Jackets comes into play having lost two in a row and have only scored six goals in their last four games.
Ramo allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Flames’ shootout win against the Stars on Tuesday. It was a surprising win, which is why the Flames will go back to Ramo tonight vs. the Bruins. Ramo has won three of his last five while posting a 2.33 GAA and .900 SV%. It isn’t pretty, but Ramo is getting it done, but draws a tough matchup with the high-scoring Bruins in down.
