Lundqvist allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Rangers loss to the Jets on Tuesday. The loss snapped Lundqvist’s three-game winning streak to start the season. He has been great so far and will need to be great tonight as he goes up against Carey Price. Lundqvist enters play with a 2.26 GAA and .933 SV%.
Khudobin will make his Ducks debut after sitting for the first two games. Khudobin was 2-0-0 with a 0.86 GAA and .970 SV% in three preseason games. Khudobin comes into play tonight with a career 2.40 GAA and .919 SV%. Tonight he will take on the Coyotes, who are surprisingly off to a 2-0 start to the season.
Price stopped 31 of 33 shots in the Canadiens win over the Penguins on Tuesday. Price, to no one’s surprise has started the season 3-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .945 SV%…not a bad start in his attempt to win back-to-back Vezina Trophies. Price will be locked in an epic goalie battle tonight as he goes head-to-head with Henrik Lundqvist.
DeKeyser has missed the first three games of the season and he is expected to miss at least two more, before returning to the lineup on Saturday vs. the Canadiens. If DeKeyser returns, look for Jakub Kindl to come out of the lineup.
It looked as if there was a chance that Helm was going to return to the lineup on Tuesday, but now he will be held out of the lineup for another game and should be back in the lineup on Saturday vs. Montreal.
Gionta was in practice on Wednesday, but he remains questionable for tomorrow’s contest versus the Panthers. If Gionta can’t play, look for Sam Reinhart to remain in the lineup.
Backstrom, who returned to practice on Monday, has been cleared for full contact which is a great sign that the Capitals’ centre is nearing a return to the lineup. Backstrom is not expected to play tomorrow, but he could be back on Saturday vs. the Hurricanes. Monitor his status heading into the weekend.
Fontaine has missed the first two games of the season, but he is expected to make his season debut on Thursday vs. the Coyotes. Fontaine is expected to skate on the Wild’s third line with Thomas Vanek and Charlie Coyle. The 27-year-old forward had nine goals and 22 assists (31 points) in 71 games last season.
Collins was a minus-1 while averaged 8:32 TOI in his first two games with the Capitals. Collins has been placed on waivers with the intent to send him to Hershey (AHL). Once he is sent down, the Capitals are expected to recall another forward.
Bouma suffered a broken fibula on Tuesday night and is expected to miss three months. With Bouma out until mid-January, the Flames will move him to IR and recall a forward from Stockton (AHL).
Anderson surrendered four goals on 41 shots in the Senators shootout win over the Maple Leafs last Saturday. He was given Sunday night off, but will be back between the pipes tonight in Columbus. Anderson has started the season at 2-0 with a 2.40 GAA and .926 SV%. He draws a strong matchup tonight vs. a Columbus team who has started 0-3.
Bobrovksy allowed four goals on 33 shots in the Blue Jackets loss in Buffalo on Monday. Bobrovsky has allowed four goals in all three of his starts this season. It has been a rough start for Bobrovksy and the Blue Jackets, but they will look to get back on track tonight vs. Ottawa. Bobrovsky enters play with a 4.66 GAA and .850 SV%.
Schneider missed Tuesday’s game because he was with his wife after she gave birth to their new baby boy. With Schneider back at practice he is expected to start Friday’s game vs. the Sharks.
Matthias missed Saturday’s game vs. the Senators, but he was back at practice this morning and is expected to play in Columbus. Matthias has no points, seven shots and a minus-2 rating through two games with the Maple Leafs.
Franzen was a late scratch from Tuesday’s game vs. the Lightning and was not on the ice for this afternoon’s practice. With Franzen out, Tomas Jurco played in the Red Wings top six. Consider Franzen day-to-day and monitor his status prior to Friday’s game vs. Carolina.
McKenzie, 24, registered three assists in his first game with Texas (AHL) and has been recalled after Patrick Eaves was placed on IR with a lower-body injury. McKenzie had four goals and one assist (five points) in 36 games with Dallas last season.
Eaves was moved to the Stars’ top line on Tuesday but he suffered a lower-body injury and did not return. Eaves has been moved to IR to create a roster opening to recall Curtis McKenzie. With Eaves out, Patrick Sharp may be moved up to the top line with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn.
Chimera suffered a lower-body injury in the Capitals loss to the Sharks on Tuesday and was not on the ice for practice on Wednesday. With Chimera potential out on Thursday, expect Alex Ovechkin to return and Stanislav Galiev to remain in the lineup.
