Varlamov allowed one goal on 24 shots in the Avs’ 2-1 shootout win over New Jersey on Thursday. Varlamov has been spectacular, winning four in a row while posting a 0.75 GAA and .976 SV%. Tonight he gets the nod in a pivotal matchup against the Flames. He allowed four goals on 25 shots in a 4-3 OT loss in their last meeting.
Mason stopped all 35 shots that he faced in a 1-0 shootout loss to the Blues. That is the second time this season he has posted a shutout and not gotten the win. He comes in having lost four in a row, despite having a 2.43 GAA and .924 SV%. Tonight he gets a second crack at the Red Wings—the first time He was yanked for allowing three goals on 14 shots.
James Reimer got the nod last night and was absolutely lit up by the Flames. So expect Bernier to start tonight, coming off of a 30-save performance in the Leafs 4-3 shootout win over the Sabres on Wednesday. Bernier is 2-2-1 with a 3.59 GAA and .904 SV% in his last five outings.
With Ryan Murray drawing back into the lineup tonight, Goloubef will take a seat. He has just one assist in his last 16 games.
Dubinsky was listed as a game-time decision, but he is not on the ice for warmups, so he will miss his second straight game with the flu.
Lehtonen turned aside 15 of 18 shots in the Stars 5-3 win over the Hurricanes last night. It was not an overly bust night for Lehtonen, so he will play again tonight in Washington. Lehtonen has won three starts in a row with a 1.98 GAA and .926 SV%. He is 1-2-1 with a 4.4 GAA and .885 SV% on no rest.
Scrivens was yanked after allowing four goals on 13 shots in the Oilers 6-4 loss to the Penguins last night. It was a disastrous outing as Scrivens barely only made it one minute into the second period. Despite a horrible game, he will go again tonight in Columbus. He is 0-2-1 with a 4.06 GAA and .846 SV% in the second game of a back-to-back.
Schneider allowed one goal on 28 shots in the Devils 2-1 shootout loss to Colorado on Thursday. He has lost three straight games while posting a 3.26 GAA and .892 SV%. However, he should be able to snap that losing skid tonight vs. the Coyotes—Schneider posted a 38-save shutout in his first start vs. Arizona.
Nordstorm has been suspended for his hit-from-behind on Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Thurday’s win. The hit came late in the third period and forced OEL to miss the final minute of play. OEL also missed practice on Friday and his status for Saturday’s game is in question.
Hammond stopped 27 of 29 shots in the Senators 5-2 win over the Canadiens last night. Having one three in a row and eight of his first nine NHL starts, the Sens will roll him back out on consecutive nights. He started on back-to-back nights earlier this month; stopping 35 of 36 shots in a 3-1 win over the Jets that evening.
Despite missing Friday's practice, Ekman-Larsson has not been ruled out of Saturday's game vs. the Devils. Monitor his status during tomorrow's morning skate.
Richardson has not played since January 16th, but it looks like he will be back in tomorrow vs. the Maple Leafs. He was expected to be back much sooner, but was sidelined for a total of eight weeks. He has 19 points (8G / 11A) in 43 games this season.
Bieksa got through another full practice on Friday and is expected to play on Saturday vs. Toronto. Bieksa has been out since January 20th with a hand injury, but it looks like he will be back in beside Luca Sbisa tomorrow. He has nine points (3G / 6A) in 45 games this season.
Higgins has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, but it looks like he will be back in tomorrow vs. the Maple Leafs. Higgins had a three-game point streak (1G / 2A) going before he was hurt.
The Canucks only have one game this weekend so they are expected to start Eddie Lack and have sent Markstrom down to get a few games in over the weekend. Eriksson is expected to serve as a backup on Saturday.
The Canucks are sent Markstrom down to play a few games over the weekend but he is expected to swap places with Joakim Eriksson again next week.
Ekman-Larsson was stapled from behind by Joakim Nordstrom in the Coyotes loss to the Blackhawks on Thursday. It was late in the third period, but he left and did not return. His absence this afternoon makes him questionable for Saturday’s contest vs. the Devils.
Crawford allowed one goal on 18 shots in the Blackhawks 2-1 win over the Coyotes on Thursday. It was a nice, easy night for Crawford, who has won four out of his last five starts while posting a 0.98 GAA, .967 SV% and one shutout. In his first start against San Jose, he stopped 32 pucks in a 5-2 win.
Shinnimin played one game during his call-up; he has two shots on goal in 13:20 TOI that evening.
