Neuvirth allowed three goals on 31 shots in the Sabres win over the Canucks on Thursday. Neuvirth has won three of his last five games while posting a 2.14 GAA and .944 SV%. He has been great in February and he will look to keep things rolling this afternoon vs. the Panthers. Neuvirth is 0-2-0 with a 2.58 GAA and .929 SV% against Florida this season.
Tonight is the Oilers final game before the trade deadline, so they will sit Petry opposed to playing him and risk him getting injured. He is expected to be dealt before the deadline.
Talbot allowed three goals on 40 shots in the Rangers 4-3 win over the Coyotes on Thursday. It was another really good outing for Talbot, who has now won three in a row and seven of his last eight while posting a 2.82 GAA and .912 SV% over that span. Tonight he faces the Flyers, who he has posted 31-save and 26-save shutouts against this season.
Smith gave up four goals on 38 shots in the Coyotes loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Smith has lost seven consecutive games while posting a 3.48 GAA and .892 SV%. He has been a fantasy hockey liability all season long, so stay away. Tonight he starts in Boston—he is 5-16-2 with a 3.22 GAA and .901 SV%.
Talbot allowed three goals on 40 shots in the Rangers 4-3 win over the Coyotes on Thursday. It was another really good outing for Talbot, who has now won three in a row and seven of his last eight while posting a 2.82 GAA and .912 SV% over that span. Tonight he faces the Flyers, who he has posted 31-save and 26-save shutouts against this season.
Hillen is a mobile blue liner, who was expendable for the Capitals. They needed to add some grit to their blue line and they did exactly that by adding Gleason. Hillen often bounced in and out of the lineup, but has racked up five assists in 35 games this season. In Carolina he should get into the lineup on a regular basis.
Gleason is a pending unrestricted free-agent. He is a rugged, left handed defenseman who will likely be paired with Mike Green when he gets to Washington. He is a physical D-man, who can chip in offensively. He will be nice to have on the back-end in a playoff series to grind down the opposition.
Pysyk, who was sent down to Rochester yesterday, had to be rushed to hospital today after collapsing during a pick-up basketball game. Pysyk, who many believe is NHL ready has a bright future ahead of him, so hopefully this is nothing serious.
Gonchar has missed the last six games, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Maple Leafs. The veteran D-man has one goal and 12 assists (13 points) in 41 games this season. He will play on the third pairing with Greg Pateryn.
Smith left Thursday’s game in San Jose with an arm injury after being slew-footed by Logan Couture. Couture was fined for the play yesterday, but it may cost Smith a game because he is questionable for today’s contest vs. the Predators. Xavier Oullet has been recalled and will play if Smith can’t.
Ouellet, 21, has been recalled because Brendan Smith is questionable with an arm injury. Oullet has scored twice and added one assist in 21 games with Detroit this season. While in Grand Rapids he has collected one goal and 10 assists (11 points) in 32 games.
Mason allowed one goal on nine shots after replacing Rob Zepp in Thursday’s loss to the Maple Leafs. It wasn’t the way the Flyers wanted to work him back into the crease, but he will start tonight vs. the Rangers. Mason has gone 0-2-0 with a 2.59 GAA and .914 SV% in two starts against New York.
Dansk did not get any NHL action during his call-up and with Sergei Bobrovsky returning tonight, Dansk’s services are no longer needed.
Bobrovsky will dress for the first time since January 21st today vs. the Devils. He will serve as Curtis McElhinney’s backup today, but that is a great sign that he will be able to start on Sunday vs. the Penguins.
Prout has missed the last nine games with an upper-body injury, but he will be back in this afternoon vs. the Devils. Prout has six assists, a minus-15 rating and 60 PIMS in 41 games this season.
Connauton will miss his second straight game tonight and will miss his third tomorrow vs. the Penguins. He is listed as day-to-day, so there is a chance that he could return next Tuesday vs. the Capitals.
Bernier was outstanding on Thursday, turning aside 47 of 49 shots to earn his second straight victory. It was the first time Bernier has won two in a row since December 23/31. This year has been a disappointment for Bernier and the Leafs and it won’t get any easier tonight vs.the Canadiens. He is 0-1-1 with a 2.41 GAA and .922 SV% vs. the Habs this season.
McElhinney surrendered four goals on 26 shots in the Blue Jackets 5-2 loss to the Habs on Thursday. It was a tough matchup for McElhinney, who has otherwise been excellent for the Jackets in Sergei Bobrovsky’s absence. It looks like he will get one more start before Bob is back and it is a juicy matchup. McElhinney takes on the Devils having gone 5-3-1 with a 2.32 GAA and .929 SV% in February.
Price allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Canadiens 5-2 win in Columbus on Thursday. He has won three in a row, posting a 1.67 GAA and .943 SV% in the process. Tonight he will face a Maple Leafs team he is 2-0-0 with a 1.93 GAA and .929 SV% against. You don’t need me to tell you that he is a must-start.
Dubinsky, who left Thursday’s game, was on the ice for yesterday’s practice. He said he felt fine, but then after the skate felt a lot worse. He was then diagnosed with a concussion, which will keep him out for the foreseeable future. With Dubinsky out, Alexander Wennberg will centre the second line.
