Rask stopped 24 of 25 shot attempts in the Bruins 3-1 win over the Flyers on Saturday. After losing three in a row, Rask has now won back-to-back starts and will look to make it three consecutive tonight vs. the Lightning. He is 2-0-2 with a 1.69 GAA and .944 SV% in four starts in 2015 and catches a break against a Lightning team who could be missing Tyler Johnson and Victor Hedman.
Neuvirth made 45 saves on 47 shots in the Sabres 2-1 loss to the Lightning on Friday. It was an awesome effort from Neuvirth, who is still looking for his first win since November 18th. Tonight he will start vs. fellow Czech Petr Mrazek on a night where the Sabres will retire Czech legend Dominik Hasek’s jersey. He is 1-1-0 with a .384 GAA and .896 SV% vs. Detroit.
Khudobin stopped 19 of 20 shots in the Hurricanes 2-1 shootout win over the Bruins on December 4th. After going winless in his first 10 starts, Khudobin has stopped 37 of 39 shots (.949 SV%) to earn back-to-back wins. Tonight he would face an Avalanche team at home where he is 1-3-0 despite posting a 1.75 GAA and .929 SV%.
Sabres’ forward Chris Stewart has been battling the flu and likely won’t play tonight so Ellis has been recalled and should be in the lineup for the Sabres. The reason to recall Ellis instead of another forward is that Dominik Hasek’s jersey will be retired tonight and Ellis is the only current Sabre to have played with Hasek.
With Dmitri Orlov not quite ready and the long-term injury to Nate Schmidt, the Capitals recall Oleksy to serve as their seventh defenseman.
Kris Letang missed Monday’s practice, so if he is unable to go, then Chorney would play, but he is likely just being recalled as an insurance defenseman. He has two goals and seven assists in 34 games with WBS this season.
The Lightning lost their leading scorer Tyler Johnson to a lower-body injury last night, so Namestnikov is being recalled to play for Johnson if he is unable to go. The 22-year-old forward had seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games with the Lightning before being sent down. Since being sent down he has registered 17 points (7G / 10A) in 16 games with Syracuse.
Johnson suffered a lower-body injury in the Lightning’s blowout 7-3 loss to the Flyers last night. “There’s a good chance” he doesn’t play said head coach Jon Cooper said about the team’s leading scorer last night. Without a game day skate, we likely won’t know Johnson’s status until a few hours prior to puck-drop.
Hedman left last night’s loss to the Flyers with a lower-body injury and did not return. Coach Jon Cooper said after the game that “there’s a good chance” that Hedman does not play tonight against the Bruins. The Lightning likely won’t have a morning skate, so we won’t know Hedman’s status until closer to game-time.
Mrazek allowed two goals on 12 shots after replacing the injured Jimmy Howard in the Red Wings’ 3-1 loss to Washington on Saturday. The Petr Mrazek era in Detroit begins tonight and he draws a great matchup vs. the Sabres. Also fellow Czech legend, Dominik Hasek’s jersey will be retired tonight, so should be a big night for the 22-year-old Mrazek.
Jones allowed four goals on 16 shots after replacing Jonathan Quick in the Kings 7-6 OT loss to the Predators on January 3rd. Quick had started the last 12 games, but Jones will get the call tonight vs. Toronto. In three starts at home, Jones has gone 1-1-1 with a 2.25 GAA and .908 SV%.
Although the decision on that might not be finalized for a few days, a source familiar with his situation said the injury that has prevented Maatta from playing since Dec. 6 has not responded satisfactorily to rehabilitation efforts. Maatta is expected to undergo an operation once he is officially ruled out of the rest of the season, but a decision on surgery has not been finalized yet.
Lehner allowed tow goals on 12 shots after replacing Craig Anderson in the Senators loss to the Avs’ last Thursday. Lehner has not registered a win in exactly one month, but has only had three starts in that span. He comes in at 6-6-2 with a 3.03 GAA and .904 SV% on the year.
Bernier allowed two goals on 20 shots in the Maple Leafs win over the Blue Jackets on Friday. It was Bernier’s first win in 2015 and his 16th of the season. Tonight he gets the nod against the team who drafted him having gone 5-2-1 with a 2.30 GAA and .939 SV% against Western Conference teams this season.
Hamhuis still is not ready for game action, but should return to the lineup at some point during their upcoming five-game road trip.
Miller surrendered three goals on 30 shots in the Canucks 3-1 loss to the Panthers last Thursday. He didn’t play on Saturday because of an illness, but he will be back between the pipes tonight in Nashville. It is an ugly matchup for Miller, but he has played well on the road this season, going 10-5-1 with a 2.63 GAA and .910 SV%.
Mitchell has been out since December 15th, but will be back tomorrow vs. Detroit. He is expected to skate on a line with Brian Flynn and Drew Stafford.
Stewart has missed practice for the last few days and is doubtful to play on Tuesday because he is “very sick” according to coach Ted Nolan. If Stewart is unable to go, expect Mikhail Grigorenko to be recalled from Rochester (AHL).
There is no word on the nature or severity of Benn’s injury, but he was not on the ice for practice on Monday. Monitor his status during Tuesday’s morning skate. Benn has two goals and four assists in his last six games.
Seguin was sent home from practice on Monday and is listed as questionable, despite coach Lindy Ruff saying he will most likely play. Monitor his status during the Stars’ game day skate.
