Nestrasil, 23, was the Red Wings third-round pick in 2009. He had two assists in 13 games with Detroit this season. He was also a member of the Calder Cup Champion Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013.
Bishop stopped 15 of 16 shots in a win over the Rangers on Monday. It was an easy night for Bishop, who is tied for third in the NHL with 11 wins. He is also 14th in GAA (2.26) and 16th in SV% (.919). He is an excellent fantasy option every time he gets the call, especially vs. a struggling Leafs team.
Pavelec was pulled after he allowed three goals on 11 shots in a loss to the Wild on Sunday. He was given Tuesday night off, but will get back in the cage tonight vs. the Red Wings. Pav enters play tonight at 3-2-1 wit ha 1.85 GAA and .940 SV% in November. The matchup isn’t great, but it could be worse.
Hedman has been on the ice recently but still has not been shooting the puck. Until he is cleared for shooting drills, the Lightning’s star defenseman’s return remains a week or two away.
Lehtonen was pulled after he allowed four goals on 16 shots in a 6-4 loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday. He has allowed 12 goals on 85 shots (.859 SV%) in his last three starts (all losses). His recent struggles make him a risky start, even at home vs. the Coyotes.
Weaver missed Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury that he suffered on Sunday vs. the Red Wings. Nathan Beaulieu will stay in the lineup if Weaver is unable to go again.
Hamilton missed practice on Wednesday, but is back on the ice this morning which is a good sign that he will be available on Friday.
Lazar left the morning skate early and is out with a minor injury according to Paul MacLean. Colin Greening will get back into the lineup with Lazar sidelined.
Trotman was sent down when Kevan Miller was reactivated, but with Adam McQuaid out for 6-8 weeks, Trotman has been recalled as the Bruins’ seventh defenseman again.
Hutton gave up two goals on 25 shots in a loss to the Jets on November 4th. He sat for the next six games, but is back in tonight to give Pekka Rinne a breather. He draws a decent matchup against a Senators team who rank 13th in scoring with 2.71 goals per game. There are plenty of spot-start options out there, but Hutton will be playing behind a red-hot offence.
Bernier did not take part in the Maple Leafs’ optional morning skate which suggests he will get the nod tonight vs. Tampa Bay. He was yanked on Tuesday after giving up three goals on 12 shots in the Leafs’ embarrassing 9-2 loss to Nashville. It won’t be easy for him to bounce back with the Lightning’s hot offence in town.
Price allowed four goals on 22 shots in a 4-0 loss to the Penguins on Tuesday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Price, who sits at 11-4-1 on the year. He draws another brutal matchup tonight with the Blues in town, but he has posted a strong 8-3-0 record with a 2.45 GAA and .917 SV% at home this season.
Giroux was originally ruled out for the next two games, but called GM Ron Hextall before the game tonight and said he felt “fine”. The Flyers got Giroux to the arena and he will be in the lineup tonight on a line with Brayden Schenn and Jakub Voracek. Giroux has 21 points (5G / 16A) in 16 games this season.
Smith has an infection in his hand following a fight with Nick Foligno on Tuesday night. He had already been ruled out of Thursday's game, but it seemed possible that he would be able to join the team in Toronto. Now that he has been placed on IR he won't be eligible to play until next Wednesday vs. the Flyers.
The Red Wings placed Brendan Smith (hand) on the seven-day IR so Ouellet has been recalled to serve as the Red Wings seventh defenseman. Ouellet had a great training camp and nearly made the Red Wings. He has recorded one goal and four assists in 13 games with Grand Rapids this season and could see action in the next week while Smith is sidelined.
Gorges suffered a knee injury on November 11th vs. the Blues and is expected to miss multiple weeks. Placing Gorges on IR allowed the Sabres to recall Nathan Lieuwen from Rochester to back-up Jhonas Enroth while Michal Neuvirth is out. Tyson Strachan will continue to play on the top-pair with Gorges out.
With Michal Neuvirth out with a lower-body injury, the Sabres have recalled Lieuwen to serve as Jhonas Enroth’s backup. Lieuwen has gone 3-4-0 with a 3.53 GAA and .876 SV% with Rochester this season.
Giroux reportedly walked into the arena with a walking boot. This comes a day after the Flyers said that Giroux was “fine” and then announced that he would miss the next two games. So Giroux will take part in warmups and should be considered a game-time decision.
Chaput, 22, has recorded two assists with eight penalty minutes and averaged 10:51 of ice time while playing in all 18 games this season with the Blue Jackets. With a healthy Matt Calvert and Jack Skille set to return on Friday, there was no longer room for Chaput.
McGinn missed his second straight practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Thursday’s game vs. the Capitals. If McGinn is unable to go, expect Dennis Everberg to take his spot on the third line.
