All signs are pointing towards Jake Muzzin being unavailable tonight, which leaves the 23-year-old McNabb to make his Kings' debut on the Stanley Cup banner raising night and on the top D-pair with Drew Doughty to boot. McNabb was acquired from the Sabres at last year's deadline and totaled 10 goals and 26 assists (36 points) in 52 AHL games between Manchester and Rochester. He failed to record any points in 12 games with the Sabres.
Heading into training camp everyone wondered who would be the third man on this line. A lot of people picked Brock Nelson as the man who would fill the role. Some thought maybe Ryan Strome would get the nod, or even Josh Bailey. But, it will be Conacher who will start there on opening night. “It’s pretty special,” Conacher said about the opportunity to play on the top line. “I’ve gotten this opportunity before, in Tampa when I first started my career, and I just have to try to take advantage of this opportunity." Conacher is a speedy winger who is a definite fantasy sleeper heading into the season, but like he said he needs to take advantage of the opportunity he has been given.
The Sharks are starting Antti Niemi in the season opener tonight, but coach McLellan stressed that Stalock is going to play a lot this season. "Nemo has a proven track record. We'd like to show him we have the confidence in him this year. It's a fresh year," McLellan said. "Everybody gets a fresh start and Nemo starts tonight. Now Alex will play. He'll play a lot. And so will Nemo." Each goalie played in three exhibition games. Stalock was 2-1 with a 1.68 GAA and a .915 SV%; Niemi was 0-1-2 with a 2.23 GAA and a .909 SV%.
The Canadiens start the season with a back-to-back and Carey Price is getting the call Wednesday vs. the Maple Leafs, so Tokarski will go tomorrow vs. Washington. He beat Peter Budaj out for the back-up job and will start his first full NHL season on Thursday. He went 2-0-1 with a 1.84 GAA and .946 in three starts at the end of the regular season and 2-3 with a 2.60 GAA and .916 SV% in five playoff games after Carey Price got hurt.
Ben Scrivens is starting the Oilers' season opener, but Fasth draws the tougher of the two matchups as he goes up against the Canucks. In seven starts after being traded a season ago, he went 3-3-1 with a 2.73 GAA and .914 SV%. Edmonton is not great defensively so it will be hard for Fasth to put up great numbers, but he could wrestle the job away from Scrivens.
After being traded to the Oilers last season, Scrivens went 9-11-0 with a 3.01 GAA and .916 SV%. To no one's surprise, life in Edmonton is much more difficult than in Los Angeles and he sits without a Stanley Cup ring on his finger. Now with Edmonton for a full season, he will start the first game of the year against a Flames team that he had a .857 SV% against last year.
After a great lockout shortened season, Anderson stumbled to 25 wins with a 3.00 GAA and .911 SV% in 2013-14. He started 2014-15 on a strong note posting a 1.91 GAA and .922 SV% in the preseason. He will start his regular season against the Predators, who he had a 2.20 / and .935 against in two starts last season.
This summer's top-2 goaltending free agents will face each other in their respective debuts as Miller takes on Jonas Hiller. Miller had a weird season in 2013-14. He was traded to the Blues after 10 and a half years in Buffalo. Things didn't go as expected in St. Louis and that led to Miller signing with the Canucks this offseason. It is difficult to adjust to a new team mid-season, so with a full camp with Vancouver under his belt, expect Miller to get back to a 2.50 GAA and .915 SV%.
There are a ton of questions surrounding the Sharks goaltending situation heading into 2013-14 after Niemi struggled down the stretch and Alex Stalock played well. Niemi will get the nod in the season opener, which should not be a surprise considering his experience. He was 2-1-1 with a 2.67 GAA and .910 SV% against the reigning Stanley Cup Champs last season.
Martin Brodeur is gone and now it is Schneider's turn to make a mark in Devils history. He had a strong first season and followed it up with a nice preseason, going 2-1 with a 1.62 GAA and .932 SV%. He has one of the NHL's oldest teams playing in front of him and they aren't going to be the highest scoring team, but should be strong defensively which will help Schneider post sod numbers across the board. He is a low-end number-1 due to lack of talent up front.
Mueller, who spent the last season in Europe was trying to make an NHL comeback, but it did not last long. He will head back to Europe.
There are a ton of questions surrounding the Sharks goaltending situation heading into 2013-14 after Niemi struggled down the stretch and Alex Stalock played well. It looks like Niemi will get the nod in the season opener, which should not be a surprise considering his experience. He was 2-1-1 with a 2.67 GAA and .910 SV% against the reigning Stanley Cup Champs last season.
Bieksa participated in the Canucks gameday skate and said that he "felt good" but will "see how things are this afternoon". So, Bieksa is still listed as a gametime decision, but it seems like there is a good chance that he will be in the lineup tonight. With only four games tonight you can put him in your daily lineups without getting burned if he doesn't play.
Howard had an excellent preseason posting a 1.90 GAA and .943 SV% in three outings. He has said that he is feeling as good as he ever has to start and that is great news for the Red Wings, who will need Howie to bounce-back from a disappointing 2013-14. The Red Wings are a young team, but Mike Babcock has them playing a puck possession style that limits chances at the Red Wings' net--thus helping Howard.
Varlamov went 1-2 with a 2.31 GAA and .913 SV% in three preseason outings. Despite some legal troubles last season, Varly turned-in a great season in his first under head coach Patrick Roy. He led the NHL in wins (41) and finished with the league's third highest SV% (.927) and 20th GAA (2.41). The Avalanche appear ready to make another playoff push and they will lean heavily on Varlamov to get them there.
Versteeg suffered the injury in practice on Tuesday and will be out until November. Ben Smith will fill in for Versteeg on the Blackhawks third line with Brad Richards and Bryan Bickell.
There was no report of an injury to Muzzin until this morning. If he plays he will line up in his usual spot with Drew Doughty, but if he is unable to play, Doughty will play with Brayden McNabb. With only a few games tonight you won't get burned by having him in your lineup in daily leagues.
Quick was excellent last season posting a 2.07 GAA and .915 SV% in the regular season and a 2.58 / .911 in the postseason en route to his second Stanley Cup. Tonight he will start against the Sharks, a team he was 2-0 with a 1.47 GAA and .930 SV% against a season ago. He is a stud and should be in your lineup every time he draws the start.
Fowler had been skating on his own after missing the final preseason game with a leg injury. His status for Thursday's season opener is still unknown, but participating in full practice this morning is a good sign that he should be ready for the clash with Penguins. Expect an update after practice.
Pouliot missed Tuesday's practice but is back today and should be ready to go for Thursday's season opener. He has been working on the Oilers second line with Leon Draisaitl and Nail Yakupov, so expect him to make his Oilers debut with the two first round picks.
