Merrill was a healthy scratch in the last two games, but will replace Eric Gelinas in the lineup tonight in Buffalo. Merrill has no points and a minus-5 rating in 23 games this season.
Henrique has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, but will be back in the lineup tonight in Buffalo. Henrique has 13 goals and 10 assists (23 points) in 28 games and should be activated in all formats tonight vs. the Sabres.
Schneider was pulled after allowing three goals on 18 shots in the Devils loss in Brooklyn on Sunday. Schneider has gone 2-2-2 with a 2.65 GAA and .912 SV% in six December starts. He’ll face a Sabres team that has won two in row, but Schneider is already 1-0 against them this season.
Hellebuyck allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Jets’ 2-0 loss in Chicago last Friday. It was the first time he started on back-to-back nights and it was the first time he’s lost in his five-game NHL career. He will start his sixth game tonight and fourth at home, he has gone 3-0-0 with a 1.95 GAA and .940 SV% in his first three starts at MTS Centre.
Grimaldi has one goal in 10 games with the Panthers this season. During his time in Portland, he has collected nine points (4G / 5A) in 13 games. He is expected to be in the lineup on Tuesday because Jaromir Jagr is out with an illness.
Kassian has not appeared in a game with the Canadiens this season after being in a car accident and being admitted into the Substance Abuse program in the preseason.
Lupul has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury, but will be back in the lineup for Brad Boyes tonight v.s Tampa Bay. Lupul will start on the third line, but could move up into the top-6 if he plays well. He has eight goals and three assists (11 points) in 23 games this season.
Bolland has not recorded a point in eight games since getting back in the lineup on December 1st and only has five points (1G / 4A) in 25 games this season. He will head to Portland to rediscover his game.
Skjei, 21, was a first round pick (28th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 206 lbs. defenseman will make his NHL debut with veteran Dan Boyle as he D-partner. In his first full season with Hartford (AHL) he has collected 11 points (2G / 9A) in 27 games, which leads all Wolf Pack defensemen.
Ullmark made 20 saves on 21 shots in the Sabres win over the Kings on Saturday. Chad Johnson started last night in Detroit, but it will be Ullmark tonight vs. the Devils. Ullmark is 3-5-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .904 SV% on home ice this season and he struggled in his first start vs. New Jersey—he allowed four goals on 28 shots in a 4-3 loss back on October 24th.
Smith failed to record a point in two games during his conditioning stint. He returns to the Sharks, but is not expected to be in the lineup on Tuesday. Smith has no points and a minus-1 rating in four games with the Sharks.
Goodrow, 22, spent the majority of last season with the Sharks, but has been in the AHL for most of this year. Goodrow had three assists in 12 games with the Sharks earlier in the year and eight goals and three assists (11 points) in 15 games with San Jose (AHL).
Neuvirth made 41 saves on 43 shots in the Flyers 3-1 loss in Dallas on Friday. Neuvirth was excellent once again and will be rewarded with his third straight start. Neuvirth has stopped 92 of the last 96 shots (.958 SV%) that he’s faced and draws a great matchup vs. the Hurricanes. He is 1-0 vs. Carolina this season, but they come in having won four of five.
Lundqvist was pulled after he allowed five goals on 32 shots in the Rangers loss in Edmonton on Friday. Antti Raanta started on Saturday, but it will be Lundqvist tonight as he looks for revenge vs. the Oilers. Lundqvist has just two wins in his last seven outings while posting an ugly 3.19 GAA and .901 SV%.
Halak allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Islanders win in Columbus on Saturday. Halak has won three of his last four, going 3-0-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .935 SV% in the month of December. The Islanders have been on a tear as of late, going 8-0-2 in their last 10 and Halak draws a great matchup tonight against a Panthers team that has lost three of their last four.
Couture underwent a procedure to close up an artery due to bleeding in his right thigh and will miss at least the next five games. It will be the Sharks final five games before the Christmas break, so monitor his status when the team gets back into action after the break.
Scuderi, 36, was three seasons into his second stint with the Penguins after previously winning a Stanley Cup in 2008-09 during his first run in Pittsburgh from 2003-2009. Scuderi, who has served as a healthy scratch recently, has just four assists in 25 games this season.
Daley, 32, had six assists but did not score a goal in 29 games with the Blackhawks this season, his first since being traded from the Stars. Daley will help the Penguins with their breakout as well as on their power-play. The Penguins will retain 33 percent of Scuderi’s $3 million salary.
Quick allowed two goals on 42 shots in the Kings win in Pittsburgh last Friday. Jhonas Enroth started on Saturday, but it looks like it will be Quick tonight in Ottawa. Quick has won six straight starts while posting a 1.77 GAA and .926 SV%. Quick is one of the hottest goalies in the NHL and draws a strong matchup against Senators team who has lost three of four.
