Filppula was set to play for Team Finland in Sochi, but the fractured hand will have him sidelined for three weeks. He played just 14:48 before retiring to the dressing room for the remainder of Thursday's loss to the Maple Leafs.
Bishop left Thursday's contest after the second period with an upper-body injury. This is the second time in a week that Bishop has been unable to finish a game due to injury. The last time he had a head injury, but played two days later. With the Olympic break on the horizon, don't be shocked to see Cedrick Desjardins start Saturday vs. the Red Wings.
Smith allowed two goals on 39 shots but found himself on the wrong side of a 3-1 final vs. Dallas on Tuesday. After sitting for two straight games, Smith has turned in back-to-back strong outings, stopping 60 of 63 shots (.952 SV%). He draws a tough assignment tonight with the Blackhawks in town looking to continue a strong road-trip.
Fleury allowed one goal on 25 shots in a win over the Sabres on Wednesday. It was his 31st of the season and sixth in his last nine starts while positing a 2.00 GAA and .925 SV%. Tonight it looks like he will go head-to-head with the red-hot Henrik Lundqvist who has won six of his last seven.
Khudobin allowed two goals on 27 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Jets on Tuesday. He was given a rest-day on Wednesday, but will get the start tonight with the Panthers in town. It is a great matchup for a goaltender who is at the top of his game right now.
Sedin has been playing through a rib injury for much of the last month and was visibly in pain on the ice, prompting the Canucks to sit him out of their last two games before the break. It will be Johansson’s first Olympic appearance. is in his fourth NHL season and is steadily adding to his offensive totals again this year. In 58 games for the Capitals, Johansson has seven goals and 29 assists. His addition is the second injury replacement in a week that Sweden, favored to be medal contenders in Sochi, has needed to make for ailing veterans.
Bouchard will report to the Rockford IceHogs (AHL), he has four goals and five assists, as well as a minus-9 rating, in 28 games with the Islanders. According to Pierre LeBrun, the Islanders retain 50 percent of the salary/cap hit for both Bouchard and Regin. Bouchard is on a one-year deal worth $2 million for this season.
Regin will report to the Blackhawks, he has played in 44 games with the Islanders this season; he has two goals and five assists and is a minus-10. Regin was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the third round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. According to Pierre LeBrun, the Islanders retain 50 percent of the salary/cap hit for both Bouchard and Regin. Regin is on a one-year deal worth $750,000.
Schndeider gave up two tallies on 25 shots in a 2-1 OT loss to the Avalanche on Monday. That marks 13 straight games where Schneider has held his opponent to three goals or less. He comes into play tonight having won five of his last 10 starts while positing a 1.51 GAA and .943 SV%. He is as consistent as you will find in fantasy hockey right now, get him in your lineup vs. the Oilers.
Lundqvist stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 5-1 blowout win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. It was Lundqvist's fourth straight win and 21st of the season. He was given Thursday night off, but will step back between the pipes this evening in Pittsburgh. In three previous starts vs. the Penguins, 'King Henrik' is 1-1-1 with a 2.92 GAA and .899 SV%.
Quick allowed five goals on 30 shots in a loss to the Blackhawks on Monday. He has now lost four in a row and eight of his last nine starts. However those losses have more to do with the Kings lack of offence than Quick's goaltending. Tonight the Kings welcome the Blue Jackets, he enters play 10-8-1 with a 2.34 GAA and .899 SV% at home this season.
Hutton allowed three goals on 34 shots in a shootout loss to the Blues on Saturday. Hutton has won six of his last eight starts while posting a 2.45 GAA and .916 SV%. Tonight he will like Hutton will go head-to-head with Darcy Kuemper.
Rask stopped 27 of 28 shots in a win over the Canucks on Tuesday. The Canucks offence has bee quiet lately so this was just another day at the office for Rask. With two games left before the Olympic break, Rask appears set to face the Blues in St. Louis. Rask is 9-7-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .916 SV% on the road this season.
Neuvirth was slated to start for the Capitals tonight vs. Winnipeg, but came down with the flu and will now turn the starting duties over the Braden Holtby.
Bernier stopped 44 of 47 shots but walked away on the wrong side of a 4-1 final on Tuesday vs. Florida. Tuesday was the eighth time that Bernier has made 40-plus saves in a game this season. The Maple Leafs are still getting outshot on a regular basis and forcing their backstop to stand on his head. Things will not get any easier tonight when Bernier faces the Lightning.
Enroth gave up three goals on 28 shots in yet another loss on Monday vs. the Oilers. Enroth is still stuck with one win (1-11-5) and remains as risky of a spot-start as there is in the NHL right now. Tonight he will meet the Senators team for the first time this season. Ottawa has won three of five while averaging 3.00 G/PG over that span.
Neuvirth was the first goalie off this morning and was scheduled to start tonight, but Braden Holtby led the team onto the ice for warmups. There were reports that Neuvirth did not look 100 per cent this morning and maybe missing tonight's start because he is feeling under the weather, we will update when we hear something. Holtby enters play with a 15-13-2 with a 3.00 GAA and .909 SV%.
The Vancouver Canucks captain has been dealing with a suspected rib injury and team coach John Tortorella said on Thursday morning that Sedin would not play against the Canadiens in Montreal on Thursday night nor against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Saturday. The Swedish media outlet Aftonbladet report said Thursday afternoon that Sedin is definitely out, quoting the Canuck directly. It is a blow for Sweden, a medal contender, given that Sedin had been set to centre the country’s top line, with his twin brother Daniel and Boston Bruins forward Loui Eriksson.
Gaborik was named to the Slovakian roster even though he had a broken collarbone, which he suffered on Dec. 21, and on Thursday the organization said that doctors still haven't cleared Gaborik to play. "I'm extremely disappointed that I won't be able to play for Slovakia at the Olympic Games but understand the decision is the right one for my recovery and for the national team," said Gaborik. "I have been lucky and proud to represent my country at two Olympic Games."
Bobrovsky stopped 34 of 36 shots in a 4-2 defeat of the Ducks on Monday. It was his 20th win of the season and third straight while posting a 1.67 GAA and .952 SV%. He is red-hot right now and is a must-start regardless of opponent, but he also draws a great matchup vs. a slumping Kings squad.
