Andersen was sent back to Norfolk on Friday to get more playing time, but he has been recalled today and could start tonight vs. the Canucks with Jonas Hiller sick. Andersen is 10-2-0 with a 2.07 GAA and .923 SV% this season.
This is a very inopportune time for Hiller to get sick. He is riding a 14-game winning streak and the Ducks are getting set the face the Canucks tonight and the Blackhawks and Blues in a back-to-back this weekend. Hiller should be available by the weekend, but I would expect Andersen to get the start tonight.
Prout, 23, has recorded two assists, 31 penalty minutes and 41 blocked shots in 25 games with Columbus this season. He tallied one goal and six assists for seven points with 27 penalty minutes and a +15 rating in 28 games with the Blue Jackets during the 2012-13 campaign, leading the club in plus/minus while ranking second among rookie NHL defensemen in that category.
Howard claimed that he is starting on Thursday vs. the Rangers, but head coach Mike Babcock says they will wait and see how the morning skate goes before he makes that call. Howard was scheduled to start on Sunday, but ended up yielding the start to Petr Mrazek because of a sore hip flexor.
Alexander Sulzer is likely to take a seat in the press box with Myers returning. Myers has 12 points (4G / 8A) with an ugly minus-15 rating in 42 games this season.
Vey has suited up for 14 games with the Kings this season, he has registered five assists in that span. While with Manchester he has 22 points (6G / 16A) in 20 games.
Neuvirth stopped 32 of 34 shots in his return to the net on Friday. Braden Holtby has been a disaster this season, so more strong efforts like this could earn Neuvirth more playing time behind Philip Grubauer. Tonight he faces the Penguins, it is an ugly matchup and likely one that should be avoided.
Miller stopped 28 of 29 shots in a shootout win over the Capitals on Sunday. Miller made a number of spectacular saves, including a save of the year candidate when he robbed Mikhail Grabovski when reached across the net, stopping the puck from entering the empty cage with his twig. Miller has been lights-out lately and faces a team tonight that he has had his most success against this season. Miller is 2-0-1 with a 1.95 GAA and .939 SV% vs the Maple Leafs.
Fleury allowed a ingle goal on 28 shots in the Penguins 2-1 win against the Flames on Saturday. He has now won four straight starts and continues to lead the NHL in wins, he has 26. In his only start vs. the Capitals this season, he stopped all 18 shots that he faced to shut the Caps out in a 4-0 victory.
Strome has no been the offensive splash he was expected to make, he recorded four points (1G / 3A) in 15 games with the Islanders. This could be a temporary move until Travis Hamonic is ready to return, but regardless Strome won't be in the lineup on Thursday.
Toffoli got off to a hot start with four goals and four assists in his first seven games and 17 points (9G / 8A) 22 games. However he has failed to record a point in his last 11 games and now finds himself back in the AHL.
With Tomas Tatar in Slovakia because of his father's funeral, Jurco has been recalled and will play on Thursday. The 21-year-old recorded two goals and one assist in seven games with the Red Wings in late December. Jurco, the 35th pick overall in 2011, showed he has some promise and has played very well at the AHL level as well. He leads Grand Rapids with 32 points (13G / 19A) in 32 games.
Pageau has recorded two goals in 21 games for the Senators this season. His return to the minors suggests that Chris Neil is ready to return to the lineup after missing the last five games.
Johnson played just 12:45 before retiring to the dressing room for the night. Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy said that he "hopes that [Johnson] is day-to-day. We will provide an update as soon as there is word from the Avs medical staff.
With Brian Gibbons out for at least one week the Penguins had to move someone to Crosby's line, which we now know is Sutter. Sutter certainly gets a boost in fantasy value for the foreseeable future, he has 16 points (8G / 8A) in 47 games this season.
Neal missed the last two days of practice and was listed as questionable for tonight's game, but his presence at the morning skate is a good sign that he could be available tonight. We will get an official word following the a.m skate.
Lehtonen surrendered three goals on 34 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Rangers on Friday. He was given Sunday night off vs. the Islanders, but it appears that he will take on the Oilers tonight. He has had a lot of success vs. Edmonton this season going 1-0-1 with a 0.96 GAA and .963 SV%.
The Avalanche will have to play with only 17 players tonight vs. Chicago. Consider Sarich day-to-day.
Montreal will dress Francois Bouillon and go with seven defensemen against the Devils. Expect Danny Briere to play centre tonight with Desharnais out.
"There's not a chance in hell that I'm moving Jonas Hiller," Murray said on Tuesday evening. "I'm tired of hearing about the rumors. I can tell you Jonas is not going anywhere." With the Ducks in first place overall atop the NHL standings, it makes no sense to move the six-year veteran, despite the fact he's a pending unrestricted free agent. Hiller has won 14 straight starts and sits second in the NHL with 23 wins. With the Ducks having four NHL ready goalies, this may open the door for Viktor Fasth to be moved before the trade deadline.
