Kevin Poulin started on Sunday so there is a good chance that it will be Evgeni Nabokov tonight vs. the Bruins. However we won't know for sure until 5 PM EST.
Malkin will miss his eighth straight game today but appears close to returning. He took part in the morning skate once again so he is definitely progressing well. Monitor his status prior to Friday's meeting with the Rangers.
Fleury allowed three goals on 34 shots in a win over the Hurricanes on Friday. He was given Sunday night off, but will be back in the cage this afternoon. Fluery will face a Devils team who he is already 2-1-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .943 SV% against this season.
Rask was pulled after allowing three goals on 12 shots in a loss to the Senators on Saturday. It was an ugly outing for Rask who had just shutout the Sens the night prior and had won four straight entering play. Tonight he will face the Islanders at home where he is 13-3-2 with a 1.48 GAA and .949 SV%.
Montoya stopped 33 of 34 shots in a 2-1 OT win over the Avalanche on Sunday. He has won back-to-back appearances while stopped 55 of 57 shots (.965 SV%). He should make for a great spot start tonight with the Sabres coming to town. Montoya is 3-0-1 in Winnipeg this season.
Stone, 21, has recorded nine goals and nine assists for 18 points in 19 AHL games with the B-Sens this season. He missed 10 games after being injured during the team’s season-opener on Oct. 5 against Syracuse. The 6-2, 203-pound forward played in four regular-season games with the Senators last season, while being held scoreless. He also appeared in two NHL post-season contests (one in 2011-12 and one in 2012-13) and registered an assist in his professional debut on April 21, 2012
Harding gave up five goals on 31 shots in a loss to the Islanders on Sunday. It was his first start since December 17 and it did not go as Harding would have liked. Regardless, he will be back in the cage tonight vs. St. Louis. He is 14-2-0 with a 1.54 GAA and .935 SV% at home.
The Bruins recalled Nick Johnson this morning suggesting that Soderberg will not play, but monitor his status following the morning skate.
Eriksson will not play tonight, but this is a good sign for the Bruins. Eriksson will miss his 11th straight game tonight after suffering a concussion on December 7. Eriksson is considered day-to-day.
There is no word whether he will dress tonight vs. the Islanders, but his presence at the morning skate is a positive sign. Monitor his status following the morning skate.
Crawford didn’t dress for the game against the Kings — the 10th consecutive game he missed — but is expected to return Thursday against the Islanders or Friday against the Devils. Not a moment too soon for Crawford, either, because he was getting antsy skating by himself. ‘‘It felt pretty long when I was out,’’ said Crawford, who added he never had an injury this severe. ‘‘I was getting pretty bored there for a bit. It’s nice to be back on the ice with the guys.’’
Johnson will join the team Tuesday and be eligible for Tuesday night's game against the New York Islanders at TD Garden. Johnson has skated in a total of eight games with Boston this season and has registered seven shots on goal. The winger made his Bruins debut on December 10 against the Flames in Calgary. Johnson has appeared in 24 games with Providence this year, notching 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points with a plus-seven rating.
Phaneuf is in his fourth full season with the Maple Leafs and has averaged 24:21 TOI while posting four goals, 11 assists (15 points) and a plus-13 rating in 39 games. "Dion is our team leader and has been a pillar in our building process," said Leafs GM Dave Nonis. "He has proven to be a very durable and reliable defenceman in all facets of the game. He plays big minutes in every situation for us and we're pleased to have him under contract for the next seven seasons."
Howard struggled in Monday's return from a knee injury that forced him to miss eight games. He allowed three goals on 28 shots in a 6-4 loss to the Predators. He looked shaky at times, but obviously head coach Mike Babcock feels comfortable with Howard as he confirmed him for Wednesday's Winter Classic at The Big House.
The original plan was to have Jaroslav Halak start tonight but he is under the weather, so the Blues will turn to Elliott. He has won three straight starts while posting a 1.80 GAA and .933 SV%. Tonight he'll play Minnesota for the first time this season, entering the game he has 4-1-1 record with a 1.92 GAA and .927 SV% on the road.
Varlamov allowed two goals on 37 shots in a 2-1 OT loss to the Jets on Sunday. Varly has lost three consecutive starts, but will look to close out December on a high-note when he faces the Blue Jackets tonight. Varlamov enters play with a 3-2-4 record, 2.78 GAA and .914 SV% this month.
The Hurricanes needed to move a contract, so they dealt Westgarth and recieved an under-achieving former 1st round pick (25th overall in 2008). Westgarth is a big body at 6-foot-4, 235 lbs. and is more known for his toughness than his scoring touch. In 12 games this season he has no points and has just nine points (3G / 6A) in 133 career NHL games.
Nemisz was the 25th overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft. He skated in 15 NHL games with the Flames recording just one assist and has not dressed in the NHL since the 2011-12 season. In 32 games with the Abbotsford Heat this season, Nemisz has five goals and four assists in 32 games.
Lack stopped all 18 shots he faced vs. Calgary last night, to post his second shutout of the season. Lack has been excellent in his first NHL season registering a 7-2-0 record with a 1.74 GAA and .933 SV% in eight starts and 12 appearances. He will face the Flyers at home tonight, he is 2-0-0 in Vancouver.
