Backstrom allowed three goals on 30 shots in a loss to the Flyers on Monday. He has lost three straight and given up 12 goals in three starts since Josh Harding left the team for treatment. Harding was back with the team today, but is not quite ready to go again, so Backstrom faces the Jets tonight. His 3.18 GAA and .896 SV% on the season are not exactly fantasy worthy numbers.
Sheahan recorded his first two assists of his NHL career on Saturday vs Toronto, they were the only points he recorded in four games during his call-up.
Upshall's injury is not believed to be serious, but it will keep him out of tomorrow's contest. This is a tough break for the Panthers as they look to move to 3-0-0 vs. the Red Wings, but they will have to do so without their second leading scorer. Upshall has posted 18 points (6G / 12A) in 35 games.
The Islanders are in action on Saturday so Tavares is questionable to suit up vs. the Devils, monitor his status following tomorrow's morning skate.
Havlat sat out Monday's game and will not play tonight. It was revealed after practice that Havlat is dealing with a lower-body injury and he does not have a timetable for a return. He has had a very difficult time staying healthy in recent years which has drastically limited any remaining fantasy value he had. Havlat has three goals, five assists and a plus-5 rating in 22 games.
Bryzgalov stopped 18 of 20 shots in a 6-2 win over the Jets on Monday. He enters Saturday's contest vs. his former team with a 2-4-0 record, 2.80 GAA and .915 SV% with the Oilers. It will be an interesting game to see Bryz face a team that he played poorly for over the last two seasons.
Smith stopped 30 of 32 shots but the second goal came in OT as the Coyotes were downed by the Sabres. Smith has been good in December posted a 2.19 GAA and .927 SV%, but the results aren't there having gone 3-2-3 in eight starts. Tonight he takes on the Sharks who Phoenix has split the first two games against this season.
Niemi surrendered four goals on 33 shots in a shootout win over the Avalanche on Monday. Niemi has alternated wins and losses in his last five contests, so hopefully for his owners that trend stops tonight in Phoenix. Niemi will see the Coyotes for the third time this season, through the first two meetings he is 1-0-1 with a 1.44 GAA and .943 SV%.
Aaron Rome will enter the lineup as Gonchar misses his second straight game after being injured on Saturday. Consider Gonchar day-to-day going forward.
Klesla was recently recalled from the AHL and recorded one assist in three games since re-joining the Coyotes. David Schlemko is expected to dress in Klesla's spot, he has not played in the last three games.
Lehner allowed five goals on 33 shots in a loss to the Devils on December 18. He was the back-up for the last three games, but appears to be in-line to start in Boston tonight. Lehner has posted a 2-5-1 record with a 2.69 GAA and .928 SV% on the road.
Fleury allowed five goals on 29 shots in a 5-0 blowout loss to the Senators on Monday. The loss snapped a five game winning streak for the Penguins netminder. Tonight Fleury will see the Hurricanes in Carolina for the third time this season. In the first two games he is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .945 SV%.
Hutton was pulled after allowing two goals on four shots on Monday. It was the second time in his last two starts that he has been pulled and the third straight game that the Predators have had to make a goaltending change. He will face the Stars for the second time this month, he stopped 33 of 34 shots in a 3-1 win on December 12.
Keaton Ellerby will enter the lineup with Bogosian out. Consider Bogosian day-to-day and monitor his status prior to Sunday's game against the Avalanche.
Zibanejad has missed the last two games, but is likely to return tonight vs. the Bruins. Zibanejad has four assists in his last eight games and has a total of 15 points (8G / 7A) in 29 games. If he does play, Matt Kassian will come out of the lineup.
Orpik will play for the first time since December 7 when he was knocked unconscious by a Shawn Thornton sucker punch. He missed eight games with a concussion but will be back tonight when the Penguins are in Carolina. He will skate with Deryk Engelland.
Despite participating in the Penguins morning skate, Malkin will miss his sixth consecutive game. Consider him questionable for Sunday's meeting with the Blue Jackets.
Eriksson was a seventh round pick of the Flyers in 2008 and has yet to play in an NHL game. He spent the last five seasons in Sweden but has started his North American hockey career 8-10-1 with a 2.77 GAA and .907 SV% with Utica. His suggests that Roberto Luongo will miss some time.
Parise will miss his second straight game tonight. He is believed to have aggravated a foot injury he was dealing with in November after blocking an Alex Steen shot on Sunday. Nino Niederreiter will shift to the Wild top line with Parise on the shelf.
Dubnyk allowed three goals on 38 shots in a loss to the Avalanche on December 19. He has not recorded a win since December 10 but will have a decent chance when he takes on the Flames in Calgary tonight. He is 1-0-1 with a 1.97 GAA and .935 SV% in the Battle of Alberta this season.
