Saros missed the season opener with a lower-body injury but is expected to make his season debut on Saturday in Detroit. Saros, who has led the NHL in games played each of the last three seasons, was 13-9-3 with a 2.80 GAA and .909 SV% on the road last season. Nashville are -143 road favourites in Detroit.
Elvis Merzlikins started the Blue Jackets' season opener but Tarasov will start Saturday in Colorado. The Blue Jackets are massive underdogs (+275) tonight and Tarasov was a 4-5-2 with a 3.13 GAA and .902 SV% on the road last year. However, he was unbelievable in his only start against the Avalanche last year, stopping 45 of 46 shots in a win.
Georgiev was yanked after allowing five goals on 16 shots in Colorado's loss in Vegas in their season opener. It was an ugly start to the season but the Avalanche will not hesitate to go right back to him on Saturday. Colorado are massive favourites (-321) and Georgiev was 24-6-1 with a 2.75 GAA and .902 SV% on home ice last year.
Thompson will take Macklin Celebrini's spot on the Sharks roster after he was moved to IR. The 22-year-old defenseman appeared in two NHL games with the Sharks last year, but spent most of the season in the AHL, where he had nine points (1G / 8A) in 16 games.
Pickard allowed one goal on seven shots after replacing Stuart Skinner in the Oilers' 6-0 loss to the Jets on opening night. With a back-to-back this weekend, Pickard will start the easier of the two matchups vs. the Blackhawks on Saturday. The Oilers are the biggest favourites (-348) on Saturday's slate and Pickard had a 27-save shutout in his only game against them last season.
The Sharks have placed Celebrini on IR and will be without this summer's No.1 overall pick for at least a couple of weeks. This is a terrible break for Celebrini, who had one goal, one assist and two SOG in his NHL debut on Thursday. Mikael Granlund will move up and centre the top line and Klim Kostin will draw into the lineup to replace Celebrini.
Boqvist took a puck to the face in the Panthers' season opener and had to leave after just 4:38 TOI. He missed Thursday's game in Ottawa but will be back in the lineup in Buffalo. Boqvist will be one of the Panthers' seven defensemen in the lineup but will serve as the quarterback on their top power-play unit.
Pickard allowed one goal on seven shots after replacing Stuart Skinner in the Oilers' 6-0 loss to the Jets on opening night. With a back-to-back this weekend, Pickard will start the easier of the two matchups vs. the Blackhawks on Saturday. The Oilers are the biggest favourites (-348) on Saturday's slate and Pickard had a 27-save shutout in his only game against them last season.
Daccord served as the backup in the Kraken's season opener but will start Saturday in Minnesota. Fresh off of a five-year contract extension, Daccord will look to build off of a career-year in 2024. He was 19-18-11 with a 2.46 GAA and .916 SV% in 50 games with the Kraken. Seattle are +116 road underdogs.
