This very well could just be a paper transaction as the Lightning are off until Thursday. We'll get a better sense of how they'll lineup for that game against the Wild when they return to practice on Tuesday.
Gaunce was sent down to make way for the return of Sean Kuraly (abdominal), who was activated off injured reserve on Sunday. Gaunce has one goal and two assists in eight games with the Blue Jackets this season.
The Golden Knights recalled 2020 first-round pick Brendan Brisson earlier in the day, so he could potentially slide into the lineup for his NHL debut if Stephenson is unable to go on Monday. Stephenson has seven goals and 13 assists in 39 games this season.
Kuraly will make his first appearance since exiting December 23rd's game against the Maple Leafs with an abdominal injury. He has six goals and five assists in 35 games this season.
Kuznetsov returns to the Wranglers after making just one appearance with the Flames. He has two goals and five assists in 31 AHL games this season.
Brisson, Vegas' 29th-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, is yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old centre has ten goals and 13 assists in 37 games with the Henderson Silver Knights this season.
Blidh will be the odd-man out on Sunday as Kaapo Kakko draws back into the lineup. Blidh has played just one game with the Rangers this season, registering one hit and one shot on goal in just over five minutes of ice time.
Shesterkin will be back between the pipes for the Rangers for the back-end of this weekend's home-and-home with the Capitals after Jonathan Quick got the nod in Saturday's 3-2 defeat. Shesterkin struggled his last time out, allowing four goals on just 19 shots as the Rangers fell to the Blues by a score of 5-2. The 2021-22 Vezina Trophy winner has endured a rocky season and has been particularly poor of late, posting a 1-3-0 record and an .828 SV% across his last four starts. He'll look to get back in the win column on Sunday with the Rangers being -250 favourites at home over the Capitals, who will be without Alex Ovechkin for the second straight game.
Samsonov will get an opportunity to get his woeful season back on track on Sunday as he will get the nod against the Red Wings, making his first appearance since December 29th. Samsonov gave up six goals on just 21 shots in that game as the Leafs fell in overtime to the Blue Jackets, marking a fourth-straight loss for Samsonov. His record on the season sits at 5-2-6 to go along with a dreadful .862 SV% and 3.94 GAA. Despite his struggles, he's got a great chance of picking up his first win in over a month, with the Maple Leafs being -210 favourites over the Red Wings on Sunday.
Allen will be back between the pipes for the Habs for the first time since January 4th, as Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau split the netminding duties over Montreal's previous four games. Allen struggled his last time out, allowing five goals on 37 shots enroute to a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Sabres. He owns a disappointing 4-8-2 record on the season along with a .900 SV% and a 3.52 GAA. He'll have his hands full again on Monday as the Canadiens host Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche.
Petan will return to Iowa after a five-game stint with the Wild here he compiled no goals and two assists. He has 28 points in 26 AHL games this season.
Timmins will likely see his first game action since December 21st as he was absent from the team's optional morning skate on Sunday. Mark Giordano, who was skating with the Leafs' regular scratches Sunday morning, will likely sit to make room for Timmins.
Giordano was skating with the regular Leafs' scratches at the team's optional morning skate on Sunday. Connor Timmins will likely draw into the lineup in his place.
It's the second straight game Ovechkin will miss as the 38-year-old continues to nurse a lower-body injury. The Capitals were able to edge the Rangers 3-2 in the front-end of their home-and-home on Saturday. Ovechkin's next chance to return to the lineup will come on Tuesday when Washington hosts the Ducks.
Lindgren will get the rare start on back-to-back days for the back-end of the Capitals and Rangers home-and-home on Sunday. Lindgren delivered a solid performance against New York on Saturday, stopping 25 of the 27 shots he faced enroute to a 3-2 victory. He now owns an 8-3-3 record on the season to go along with his impressive .928 SV% and 2.25 GAA. Lindgren and the Capitals find themselves as +190 underdogs in New York on Sunday despite edging the Rangers yesterday afternoon.
