Kreider did not play on Sunday and will be out of the lineup until at least January 14th against the Colorado Avalanche. The 33-year-old Kreider has struggled this season with only 15 points (13G / 2A) in 34 games but was playing better lately, scoring three points (2G / 1A) in three games before his injury.
Mintyukov will take a seat on Friday as the Ducks opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Olen Zellweger will draw into the lineup in his place.
Zellweger will get the chance to slot back into Anaheim's lineup on Friday after serving as a healthy scratch for each of the last three games. Pavel Mintyukov will sit in his place.
Dostal will get the nod for the tail-end of Anaheim's back-to-back when they travel to Edmonton to take on the Oilers on Friday. Dostal was excellent in his last appearance, stopping 32 of the 34 shots he faced in a 3-2 victory over the Devils on New Year's Eve. The 24-year-old netminder owns a 10-10-3 record and an impressive .914 SV% on the season. He'll need to be at his best again on Friday against Connor McDavid and the Oilers, as the Ducks enter action at +375 on the money line.
Nesterenko has 12 games of NHL experience but has exclusively played in the AHL this season. The 23-year-old forward has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 29 games with the San Diego Gulls (AHL) this season.
It appears John Gibson may still not be fully recovered from his illness, as the Ducks will turn to Dostal for a third consecutive game. Dostal secured the victory his last time out, allowing three goals on 23 shots in a 5-3 win over the Oilers on Sunday. The 24-year-old netminder brings a 9-10-3 record and a .913 SV% into Tuesday's clash with the Devils. He'll need to be at his best again tonight with the Ducks entering action at +230 on the money line.
The Blackhawks have struggled lately, being outscored 21-10 during a four-game losing skid, and will hope to change their fortunes with Mrazek between the pipes in the Winter Classic on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. After starting the season with a solid .912 SV% in his first 16 games (7-8-1), Mrazek has fallen off significantly, posting a lousy .844 SV% in his last six appearances (0-5-0). The Blackhawks enter Tuesday's contest as +125 home underdogs against a Blues club coming off a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
Clang was recalled several days ago to serve as Lukas Dostal's backup due to John Gibson (illness) being out of the lineup. The 22-year-old Clang did not make it into the Ducks' crease and will return to the San Diego Gulls (AHL), where he has a 3.10 GAA and .896 SV% in 19 games (7-10-1).
Mrazek has only played one of the last eight games while battling an injury but will return to the crease on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. In his most recent outing, Mrazek allowed five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 6-4 loss to the Calgary Flames. He has a 2.94 GAA and .902 SV% in 21 appearances this season (7-12-1). The Blackhawks enter Friday's contest as +144 road underdogs against a Sabres squad that snapped a 13-game losing skid on Monday.
