Kastelic has missed the Senators' previous eight games due to a high-ankle sprain and was placed on the Long-Term Injured Reserve retroactive to November 3rd, Thursday. The 24-year-old bruising centre had failed to collect a point through nine games this season, but had 21 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus prior to his injury.
Jim Montgomery and the Bruins coaching staff have favoured Swayman over Linus Ullmark in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Thursday as Swayman will start for the fifth time in the last seven games. Swayman has been the more consistent of the two goalies this season but has struggled lately, as has the entire team, failing to record a victory in three straight games (0-1-1), posting a subpar .882 SV% in the process. The Bruins will look for only their second win in six games (1-3-1) against a low-scoring San Jose Sharks team (1.64 GF / GP) that has played significantly better lately, winning three of their last six (3-2-1).
Swayman will be back between the pipes for the Bruins on Monday after Linus Ullmark took the loss in Saturday's 7-4 defeat to the Rangers. Swayman's last appearance was a 5-2 loss to the Red Wings on Friday, when he surrendered four goals on just 28 shots. It was an uncharacteristically poor start from Swayman, but he still owns a sparkling stat line on the season with a .926 SV% and a 2.28 GAA to go along with his 7-1-2 record. He draws an excellent matchup on Monday with Boston being -250 favourites to secure the victory over the Blue Jackets.
Korpisalo was a game-time decision after returning to practice on Sunday. He did not dress for Saturday's game against the Wild due to an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old netminder was in particularly strong form prior to the injury, registering a 4-2-0 record and a .921 SV% over his last eight appearances. He returns to face a challenging matchup against the Panthers on Monday with the Sens being slight underdogs at +105.
Jokiharju did not play on Saturday and has averaged only 12:34 time-on-ice over his last four games after averaging 17:11 in his first 14, which is also when he accumulated all seven points he has this season (2G / 5A). Jokiharju has predominantly skated alongside Owen Power this season on the Sabres' second defensive pairing.
Korpisalo participated in the Sentaors' morning skate on Monday and could be an option in the crease against the Florida Panthers. Korpisalo has not dressed since November 18th, but the team will hope he can regain his pre-injury form when he posted a 4-2-0 record and a .921 SV% in his last eight appearances.
Steeves was recalled by the Maple Leafs last week but did not make his way into their lineup. Steeves has been enjoying an excellent start to his 2023-24 season in Toronto (AHL) with 11 goals, seven assists, six PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus through 14 games played and has been recalled to the Maple Leafs Thursday. The 23-year-old has six career NHL games under his belt and has an assist and five SOG while averaging only 7:55 TOI.
Jokiharju has two goals, five assists, 18 SOG, two PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 18 games this season but will be a healthy scratch Saturday vs. New Jersey. Isak Rosen will make his debut in Jokiharju's place.
Tufte appeared in two games in his latest call-up to the Avalanche and had a goal and an assist but has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) Saturday. The 25-year-old returns to the minors, where he was dominant prior to his promotion with nine goals, eight assists, six PIMs and a +4 plus/minus in 12 games played.
Lohrei played very well in his first taste of the NHL, recording four points (1G / 3A), 17 SOG and a minus-3 rating in 10 games. He gets sent to the AHL along with Patrick Brown in order to make room for Matt Grzelcyk to be activated from LTIR ahead of Saturday's game.
Brown suited up in the last two games for the Bruins, picking up one assist in 8:13 ATOI. Brown and Mason Lohrei were sent back to the AHL to make room for Matt Grzelcyk to be activated from LTIR.
Swayman will start Friday afternoon, the front end of a back-to-back for the Bruins. Swayman has struggled his last three games (1-0-2), posting a .895 SV% and allowing 10 goals in the process. That said, the Bruins are -186 home favourites despite losing to the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 on November 4th with Linus Ullmark between the pipes.
Korpisalo appears to still be nursing an undisclosed injury that kept him from dressing in the second game of the NHL Global Series in Sweden on November 18th. The Senators have recalled Mads Sogaard to serve as the backup to Anton Forsberg in the interim. The Senators will hope Korpisalo can return soon as he was finally starting to find his footing this season, posting a 4-2-0 record and a .921 SV% in his last eight appearances.
Steeves has been enjoying an excellent start to his 2023-24 season in Toronto (AHL) with 11 goals, seven assists, six PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus through 14 games played and has been recalled to the Maple Leafs Thursday. The 23-year-old has six career NHL games under his belt and has an assist and five SOG while averaging only 7:55 TOI.
Harris joins the Canadiens' already lengthy list of injured players as it was announced Tuesday that he would be out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old defensive defenseman has yet to find the back of the net this season with no goals, three assists, 12 SOG, eight PIMs, and a -7 plus/minus in 16 games prior to his injury.
Swayman allowed two goals on 22 shots in the Bruins' win over the Canadiens on Saturday. Swayman starting on Monday would be the first time that a Bruins' goalie has started in consecutive games this season, as they've stuck to a strict alternating schedule through the first 16 games. Swayman has been nothing short of spectacular this season, going 7-0-1 with a 1.73 GAA (1st in the NHL), and .941 SV% (1st) in eight games. On Monday he'll face a Lightning team that has had an up-and-down season so far, but rank eighth in the NHL in goals per/60 (3.47).
