The undrafted 27-year-old netminder has gone 12-7-4 with a 2.47 GAA and .924 SV% in 26 games with the Penguins this season. DeSmith has played very well while Matt Murray was sidelined and proved that he is a more than capable No.2 netminder who can serve as a No.1 when called upon.
Duchene and his wife are awaiting the arrival of their first child, so Duchene stayed home and is expected to miss all three games on their California road trip. Darren Archibald was called up to serve as the extra forward with Duchene out.
Benn was held out of the lineup on Friday as a precaution but will be back in Sunday vs. the Jets. Benn has scored in back-to-back games and has 17 goals and 15 assists (32 points) in 41 games this season.
Benn was forced to leave Wednesday’s game vs. New Jersey with an upper-body injury that he suffered after being hit by Miles Wood. Benn was on the ice this morning and wanted to play but the coaching/training staff want him to recover more thoroughly. Valeri Nichushkin will move to the Stars’ top-line with Benn out.
Duchene has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury but will play Friday vs. the Devils. Duchene has had an outstanding season to date, picking up 12 goals and 22 assists (34 points) in 29 games before getting injured.
Duchene was on the ice for the Senators morning skate but will not return to the lineup on Monday. The Senators are hopeful that Duchene will be back for their back-to-back on Friday/Saturday.
DeSmith turned aside 48 of 51 shots in the Penguins win over the Bruins last Friday. Matt Murray turned in a great performance on Saturday as well but they’ll go back to DeSmith tonight vs. the Ducks. A solid 1-2 in net could be shaping up for the Penguins after a tough start to the season. Anaheim has won eight of their last nine while averaging 3.67 goals for per game.
DeSmith gave up four goals on 27 shots in the Penguins loss in Chicago on Tuesday. It was a disappointing loss in a great matchup for DeSmith, who is 6-1-2 with a 2.45 GAA, .926 SV% and one shutout on home-ice coming into Friday’s game. The Bruins are 17-10-4 but rank 27th in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.71 GF/pg).
DeSmith gave up four goals on 27 shots in the Penguins loss in Chicago on Tuesday. It was a disappointing loss in a great matchup for DeSmith, who is 6-1-2 with a 2.45 GAA, .926 SV% and one shutout on home-ice coming into Friday’s game. The Bruins are 17-10-4 but rank 27th in the NHL in goal-scoring (2.71 GF/pg).
DeSmith allowed one goal on 26 shots in the Penguins shootout win over the Islanders on Monday. Even with Matt Murray being activated from IR, the Penguins will stick with DeSmith tonight in Chicago. DeSmith has won three of his last four starts with a 1.96 GAA and .933 SV% and is a must-start against a Chicago team that has lost eight in a row.
DeSmith allowed one goal on 26 shots in the Penguins shootout win over the Islanders on Monday. Even with Matt Murray being activated from IR, the Penguins will stick with DeSmith tonight in Chicago. DeSmith has won three of his last four starts with a 1.96 GAA and .933 SV% and is a must-start against a Chicago team that has lost eight in a row.
DeSmith allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Penguins loss in Ottawa on Saturday. DeSmith has not allowed more than three goals in seven straight starts, going 5-1-1 with a 2.28 GAA and .923 SV% in the process. In 64 minutes of hockey against the Islanders, DeSmith has stopped 36 of the 40 shots (.900 SV%) that he has faced.
DeSmith allowed two goals on 21 shots in the Penguins win over the Islanders on Thursday. DeSmith is in the middle of an impressive stretch, winning five of his last six games while posting a 2.34 GAA and .922 SV%. Tonight draws a Senators team that has lost six of their last nine games.
Duchene was forced to leave Thursday’s game with a groin injury and was placed on IR on Friday. Senators GM Pierre Dorion announced that Duchene will miss multiple weeks, which will force both Colin White and Chris Tierney into bigger roles.
The Senators have yet to provide a detailed injury report on Duchene, who was hurt in Thursday’s game against Montreal. His move to IR means that he will miss at least one week, so the Senators recalled Nick Paul from Belleville (AHL) to replace him on the active roster.
