Edmonton Oilers News

Pickard gets his second straight start on Thursday.

Pickard allowed one goal on 34 shots a 3-0 loss to the Predators on Tuesday. It was a strong return to the Avalanche goal for Pickard, who will be the Avs’ go-to-guy while Varlamov is out. The 22-year-old has an OK home matchup tonight. He has gone 2-3-0 with a 2.16 GAA and.933 SV% at the Pepsi Center.

Calvin Pickard
Pickard back in goal vs. Nashville.

With Semyon Varlamov out with a groin injury again, Pickard is back and will start on Tuesday. During his last recall, he won three games with a 1.99 GAA and .936 SV% in three starts and two relief appearances. He becomes the Avs’ temporary starter but has an rough matchup tonight with the Predators in town.

Calvin Pickard
The Avalanche have recalled Calvin Pickard and he is expected to start Tuesday.

With Semyon Varlamov out with a groin injury again, Pickard is back and in-line to start on Tuesday. During his last recall, he won three games with a 1.99 GAA and .936 SV% in three starts and two relief appearances. He becomes the Avs’ temporary starter but has an rough matchup tonight with the Predators in town.

Calvin Pickard
Smith between the pipes for the Coyotes.

Smith allowed four goals on 23 shots in Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to Calgary. Since November 8th, Smith has lost eight of nine while Devan Dubnyk has won three of four, yet the Coyotes continue to ride Smith hoping for him to rediscover his game—he was 80-51-25 with a 2.42 GAA and .921 SV% in his three previous seasons with Arizona.

Mike Smith
Smith gets the start in both games of the back-to-back.

Smith allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Coyotes win over the Oilers last night. The win snapped a personal seven-game losing skid for Smith, who owns a 3.19 GAA and .894 SV% on the season. The Oilers are in tail-spin mode while tonight’s opponent, the Flames, are playing solid hockey. On a busy night, there are better options than Smith.

Mike Smith
The Avalanche have assigned Calvin Pickard to Lake Erie (AHL).

Pickard had a great stint with the Avalanche, winning three games in three starts and two relief appearances, while posting a 1.99 GAA and .936 SV%. With Semyon Varlamov set to return on Thursday, the Avalanche had to send Pickard back to the AHL.

Calvin Pickard
Smith starts for the Coyotes.

Smith allowed four goals on 35 shots in the Coyotes loss to the Avalanche last Tuesday. He was given Saturday night off, but will be back in the crease tonight in Edmonton. Smith has lost seven straight starts and has just four wins on the year, but one of them came in a 23-save performance in a 7-4 win over the Oilers on October 15th.

Mike Smith
Henrique (upper-body) did not practice Monday but will travel with the team on their two-game road trip.

Henrique missed Saturday’s game after suffering an upper-body injury on Friday. He didn’t skate this morning, but that won’t stop him from traveling to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. That is a positive sign that the injury is minor, but there is still no word on when he will return to the lineup.

Adam Henrique
Pickard starts on Monday vs. Montreal.

Pickard allowed two goals on 24 shots in the Avalanche’s win over the Stars on Saturday. Since being recalled, Pickard has posted three wins with a 1.41 GAA and .955 SV% in two starts and four appearances. He allowed three goals on 36 shots in a 3-2 loss in his first start against Montreal.

Calvin Pickard
Henrique (upper-body) will not play on Saturday.

Henrique suffered the upper-body injury on Friday vs. the Red Wings. He will be replaced by Damien Brunner in the lineup tonight vs. the Isles. He has recorded two goals and three assists in his last five games, so this is a tough loss for the Devils.

Adam Henrique
Pickard starts for the Avs on Saturday.

Pickard allowed three goals on 45 shots in the Avs loss to the Blackhawks on Wednesday. Pickard has been sensational in his short time with the big clue, which has led to them placing Reto Berra on waivers, so it looks like the kid is here to stay. He has a 1.18 GAA and .966 SV% in his last three appearances.

Calvin Pickard
PIckard starts Wednesday for the Avalanche.

Pickard stopped all 25 shots he faced after replacing Reto Berra in the Avs’ come-from-behind win over the Coyotes last night. He has won the first two games of his career in relief efforts—stopping all 42 shots. He has earned the start tonight, but draws a tough matchup vs. the Blackhawks.

Calvin Pickard
Smith starts between the pipes for the Coyotes.

Smith stopped 28 of 30 shots in the Coyotes 2-1 loss to the Ducks on Sunday night. Smith has lost each of last six outings while posting a 2.86 GAA and .901 SV%. It has been a tumultuous start for the Canadian Olympian, who can’t seem to find any consistency in his game. At least tonight, he faces an Avalanche who rank 24th in scoring.

Mike Smith
Smith was the first off at the Coyotes morning skate.

Smith stopped 28 of 30 shots in the Coyotes 2-1 loss to the Ducks on Sunday night. Smith has lost each of last six outings while posting a 2.86 GAA and .901 SV%. It has been a tumultuous start for the Canadian Olympian, who can’t seem to find any consistency in his game. At least tonight, he faces an Avalanche who rank 24th in scoring.

Mike Smith
The Bruins have sent Seth Griffith back to Providence (AHL).

Griffith, 21, had five goals and two assists in 18 games with the Bruins during his lengthy call-up. The Bruins needed to send someone to the AHL who did not need to clear waivers in order to activate Brad Marchand, so expect Griffith to be back with the Bruins soon.

Seth Griffith
Smith starts for the Coyotes on Sunday.

Smith allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Coyotes loss to the Stars on Thursday. Devan Dubnyk got the win last night, but in the second game of a back-to-back, Smith will be back in goal tonight in Anaheim. Smith is 4-10-1 with a 3.30 GAA and .890 SV% on the year, but one of those four wins came on November 7th in Anaheim.

Mike Smith
Demers will make his Stars debut on Saturday.

Demers was acquired from the Sharks on Friday and he skated on the Stars’ second pair with Trevor Daley. “He’s a good puck-moving guy, a right-handed shot,” said Daley. “He’s a guy that can jump in to be in your top four and eat up a lot of minutes.” Daley will also man the point with Alex Goligoski on the Stars second power-play unit.

Jason Demers