Allen allowed three goals on 17 shots in the Canadiens win in Vancouver on January 21st. It wasn't as solid as his debut with Montreal but it was enough to move Allen to 2-0-0 to start the season. With a back-to-back coming up on Monday and Tuesday, it's surprising that Allen will get this start. He'll face a Flames team that has lost three in a row while being outscored 11-to-7.
Noesen has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace John Leonard in the lineup on Thursday. Noesen has no points and two shots on goal in three games this season.
Jacob Markstrom started the first five games of the season, so Thursday will be Rittich's season debut. The 28-year-old has won 20-plus games in back-to-back seasons, going 24-17-6 with a 2.97 GAA, .907 SV% and two shutouts in 48 games last season. Tonight he faces a Canadiens team that has yet to lose in regulation and lead the NHL in scoring through six games (4.83 GF/gm).
Bratt has cleared COVID-19 protocol and has been added to the added roster, which clears the way for him to make his season debut on Thursday. It seems likely that Bratt will replace Nick Merkley in the lineup since Merkley was sent to the taxi squad in a subsequent move. Bratt has three straight seasons of 30-plus points, scoring a career-high 16 goals with 16 assists (32 points) in 60 games last year.
Hellebuyck allowed three goals on 21 shots but it was enough to be the Senators last Saturday. Hellebuyck has picked up where he left off in 2020, opening the season at 3-1-0 with a 2.25 GAA and .920 SV% through four games. On Tuesday he'll face a high-powered Oilers offence, who he was 2-1-0 with a 1.65 GAA, .943 SV% and one shutout against in 2020.
Rodrigues left Sunday's game vs. the Rangers with a lower-body injury that he suffered in a collision with Filip Chytil. The play left both players injured and it is going to keep Rodrigues out "longer term." With Rodrigues hurt, Drew O'Connor will likely make his NHL debut on Tuesday.
Nick Merkley is coming up to make his season debut on Sunday so they send Boqvist to the taxi squad because he doesn't need waivers. Boqvist has yet to register a point with just two shots on goal in four games this season.
Glass was a healthy scratch for the last two games but it looks like he'll dress on Friday as the Golden Knights shift back to 13 forwards and five defensemen. Glass has one assist in two games this season.
Hellebuyck stopped 35 of 37 shots in the Jets loss in Toronto on Monday. Hellebuyck stood tall but the offence fell flat, leading to his first loss of the 2021 campaign. Hellebuyck has been strong early on, stopping 58 of the 63 shots (.921 SV%) that he's faced and is a must-start with a great matchup tonight in Ottawa.
Noesen was a healthy scratch on Monday but will replace Frederik Händemark in the lineup on Wednesday. After playing on the fourth line on Saturday, Noesen will play with Dylan Gambrell and John Leonard on Wednesday.
Allen served as Carey Price’s backup in the first two games of the season but will make his Canadiens debut Monday in Edmonton. There are easier matchups than facing Connor McDavid in your debut but he is 5-2-0 vs. Edmonton in the last three seasons. The 30-year-old is coming off of a 12-6-3, 2.15 GAA and .927 SV% in 2020, so he is one of the most reliable backup options in the NHL.
Hellebuyck gave up three goals on 26 shots in the Jets' overtime win over the Flames last Thursday. The Jets had a long break between their first and second game, so Hellebuyck could see three or four starts during the Jets' five-game week. In two starts vs. the Maple Leafs in 2020, Hellebuyck surrendered eight goals on 45 shots (.822 SV%).
