Allen allowed two goals on 21 shots in the Blues; win over the Wild last Thursday. Allen won each of his first two starts in easy fashion. He has only faced 40 shots so far this season and has turned aside 36 of them (.900 SV%). Tonight Allen is a must-start against a Vancouver team that has gotten off to a surprise 2-0-0 start, but should be beatable tonight.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 22 shots in the Canucks’ overtime win over the Hurricanes on Sunday. Ryan Miller played great on Saturday, but will not play tonight because of muscle tightness, so Markstrom gets a second straight start. However, there are better options with a very dangerous 3-0-0 Blues team in town.
Ryan Miller started the Canucks’ season opener last night, so Markstrom will start tonight as the Canucks host the Hurricanes. The 26-year-old had a nice 2015-16 season, going 13-14-4 with a 2.73 GAA and .915 SV%, but he will need to be better than that if he want to surpass Miller as the starter in Vancouver.
Meier was injured in the Sharks’ preseason and wasn’t expected to be ready until the end of October. He will probably get up-to-speed with the Barracuda before he is recalled by the Sharks.
Allen’s first year as the Blues’ No.1 netminder got off to a nice start last night. Allen stopped 17 of 19 shots in the Blues’ 5-2 win over the Blackhawks. St. Louis dominated possession, which limited Allen’s workload and will allow him to go again tonight vs. the Wild. Last year the 26-year-old was 2-2-0 with a 2.24 GAA and .918 SV% in four starts against Minnesota.
Allen (leg) returned to practice on Tuesday and will start the Blues season opener on Wednesday. The 26-year-old takes over as the Blues starter with Brian Elliott now in Calgary, but his season starts off with a difficult matchup, on the road in Chicago. Allen had a .920 SV% last year and carries a career .915 SV% through 99 games. He was 2-1-0 with a 2.11 GAA and .933 SV% against Chicago last season.
Allen left the final preseason game with what appeared to be an ankle injury, but the Blues announced on Monday that he appears to be OK. Allen didn’t practice on Monday, but is expected to be on the ice on Tuesday and could even play in the season opener vs. Chicago on Wednesday.
Glendening, 27, is coming off of the best offensive year of his brief career, having picked up 21 points (8G / 13A) in 81 games. He has only missed one game over the last two years and led Red Wings forwards in face-off percentage and shorthanded time on ice last season. It appears Glendening will be the Red Wings’ fourth line centre for the next five seasons.
Markstrom’s NHL career didn’t get off to a great start, but he seems to have settled in in Vancouver. He was excellent with Utica (AHL) two years ago and went 13-14-3 with a 2.73 GAA and .915 SV% in 32 games with the Canucks last season. Markstrom will battle with Ryan Miller for starts as the Canucks’ No. 1 netminder.
Allen, 25, was 26-15-3 with a 2.35 GAA and .920 SV% in 44 games while splitting time with Brian Elliott in the Blues crease last season. With Elliott now in Calgary, the crease is all Allen’s and he should be an excellent fantasy option behind a strong Blues squad. Allen will get a chance to start around 60 games and he enters 2016-17 with a career 2.34 GAA and .915 SV%.
Allen missed the final three games of the regular season with a lower-body injury, but says he is 100 percent and will return as Elliott’s backup in the Blues’ series opener vs. Chicago. The Blues are set up nicely with a great goaltending duo heading into the postseason.
The Red Wings utilized Glendening in a shutdown role vs. the Lightning last year. He will be called upon to do the same this year, so his availability for Wednesday’s game will be important to the Red Wings’ success. He averaged 14:35 TOI in the regular season and averaged 15:31 TOI in the seven game series last year.
Allen missed the final three games of the regular season and is trying to get back before Game 1 of the playoffs. Brian Elliott has already been confirmed for that game, but having Allen back would be great insurance for the Blues. Monitor his status as the week progresses. Allen won 26 games with a 2.35 GAA and .920 SV% in the regular season.
Markstrom stopped 34 of 36 shots in the Canucks win in Anaheim on Friday. The Canucks did not hold a morning skate because of the early start time in Edmonton, but they'll stick with their strict goalie rotation and go with Markstrom tonight. The 26-year-old has gone 1-1-0 with a 1.48 GAA and .948 SV% in two starts against the Oilers this season.
Markstrom stopped 34 of 36 shots in the Canucks win in Anaheim on Friday. The Canucks did not hold a morning skate because of the early start time in Edmonton, but they have stuck with a strict goalie rotation and it’s Markstrom’s shot to start. The 26-year-old has gone 1-1-0 with a 1.48 GAA and .948 SV% in two starts against the Oilers this season.
