Allen surrendered three goals on 22 shots in a 4-1 loss to Vancouver last Thursday. It was Allen's first loss of the season and he now sits at 1-1-0 with a 2.01 GAA and .915 SV%. The Blues team defense will help both Allen and Brian Elliott's numbers all season. He draws a tough matchup vs. the Ducks, but the Blues should be able to slow them down.
Allen allowed a single goal on 25 shots in a win over the Coyotes last Saturday. Tonight will mark his second start of the year as the Blues have split the starts 70/30 in Brian Elliott's favour. Tonight he will face a Canucks team who were shelled by the Stars on Tuesday. Allen will continue to carve our a larger role if he plays well.
Allen will make his season debut on Saturday vs. the Coyotes. Allen went 9-4-0 with a 2.46 GAA and .905 SV% in 15 games with the Blues. He will be a full-time NHLer after spending four years in the AHL. He makes for a nice start against an average Coyotes offence.
Dillon, 23, had six goals and 11 assists in 2013-14. The 6-foot-3, 225 lbs. defensemen led the Stars in hits last season with 168 and finished second in blocked shots (149). Dillon will once again play 20-plus minutes a night, but his fantasy value is limited due to his lack of power-play time.
Markstrom, 24, was acquired in the trade that sent Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers last March. He was 2-8-3 with a 3.39 GAA and .873 SV% between the Panthers and Canucks last season. Markstrom was once considered the NHL's top goaltending prospect and will likely be claimed by another team. He has just one year with a $1.2 million cap-hit left on his contract, making him a relatively low-risk add.
Dillon is listed as day-to-day with the lower-body ailment. Aaron Rome, who was limited to just 25 games this season, will draw into the lineup for Dillon. Missing Dillon will hurt the Stars blueline considerably. At 6-foot-3, 225 lbs. they could definitely use his size against a Ducks team who have 11 players over 6-foot.
Markstrom allowed five goals on 22 shots in a loss to the Oilers last night. His first two starts with the Canucks have not gone very well as he has allowed eight goals on 49 shots (.837 SV%), both resulting in losses. He will start the last game of the season vs. the Flames.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 27 shots in a loss to the Avalanche in his first start with the Cancuks. He will get a second chance tonight and draws a much easier matchup in Edmonton. However, it is Ryan Smyth's last NHL game so the Oilers could come out flying for their veteran.
Markstrom has not started an NHL game since December 20th. He played 19:48 wit the Canucks in early March after replacing Eddie Lack--he stopped four of five shots. He will likely start the remaining three games in a lost season for the Canucks. This will give Vancouver a good idea of what their goalie situation will be like heading into 2014-15.
Hamilton was a healthy scratch in each of the last two games but draws back in tonight vs. Phoenix. He will be paired with Zdeno Chara.
Markstrom, 24, was the 31st overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft. He has yet to assert himself as an NHL regular, but will get a chance now in Vancouver to share time with fellow countryman Eddie Lack. The two were teammates back with Brynas of the Swedish Elite League. Markstrom is 1-6-3 with a 3.52 GAA and .874 SV% with Florida this season, but has recently been playing with San Antonio (AHL) where he was 12-11-3 with a 2.56 GAA and .918 SV%.
“He’ll take warm-ups," said head coach Lindy Ruff. "We’re still hopeful that he may be able to go for us, but that’s going to be a game-time decision.” So there is a chance he can play, and they can certainly use him. The 6-4 defenseman leads the team in hits with 128 and is second in blocked shots (behind Alex Goligoski) at 111. Dillon is second on the team in time on ice at 21:25 per game, third in defenseman scoring with 14 points and first in goals by a defenseman at six.
Dillon missed Saturday's game with a lower-body injury and was skating with the injured Stephane Robidas at the Stars' morning skate, which suggests he will not play tonight vs. Buffalo.
There was no word on Dillon's status until he did not come out onto the ice for warmups. The Stars D-pairs will be Goligoski-Daley; Benn-Gonchar; Rome-Connauton with Dillon out.
Hamilton missed the last four games with a concussion that he suffered on January 11. He will be back vs. the Flyers, but there is no word yet on who he will be paired with. He has 10 points (4G / 6A) in 33 games this season.
After a four-game absence, Hamilton will return to the Bruins blueline on Saturday. He has 10 points (4G / 6A) in 33 games.
If all goes well, Hamilton could be back in the Bruins' lineup on Saturday. The Bruins are also without Adam McQuaid, but it looks like Hamilton is closer to returning. Monitor his status as Saturday approaches.
Hamilton missed practice for the second straight day, but now we know that he is dealing with a concussion that will keep him out of action tonight. Johnny Boychuk, who missed the last game with a personal issue, will draw back in for Hamilton.
Allen, 23, has dressed in 23 games for Chicago this season, ranking fourth among all AHL goalies with 14 wins (14-7-2) while his 2.17 GAA ranks third and his .922 SV% is 10th best. His demotion to the AHL means that Jaroslav Halak is back to full health and will suit up on Tuesday, whether as the start or the back-up.
