Hatakka was returned to Utica (AHL) for the All-Star break to get a few games under his belt but was returned to New Jersey on Monday and is expected to rejoin the team. The 23-year-old defenseman was a part of the Timo Meier deal on February 26th, 2023, and made his Devils' debut on January 22nd, 2024. He ahs an assist and a +5 plus/minus in three games thus far this season.
Rittich will start for the second straight game as the reeling Kings look for a solution to their losing woes. The Kings have lost 14 of their last 16 (2-9-5), and their only two wins have come with Rittich between the pipes. Rittich has played well for the Kings, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six outings (2-1-2), posting a respectable .916 SV%. The Kings are -115 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team riding a two-game losing skid.
Rittich will start for the second straight game as the reeling Kings look for a solution to their losing woes. The Kings have lost 14 of their last 16 (2-9-5), and their only two wins have come with Rittich between the pipes. Rittich has played well for the Kings, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six outings (2-1-2), posting a respectable .916 SV%. The Kings are -115 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team riding a two-game losing skid.
Chisholm was placed on waivers Sunday by Winnipeg and claimed Monday by the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old has a one-year, $775,000 contract and has appeared in two games for the Jets this season, collecting one assist, and a +1 plus/minus.
After playing only once in a span of eight games, Allen will return to the crease for the second time in the last three games on Saturday. Allen allowed three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%) in his last outing, a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. The Canadiens will face off against a Penguins club that defeated them 4-3 last month and is playing on the back end of a back-to-back.
Despite Vitek Vanecek winning his last two starts, including a roller-coaster 6-5 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights in the Devils' last game, the Devils will return to Daws between the pipes on Thursday night. Daws has dropped three straight games (0-3-0), including his worst performance of the season in his last outing, allowing six goals on 36 shots (.833 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The struggling Devils, losers of five of seven (2-4-1), are +140 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes club that played last night, defeating the Boston Bruins 3-2.
Hamilton has been out of the lineups since November 28th and remains out indefinitely. The talented blueliner had five goals, 11 assists, 61 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus in 20 games this season before getting hurt.
Hughes has already missed 11 games this season, eight with his current ailment, and although he still has a week-to-week prognosis, he appears to be making progress toward returning. The Devils have struggled, going 3-5 with Hughes out of the lineup.
Philip Tomasino will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Glass to make his return to the lineup. Glass has been held without a point in five straight games while recording a -5 plus/minus.
Despite Vitek Vanecek winning his last two starts, including a roller-coaster 6-5 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights in the Devils' last game, the Devils will likely return to Daws between the pipes on Thursday night. Daws has dropped three straight games (0-3-0), including his worst performance of the season in his last outing, allowing six goals on 36 shots (.833 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The struggling Devils, losers of five of seven (2-4-1), are +140 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes club that played last night, defeating the Boston Bruins 3-2.
Justin Barron drew back into the lineup last week in favour of Kovacevic, who has been a healthy scratch the last three games. Kovacevic played 13:18 time-on-ice in his last game and will draw back into the lineup on Tuesday as Barron has been reassigned to the Laval Rocket of the AHL.
Glass will join Juuso Parssinen as a healthy scratch on Monday as the Predators will welcome Philip Tomasino and Michael McCarron back into the lineup. Glass has been held without a point in five straight games while recording a -5 plus/minus.
Hughes has already missed 10 games this season, seven with his current ailment, and although he still has a week-to-week prognosis, he appears to be making progress toward returning. The Devils have struggled, going 2-5 with Hughes out of the lineup.
Allen has watched from the sidelines as the Canadiens have been outscored 15-6 in their last two games (0-2-0), including a 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators. The Senators will turn to Allen in the crease on Tuesday in a rematch against the Senators as he looks to build on a stellar showing in his last performance, a 32-save (.914 SV%) showing in a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
Rittich has earned himself a third straight start, and fourth in the last five games, in a favourable matchup against the San Jose Sharks on Monday. Rittich has been a bright spot during a poor stretch for the Kings, going 3-1-1 with a .937 SV% and being responsible for the Kings' only three victories in the last 14 games (3-7-4). Despite their poor play lately, the Kings are sizeable -387 home favourites against a Sharks club that is 2-7-1 in their last 10.
Hatakka has not played an NHL game since a nine-game stint with the San Jose Sharks in the 2021-22 season. The Sharks' sixth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has spent most of the last three seasons in the AHL, playing with the San Jose Baracuda and the Utica Comets, registering 23 points (5G / 18A) in 77 games.
