Rittich stopped 19 of 20 shots in the Flames win in New Jersey last Wednesday. Mike Smith started on Saturday but Rittich will start for the third time in five games. Rittich comes in having won his last two games while stopping 41 of 43 shots (.954 SV%). Tonight he takes on a Maple Leafs team that has won four of their last five games.
Mayfield has been playing nearly 20 minutes per night this season but will take a seat with Thomas Hickey returning from an upper-body injury on Tuesday.
Duclair has fallen out of favour in Columbus but is a player who possesses a lot of potential and upside. Duclair has scored 11 goals and eight assists (19 points) in 52 games this season. Duclair could play a big role in Ottawa with the team selling off most of their top players at the deadline.
Varlamov allowed one goal on 27 shots in Colorado’s win over the Jets on Wednesday. Varlamov has been excellent recently, winning two in a row and three of his last four while stopping 120 of 124 shots (.968 SV%). Varlamov runs into a red-hot Blackhawks team, who he lost to in overtime back in late-December—allowing three goals on 37 shots.
Panik has missed the last three games but could return to the Coyotes lineup Thursday in Vancouver. Panik has 11 goals and 13 assists (24 points) in 54 games this season.
Varlamov stopped all 40 shots that he faced in Colorado’s shutout win over the Golden Knights on Monday. Varlamov has turned things around lately, winning two of his last three starts while stopping 94 of the 97 shots (.969 SV%) that he faced. Varlamov has gone 1-1-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .896 SV% in two games vs. the Jets this season.
