Schneider allowed three goals on 31 shots in a loss to the Sharks on Saturday. After winning the first three starts of the season and allowing just six goals, Schneider has now lost back-to-back games while allowing eight goals on 57 shots (.860 SV%). He will face the Rangers, who he was 1-0-0 against last year.
Horvat has been out with shoulder injury, but sending him on a conditioning stint is a good sign that the Canucks are planning to keep Horvat with the big club. He can stay with Utica for a maximum of two weeks.
Schneider had a terrible night on Thursday. He was pulled after allowing five goals on 26 shots including a brutal goal that went of the end boards and then off him and in. The Devils will go right back to their star netminder in a rough matchup with the Sharks.
Varlamov participated in the morning skate Thursday and was the scheduled starter. He likely injured his groin at the very end of practice, or tweaked after injuring it in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss at Toronto. The Avs said Varlamov (0-2-1) should be available Oct. 24 against Vancouver. As a result of the injury, Reto Berra will start tonight and Calvin Pickard has been recalled.
Varlamov was originally expected to start, but head coach Patrick Roy called him a game-time decision because he is battling a groin injury. If he is unable to go, Reto Berra will draw the start. Stay tuned.
Schneider allowed a single goal on 27 shots in the Devils' 2-1 win over the Lightning on Tuesday. The win moved Schneider to 3-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .937 SV% on the young season. He is getting tons of goal support to start the year and he might need it tonight against a Capitals team who have 10 goals in three games.
Horvat, 19, has missed time due to a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason, but he is nearing a return which means he is nearing his NHL debut. The 2013 ninth overall pick had 30 goals and 44 assists (74 points) in 54 games with the London Knights of the OHL last season. He is a big body at 6-foot, 206 lbs. and is ready to make an impact at the NHL level.
Schneider stopped 28 of 29 shots in a 5-1 win over the Panthers on Saturday. Schneider moved to 2-0 with a 2.50 GAA and .926 SV%. The most surprising thing is that the Devils have scored 11 goals in the first two games after averaging just 2.40 G/PG (27th in NHL) a season ago.
Varlamov allowed two goals on 33 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Wild on Saturday. Overall he allowed seven goals on 71 shots (.901 SV%) in the home-and-home series while the Avalanche scored zero goals. On Tuesday, he takes on a Leafs team coming off of a big win over the Rangers on Sunday.
Varlamov was yanked after 40 minutes after allowing five goals on 38 shots in Colorado's 5-0 loss to the Wild on Thursday. It was not entirely Varlamov's fault, the Avs simply were not ready for the Wild who came out flying. Minny set a franchise record with 48 shots on the night, don't expect that to happen again, look for Varly to bounce-back on home ice.
Schneider stopped 35 of 39 shots in the Devils 6-4 win over the Flyers on Thursday. Schneider was given a three-goal lead but it slipped away in the final five minutes of the second. Surprisingly, the Devils provided him a ton of goal support, something he didn't get a lot of last season and shouldn't get used to this year. He will face a Florida team who lost their opener to the Lightning in OT.
Panik was claimed off of waivers from the Lightning on Wednesday and it looks like he will play on the Maple Leafs third line with Peter Holland and Daniel Winnik on Saturday. Panik has a lot of offensive skill, but still needs to work on the defensive part of his game.
Varlamov went 1-2 with a 2.31 GAA and .913 SV% in three preseason outings. Despite some legal troubles last season, Varly turned-in a great season in his first under head coach Patrick Roy. He led the NHL in wins (41) and finished with the league's third highest SV% (.927) and 20th GAA (2.41). The Avalanche appear ready to make another playoff push and they will lean heavily on Varlamov to get them there.
Panik, 23, was the Lightning's second round pick (53rd overall) in 2009. He has a lot of skill and upside, but could't find his way in Tampa, posting just eight goals and 14 assists (22 points) in 75 career games. A year ago I don't think the Maple Leafs make this claim, but with a new direction and focus on scoring goals and puck possession, Panik seems to fit their future plans.
Martin Brodeur is gone and now it is Schneider's turn to make a mark in Devils history. He had a strong first season and followed it up with a nice preseason, going 2-1 with a 1.62 GAA and .932 SV%. He has one of the NHL's oldest teams playing in front of him and they aren't going to be the highest scoring team, but should be strong defensively which will help Schneider post sod numbers across the board. He is a low-end number-1 due to lack of talent up front.
Varlamov went 1-2 with a 2.31 GAA and .913 SV% in three preseason outings. Despite some legal troubles last season, Varly turned-in a great season in his first under head coach Patrick Roy. He led the NHL in wins (41) and finished with the league's third highest SV% (.927) and 20th GAA (2.41). The Avalanche appear ready to make another playoff push and they will lean heavily on Varlamov to get them there.
Duclair, 19, was the Rangers third round pick (80th overall) in 2013. He had a great training camp after posted 50 goals and 49 assists (99 points) in 59 games with the Quebec Remparts (QMJHL). He will start his NHL career on New York's third line with J.T Miller and Lee Stempniak.
Palmieri is targeting a return in the Ducks' final preseason game on October 4th, so he should be ready to go to start the season. He is coming off of a 14-goal, 17 assist season in 2013-14.
Cizikas, 23, plays a strong two-way game. He had six goals and 10 assists (16 points) in 80 games with the Isles last season. He averaged 13:22 TOI per game, and 2:25 of that was spent on the penalty kill. That led all Islanders forwards and ranked fourth on the team.
Varlamov surrendered three goals on 21 shots in the 5-2 game 6 loss in Minnesota. The home team has won every game in this series, so the Avalanche have that going for them, but the will need to be much better than they were on Monday. Varly was a bit off in game 6 and has not had all that much success in his first three game 7's--he has gone 1-2 with a 2.99 GAA and .857 SV%.
