Murray started a career-high 50 games last year, going 29-14-6 with a 2.69 GAA and .919 SV%. It was a nice bounce-back season for Murray, who will try to stay healthy in 2019-20. He has the abilities to be a workhorse for the Penguins but durability has been an issue over the last three seasons. A home matchup with the Sabres makes Murray one of the night’s top options.
Montour is a few weeks away from any type of contact, which suggests that he won’t be back until late-October. Luckily the Sabres went out and got Colin Miller and Henri Jokiharju this offseason, so their blueline should remain strong in Montour’s absence.
Montour is set to miss the rest of the preseason and could miss some regular-season time with a hand injury. Henri Jokiharju, who was acquired from the Blackhawks this offseason, is the most likely candidate to fill the hole left by Montour’s injury to start the season.
Stephenson had five goals and six assists (11 points) in 64 games with the Capitals a season ago. The 25-year-old has settled into a bottom-6 role with Washington, but will have to battle with offseason additions Garnet Hathaway and Brendan Leipsic for playing time to start the 2020 campaign.
Hayden spent the entire 2019 season with the Blackhawks but only played in 54 NHL games. The 24-year-old had three goals and two assists (five points) to give him just 22 points (8G / 14A) in 113 career games. He will likely skate on the Devils’ third or fourth line in 2020.
In his second season with the Islanders, Eberle struggled in the regular season, posting just 37 points (19G / 18A) in 78 games but cranked it up in the playoffs. Eberle got hot in the first two rounds of the postseason, leading the Islanders with nine points (4G / 5A) in eight games. Eberle joins Andrew Ladd and Nick Leddy as players earning $5.5 AAV from the Islanders.
Dunn will play for the first time since taking a puck off of his face in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. Dunn, who has two goals and five assists (seven points) in 16 playoff games, will replace Robert Bortuzzo on the Blues’ third pairing and will play on the second power-play unit.
Dunn has skated regularly this week and was a full participant on Wednesday but isn’t ready to return to the lineup for Game 2. The Blues depth defensemen had a tough time in Game 1 so they certainly could have used Dunn’s services in Game 2.
Dunn skated skated for the second straight day on Sunday but is not expected to play in Game 1 in Boston. Dunn has been out since Game 3 after being struck in the mouth by a Brenden Dillon shot. Blues head coach Craig Berube said there is a “good chance” that Dunn will be back at some point during the series. In the mean time, veteran defenseman Carl Gunnarsson will remain in the Blues lineup and has averaged 11:47 TOI/gm in the three games that he has replaced Dunn.
Grubauer stopped 37 of 39 shots in Colorado’s 2-1 loss in San Jose in Game 5. The Avalanche and Sharks have alternated wins and losses in this series and the Avalanche will need that trend to continue if they’re going to stay alive and force a Game 7. Grubauer has stopped 59 of 62 shots (.952 SV%) in the two games at the Pepsi Center in this series.
Grubauer surrendered three goals on 30 shots in Colorado’s 4-2 loss to the Sharks in Game 3. After playing exceptionally well in the first-round, Grubauer has allowed a combined 10 goals on 90 shots (.889 SV%) in his first three starts in round two. The Avalanche will stick with Grubauer in Game 4—he has stopped 89 of the 96 shots (.927 SV%) that he’s faced in the Pepsi Center during the postseason.
Murray allowed three goals on 35 shots in the Penguins 4-1 loss to the Islanders in Game 3. The Penguins have fallen behind 3-0 with Murray allowing a combined 10 goals on 102 shots (.902 SV%). Murray has been drastically outplayed by Robin Lehner through three games and will need to be great in Game 4 if the Penguins are going to keep their season alive.
Oleksiak was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the series but will replace Taylor Fedun in Game 3. Oleksiak had 12 points (4G / 8A) in 57 games this season.
Grubauer stood tall in Game 2, allowing just two goals on 37 shots to allow the Avalanche to sneak away with a 3-2 OT win and a tied series heading back to Colorado. Grubauer has posted a .926 SV% through two games and was 10-5-1 with a 2.56 GAA and .913 SV% at the Pepsi Center this season.
McCann missed Game 2 due to an upper-body injury but is expected to replace Teddy Blueger in the lineup in Game 2.
Murray surrendered three goals on 34 shots in the Penguins 3-1 loss to the Islanders in Game 2. The Penguins have fallen behind 2-0 in the series, with Murray allowing seven goals on the first 67 shots (.896 SV%) that he has faced. Now they return to Pittsburgh, where Murray was 13-10-2 with a 3.13 GAA and .906 SV% in the regular season.
