McCann has missed two of the last three games with a lower-body issue but will play against his former team on Tuesday. With many Penguins forwards still out, McCann will be back in the second-line centre role and comes into play with three goals and one assist in seven games.
Grubauer surrendered four goals on 44 shots in Colorado's win in Florida last Friday. Grubauer has opened the season at 5-0-1 while posting a 2.79 GAA and .919 SV% but has allowed a combined 10 goals on 108 shots (.908 SV%) in his last three starts. Grubauer went 0-0-2 with a 2.87 GAA and .891 SV% in two games against the Blues last year--St. Louis enters play at 3-2-3 and 13th in the NHL in scoring (3.00 GF/gm).
Fleury is dealing with an undisclosed injury and will not play Saturday afternoon in St. Louis. Christian Folin will draw back into the lineup on Montreal’s third pair.
McCann was a game-time decision on Wednesday and was held out of the lineup vs. the Avalanche but was at practice on Thursday and remains a game-time decision on Friday. It looks more likely that he will play tonight than it did two days ago, but monitor his status during warmups.
Fleury has been a healthy scratch for the last four games but will replace Christian Folin in the lineup on Thursday. Fleury has no points and one shot in his first two career NHL games.
Grubauer gave up three goals on 32 shots in Colorado’s win in Washington on Monday. Grubauer owners could not have asked for a better start to the season. He is 4-0-0 with a 2.51 GAA and .925 SV% in his first four outings and will look to stay undefeated in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are extremely banged up but they still rank third in the league in scoring (4.17 GF/gm).
McCann missed Monday’s practice with a lower-body injury and will be a game-time decision on Wednesday. The Penguins are ravaged by injuries upfront, so they will dress a seventh defenseman if McCann can’t play.
McCann missed Monday’s practice with a lower-body injury and head coach Mike Sullivan called him “day-to-day” after the session. The injury bug continues to bite the Penguins, who could be without McCann, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Galchenyuk, Nick Bjugstad and Bryan Rust on Thursday.
Grubauer made 39 saves on 41 shots in Colorado’s win over the Bruins last Thursday. Grubauer’s tenure as their No.1 netminder has gotten off to a fantastic start, going 3-0-0 with a 2.34 GAA and .931 SV% in his first three starts. He has a difficult matchup in Washington—the Capitals are 3-1-2 while averaging 3.17 goals for per game (17th in the NHL) though six contests.
Eberle will miss Monday’s game against the Blues and will be replaced by Oliver Wahlstrom, who will be making his NHL debut. The Islanders are back in action in Winnipeg on Thursday, so monitor Eberle’s status leading up.
Eberle appeared to suffer a leg injury in Saturday’s win over the Panthers. Head coach Barry Trotz did not have an update on Eberle post-game but the Islanders recalled Oliver Wahlstrom from Bridgeport (AHL) on Monday, which suggests that Eberle won’t be available vs. the Blues.
Grubauer allowed two goals on 31 shots in Colorado’s win over the Wild last Saturday. Grubauer has had a great start to the season, wining each of his first two starts while stopping 56 of the 61 shots (.918 SV%) that he has faced so far. Dating back to last season, Grubauer is 12-5-1 in his last 18 regular season starts at the Pepsi Center.
Grubauer allowed three goals on 30 shots in Colorado’s 5-3 win over the Flames on Thursday. Grubauer passed the first test as Colorado’s new No.1 goalie and draws a good matchup in his second start. Minnesota was beat up in Nashville in their opener and Grubauer was 1-1-0 with a 3.00 GAA and .908 SV% vs. them last season.
Larsson took a Quinn Hughes slapshot off his right leg on Wednesday and landed on LTIR this afternoon. The original timetable puts Larsson out until at least mid-November. Evan Bouchard or Joel Persson are expected to replace Larsson on Saturday.
