Tavares did not play on Saturday against the Penguins due to an illness but was back at practice as a full participant on Tuesday and will return to his usual spot in the lineup on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. He has one point (0G / 1A) in two games so far this season.
Nylander was absent from practice on Tuesday due to an illness and was replaced by Max Pacioretty on Toronto's top powerplay unit in his absence. Nylander has two points (2G / 0A) in three games this season could be available to return to the lineup when the Maple Leafs return to the ice on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings.
With Joseph Woll (lower-body) still sidelined, the Maple Leafs will turn to Stolarz between the pipes for the third time in their first four games. The 31-year-old Stolarz was incredible last season, posting a 2.03 GAA and .925 SV% in 27 outings (16-7-2), and has picked up where he left off, showcasing a tremendous 1.54 GAA and .940 SV% through two games this season (1-1-0). The Maple Leafs enter action as -173 home favorites against a Los Angeles Kings club that was defeated 8-7 by the Ottawa Senators in their last contest.
Nylander was absent from practice on Tuesday due to an illness. Max Pacioretty was inserted into Toronto's top powerplay unit in his absence. Nylander could be available to return to the lineup when the Maple Leafs return to the ice on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings.
Tavares did not play on Saturday against the Penguins due to an illness but was back at practice as a full participant on Tuesday. He has one point (0G / 1A) in two games so far this season. The Maple Leafs return to action on Wednedsay night against the Los Angeles Kings.
Nylander was absent from practice on Tuesday due to an illness. Max Pacioretty was inserted into Toronto's top powerplay unit in his absence. The Maples don't return to action until Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings, so it's unclear if Nylander will be ready to return to the lineup.
The Blue Jackets have alternated netminder in their first two games but will turn back to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. In his previous two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10). That said, he played reasonably in his first outing this season, saving 23 of 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Columbus enters action on Tuesday as a +134 home underdog.
The Panthers will turn to Bobrovsky in the crease on Monday afternoon in an early-season rematch of their season opener, less than a week ago, against the Boston Bruins. Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in their 6-4 win over the Bruins and has historically struggled against them, posting a 3.64 GAA and .890 SV% in 22 career appearances (5-11-4). Without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers enter action as +128 road underdogs against the Bruins.
Stecher was a healthy scratch for Edmonton's first two games of the season but will make his debut on Sunday as he replaces Ty Emberson in the lineup. The 30-year-old defensemen was acquired at last year's trade deadline from Arizona, but only appeared in seven games for the OIlers, picking up two assists and a +4 plus/minus.
Stolarz allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Maple Leafs' 1-0 loss in Montreal on opening night. Despite the loss, it was a strong showing for Stolarz, who could see extra playing time while Joseph Woll is out with a lower-body injury. The Maple Leafs are -195 home favourites vs. the Penguins on Saturday.
Tavares missed the morning skate due to illness and will be a game-time decision vs. the Penguins. If Tavares can't play, Pontus Holmberg is expected to move up to the second line and Ryan Reaves would draw back into the lineup. Max Pacioretty will replace him on the top power-play unit.
Stolarz allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Maple Leafs' 1-0 loss in Montreal on opening night. Despite the loss, it was a strong showing for Stolarz, who could see extra playing time while Joseph Woll is out with a lower-body injury. The Maple Leafs are -195 home favourites vs. the Penguins on Saturday.
Cole Schwindt will make his Golden Knights debut on Friday, replacing Brisson in the lineup. Brisson was the 29th overall pick of the Golden Knights in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Brisson spent most of last season in the AHL, scoring 38 points (19G / 19A) in 52 games.
The Blue Jackets will turn to Merzlikins in their season opener on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. After an outstanding rookie season in 2019-20, where he posted a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV%, and five shutouts in 33 games (13-9-8), Merzlikins' quality of play has tailed off significantly and has been borderline abysmal. In his last two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10). The Blue Jackets enter action as +223 road underdogs against the Wild.
The Blue Jackets will turn to Merzlikins in their season opener on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. After an outstanding rookie season in 2019-20, where he posted a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV%, and five shutouts in 33 games (13-9-8), Merzlikins' quality of play has tailed off significantly and has been borderline abysmal. In his last two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10). The Blue Jackets enter action as +223 road underdogs against the Wild.
Bobrovsky was unspectacular in the Panthers' season-opening 6-4 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday but was good enough to secure the victory, saving 24 of 28 shots (.857 SV%). The 36-year-old Bobrovsky is coming off his best season in nearly a decade, finishing third in Vezina-trophy voting and posting a solid 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 58 games (36-17-4). Bobrovsky will return to the crease for the Panthers on Thursday in a matchup against the Ottawa Senators, where they are -133 road favorites.
Stecher will be a healthy scratch in the season opener for the Oilers, allowing Travis Dermott to make his debut with the team. The 30-year-old Stecher joined the Oilers late last season and tallied two points (0G / 2A), a +4 plus/minus, 10 blocks, and 15 hits in seven games.
Stolarz was signed by the Maple Leafs in the offseason under the presumption that he would be a heavy-workload backup behind Joseph Woll, but he will start for their season opener as Woll is battling through lower-body tightness. The 30-year-old Stolarz posted career bests with a 2.03 GAA and .925 SV% in 27 games with the Florida Panthers last season (16-7-2). Stolarz also set a career-high with 24 starts last season and has only started more than 12 games twice in his career, but the expectation is that Stolarz should set a new career-high in starts this season. The Maple Leafs enter the action on Wednesday as -190 road favorites against the Montreal Canadiens.
Fresh off their first Stanley Cup championship, the Panthers will likely turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes in their season opener against the Boston Bruins, a rematch of their second-round playoff matchup. Last season, Bobrovsky touted an impressive 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 58 games (36-17-4), his best totals since the 2018-19 season as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Panthers enter the action on Tuesday as -147 home favorites against the Bruins. That said, Bobrovsky boasts an ugly 3.62 GAA and .891 SV% in 21 career games against the Bruins (4-11-4), his lowest totals against any club.
