After an excellent start to the season, the Canadiens have lost five of their last six (1-4-1), falling outside of the playoffs in an ultra-tight Eastern Conference. Dobes was excellent in Montreal's most recent game, helping the team snap a five-game losing skid by saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 24-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.88 GAA and .895 SV% in 11 games this season (7-2-2). The Canadiens enter Wednesday's contest as +120 road underdogs against a Mammoth team that has outscored its opponents 8-3 on a two-game winning streak.

The Sabres have alternated three goalies lately, but they have received strong play lately from Luukkonen, who will return to the crease for a third consecutive game. The 26-year-old Luukkonen saved 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in his most recent outing, an impressive 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Luukkonen has a 2.40 GAA and .910 SV% in his last five games (3-2-0). The Sabres enter Wednesday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Penguins team on a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).

Poulin made his Pittsburgh season debut recently, playing two games in favor of an injured Ville Koivunen, but he will return to Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AHL). The 24-year-old Poulin has 15 points (7G / 8A) in 16 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season.

Jarry was off to a solid start to the season before suffering a lower-body injury on November 3rd, posting a 2.60 GAA and .911 SV% in seven games (5-2-0), marking his best start to a season in several years. The Penguins received serviceable goaltending from Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov, so it's unclear what Jarry's workload will be like when he returns to the lineup.

Rust did not practice on Monday or Tuesday due to an illness, be he should be ready to suit up when the Penguins return to action on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 33-year-old Rust is averaging a career-high 20:09 time-on-ice and has 15 points (5G / 10A) in 19 games this season.

Kiviranta has not played since October 16th, recovering from a lower-body injury, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup after practicing on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Kiviranta had a career-high 23 points (16G / 7A) in 79 games last season.

Dadonov has been plagued by injuries this season, suffering a hand injury in the first game that kept him sidelined for nearly six weeks, and now he is battling an undisclosed injury that will likely keep him out of the lineup on Wednesday. His inability to stay in the lineup has hampered cohesion with his new team, and he has yet to score a point through five games this season.

Broz was drafted in the second-round, 58th overall, by the Penguins in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old University of Denver product has yet to play in the NHL, and has 13 points (8G / 5A) in 18 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) this season.

Hinostroza did not play in Minnesota's most recent game and will be out of the lineup for at least the next four weeks, recovering from a lower-body injury. The 31-year-old Hinostroza has five points (2G / 3A) in 22 games this season.

The Oilers have had a disappointing start to the season (10-9-5), but are coming off an impressive 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers, where Skinner saved 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%). The 27-year-old Skinner has been inconsistent this season, posting a 3.00 GAA and .885 SV% in 17 games (8-6-3). The Oilers enter the action on Tuesday as -133 home favorites against a Dallas Stars team that has points in seven of their last eight (6-1-1) but will be without their leading scorer, Mikko Rantanen (suspended).

Pionk exited Winnipeg's most recent game in the first period due to a lower-body injury, but is considered day-to-day and could return to the lineup on their upcoming five-game road trip. The 30-year-old Pionk has been relied upon heavily this season, averaging 22:44 time-on-ice and recording five points (1G / 4A), 36 blocks, and 42 hits in 21 games.

Miller missed some time earlier this season due to an injury and was banged up in Carolina's previous game, but he is expected to play on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Miller is averaging a career-high 22:52 time-on-ice and has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 16 games this season.

Kochetkov missed the opening month of the season due to a lower-body injury that he has seemingly re-aggravated. It's unclear whether the injury will keep him out of this lineup, but it is a concerning development after he was unable to practice on Tuesday. The 26-year-old Kochetkov has been outstanding between the pipes since making his season debut earlier this month for the Hurricanes, posting a 1.70 GAA and .926 SV% in five appearances (4-0-0). If Kochetkov misses any time, expect Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen to share the crease for the Hurricanes.

Staal did not play in Carolina's most recent game, but will likely return to the lineup on Wednesday. The 37-year-old Staal is coming off his best outing of the season, a two-goal performance in a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Staal is averaging 15:17 time-on-ice and has nine points (7G / 2A) in 21 games this season.

Patera was assigned to Abbotsford (AHL) yesterday to get some extra playing time, but was quickly recalled on Tuesday in correspondence to Kevin Lankinen not traveling with Vancouver due to personal reasons. The 26-year-old Patera has a 3.10 GAA and .894 SV% in five games (1-2-1) with the Abbotsford Canucks this season.

Lankinen has been Vancouver's de facto starting netminder with Thatcher Demko (lower body) sidelined, but he will not be an option for the team on their upcoming road trip. Demko is travelling with the team but it's unclear when he will be ready to return to the lineup, potentially leaving the Canucks' crease to Jiri Patera and Nikita Tolopilo.