The Canadiens start the season with a back-to-back and Carey Price is getting the call Wednesday vs. the Maple Leafs, so Tokarski will go tomorrow vs. Washington. He beat Peter Budaj out for the back-up job and will start his first full NHL season on Thursday. He went 2-0-1 with a 1.84 GAA and .946 in three starts at the end of the regular season and 2-3 with a 2.60 GAA and .916 SV% in five playoff games after Carey Price got hurt.
The designation to long-term IR means that Stepan is ineligible to play until the Rangers' 11th game of the season on November 3rd against the Blues. Martin St. Louis is expected to start the season in Stepan's spot on the Rangers' top-line.
Stepan is expected to miss the first 9-12 games so the Rangers will need someone to fill that hole for a month. Martin St. Louis volunteered to move to centre, but that is unlikely. This should open the door for Derick Brassard to play on the first line and give J.T Miller a huge opportunity to showcase his talent.
Staal had a bad year in 2013-14 and the Hurricanes were looking for a bounce-back season, but this is not a good start. The injury likely means that Elias Lindholm will be thrust into a larger role this season. Don't expect to see Staal until late December or mid-January.
Staal was injured in a collision with Sabres' defenseman Josh Gorges. He left the ice unable to put any weight on his leg and was seen leaving the rink on crutches with a cast on his ankle/foot. Head coach Bill Peters did not have an update on Staal, but did say "I'm concerned, for sure." Stall will return to Carolina to be reevaluated.
Stepan will likely miss the preseason opener after suffering a bruised foot while blocking a shot in an informal skate. The injury is not serious and Stepan will be ready to go when the games start to count.
Gardiner, 24, set new career-highs in goals (10), points (31) and power-play points (11) in 2013-14. The 2008 17th overall pick has shown flashes of brilliance in his first three NHL seasons but needs to work on being more consistent. He has the potential to be a top-30 fantasy defenseman this season.
Stastny, 28, gets big money from the Blues after scoring 25 goals with 35 assists (60 points) in 71 games. Stastny heads to St. Louis where his dad played in 1993-95 and gives the Blues four very good centres.
Tokarski allowed four goals on 27 shots, but it was enough to get the job done as the Habs took game five 7-4. Tonight, he is back in goal looking to force a game seven back in Montreal. Tokarski is 2-2 with a .902 SV% in the playoffs.
All signs pointed towards Stepan returning to the Rangers' lineup tonight, but head coach Alain Vigneault made it clear that it is not up to Stepan whether he plays tonight. Stepan will be monitored and evaluated by the medical staff this afternoon, before a decision is made on his status for game five. Consider him a game-time decision.
Stepan is on the ice with a full facial shield ahead of game 5. Stepan missed game 4 after having jaw surgery following a game 3 broken jaw. There is a chance Stepan could be in the lineup tonight, but it won't be announced until after the gameday skate.
Tokarski allowed three gaols on 29 shots in the Habs' 3-2 OT loss to the Rangers in game 4. Tokarski looked great again on Sunday, but was beat by a perfectly placed wrist shot by Martin St. Louis 6:02 into overtime. Tokarski is 1-2 with a 2.62 GAA and .917 SV% in three postseason starts. The 24-year-old will look to lead the Habs to a game 5 win at the Bell Centre tonight.
Stepan's jaw was broken on a hit by Habs' forward Brandon Prust in game 3 on Thursday. Prust has a hearing for a possible suspension as a result of the hit. Head coach Alain Vigneault would not commit to a timetable on Stepan's return, but more details are expected to be released following surgery.
Tokarski stopped 27 of 30 shots in the Habs' 3-1 loss in game 2. With Carey Price out for the rest of the series, they are in big trouble, but they clearly have trust in Tokarski as they go back to him for game 3.
With Carey Price sidelined for the rest of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Habs will roll with the 24-year-old Tokariski in game 2 vs. the Rangers. Without Price, the Habs are in trouble, but Tokarski played well in a brief stint with the Canadiens this season. He was 2-0 with a 1.84 GAA and .946 SV% with Montreal and went 20-16-3 with a 2.38 GAA and .919 SV% with Hamilton in 41 AHL games. He faces the tall task of going head-to-head with Henrik Lundqvist.
With Carey Price sidelined for the rest of the Eastern Conference Finals, it looks like the Habs will roll with the 24-year-old Tokariski in game 2 vs. the Rangers. Without Price, the Habs are in trouble, but Tokarski played well in a brief stint with the Canadiens this season. He was 2-0 with a 1.84 GAA and .946 SV% with Montreal and went 20-16-3 with a 2.38 GAA and .919 SV% with Hamilton in 41 AHL games. He faces the tall task of going head-to-head with Henrik Lundqvist.
Burns put up good numbers in his first full NHL season as a forward, scoring 48 points in 69 games (22G / 26A). He was, however, a streaky player, at one point going 19 games between goals and adding just two goals and one assist in seven playoff games while playing on Joe Thornton’s wing. “That size, the strength, the shot – you just saw Montreal with a guy that’s a bit of a wild stallion go and make plays,” GM Doug Wilson said, referring to P.K Subban. “Burnzie, to us, is that type of ingredient that we need, so that will be taking place.”
Andersen was injured in game 3 and has not played since. Rookie John Gibson has filled in exceptionally for Andersen. The Ducks could close out the series tonight, but the crease appears to be Gibson's until further notice.
Andersen left game 3 with a lower-body injury midway through the third period and did not return. He also did not skate this morning so it will be either Jonas Hiller or rookie John Gibson manning the goal for the Ducks in game 4 tonight.
