Ehlers joins Sean Monahan, Mason Appleton, and Gabriel Vilardi as game-time decisions ahead of the matchup on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. All four of them played in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars but Ehlers was the only one to find the scoresheet, recording one assist and four shots on goal.
Primeau will return to the crease on Saturday, his first start in four games for the Canadiens. In his last outing, Primeau allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Primeau and the Canadiens will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning, who defeated them 4-3 in their last meeting on December 31st.
In presumably a paper transaction, Stankoven was reassigned to the Texas Stars (AHL). The 21-year-old has transitioned seamlessly to the NHL, scoring four points (3G / 1A) in four games while playing on a line with Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn.
The Hurricanes' goaltender carousel will continue on Tuesday as Pyotr Kochetkov returns to the crease after backing up Spencer Martin in a loss Sunday. The 24-year-old has been one of the NHL's hottest net minders as of late with his overall 15-10-3 record, 2.36 GAA, .910 SV% and 3 shutouts. He'll head to Minnesota to take on the Wild on Tuesday, who have won seven of their last nine games and are 14th in the NHL in goals per game (3.16).
The Hurricanes' goaltender carousel will continue on Tuesday as Pyotr Kochetkov returns to the crease after backing up Spencer Martin in a loss Sunday. The 24-year-old has been one of the NHL's hottest net minders as of late with his overall 15-10-3 record, 2.36 GAA, .910 SV% and 3 shutouts. He'll head to Minnesota to take on the Wild on Tuesday, who have won seven of their last nine games and are 14th in the NHL in goals per game (3.16).
Despite being held off the scoresheet, Stankoven was impressive in his NHL debut on Saturday, recording 15:20 time-on-ice while firing three shots on goals. He played on a line with Jamie Benn and Wyatt Johnston. Stankoven has spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, transitioning seamlessly in his first professional season, leading the league with 57 points (24G / 33A) in 46 games with the Texas Stars.
Smith has been out since December 21st due to a lower-body injury but could return to the Sharks' lineup on Saturday after being activated off Injured Reserve earlier this week. The 25-year-old bruising right winger will provide some much-needed grit into the Sharks' lineup with his one goal, two assists, 27 SOG, 33 PIM and -4 plus/minus through 26 games before the injury.
Jankowski scored in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings but will be reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL), ending his five-game stint with the Predators. The 29-year-old Jankowski has 329 NHL games under his belt but has spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign with Milwaukee in the AHL, scoring an impressive 47 points (15G / 32A) in 42 games.
Ehlers recorded an assist on Tuesday but has been limited to only three points (0G / 3A) in his last 10 games. The Danish forward has become a fixture on the second line with Sean Monahan and Cole Perfetti.
Kochetkov will look to extend Carolina's winning streak to four as he takes the Hurricane crease over for the first time in three games on Thursday vs. Florida. The 24-year-old netminder now finds himself amongst three other capable goaltenders in Carolina and will look to continue to improve on his 14-9-3 record, 2.46 GAA and .905 SV%. He will take on one of the NHL's hottest teams in Florida on Thursday, who have won six straight and lead the NHL in shots per game (34.0).
Ehlers recorded an assist on Monday but has been limited to only three points (0G / 3A) in his last 10 games. If the Danish forward can't compete on Friday, look for Nino Niederreiter or Alex Iaffolo to jump into his position on the second line, although Winnipeg has stated they do expect him to be in the lineup.
The Canadiens have struggled to keep the puck out of their net lately. Coincidently, their only win in the last six games is the only time they've allowed fewer than three goals and the only time Primeau has played in that span, a 13-save shutout in a 5-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on February 14th. The Canadiens enter action as sizeable +224 road underdogs against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.
Smith has been out since December 21st due to a lower-body injury but is expected to return to the Sharks' lineup on Saturday after being activated off Injured Reserve on Wednesday. The 25-year-old bruising right winger will provide some much-needed grit into the Sharks' lineup with his one goal, two assists, 27 SOG, 33 PIM and -4 plus/minus through 26 games before the injury.
