Labanc missed the Sharks' previous game due to personal reasons but will draw back into the lineup Thursday as they take on the St. Louis Blues. The 27-year-old has 10 goals, 15 assists, 95 SOG, 22 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 51 games this season.
Gillies has a 5-8-2 record, .878 SV% and 3.70 GAA with the Tuscan Roadrunners (AHL) but has been traded from the Coyotes for Jakub Voracek and a 2023 6th Round Pick. The 29-year-old has played in 32 career NHL games across four seasons, holding a 7-15-3 record, 3.31 GAA and .893 SV%.
van Riemsdyk missed the Flyers' previous game due to an undisclosed injury but will return to the lineup Wednesday as they take on the New York Rangers. The 33-year-old has nine goals, 14 assists, 81 SOG, and 18 PIMs through 40 games played this season.
Labanc has 10 goals, 15 assists, 95 SOG, 22 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 51 games played but will miss Tuesday's contest vs. Montreal due to personal reasons.
Merzlikins allowed three goals on 44 shots (.932 SV%) for his third straight loss as he was defeated by Minnesota in his previous start. The 28-year-old has had a horrendous 2022-23 campaign, with his 6-15-2 record, 4.14 GAA and .876 SV%. He will face the Buffalo Sabres, who have won five of their last six games and are 2nd in the NHL in goals per game (3.78).
Merzlikins allowed three goals on 44 shots (.932 SV%) for his third straight loss as he was defeated by Minnesota in his previous start. The 28-year-old has had a horrendous 2022-23 campaign, with his 6-15-2 record, 4.14 GAA and .876 SV%. He will face the Buffalo Sabres, who have won five of their last six games and are 2nd in the NHL in goals per game (3.78).
After winning Stanley Cup with the Avalanche last season, Johnson signed a one-year, $950K deal with the Blackhawks in August. Playing on one of the worst teams in the NHL, Johnson posted just four assists and a minus-25 rating across 58 games. He returns to the Avalanche, bring with him a veteran presence and Stanley Cup experience.
Gaudreau missed the Blue Jackets' previous two games with a lower-body injury but is expected to return to Columbus' lineup Thursday vs. Minnesota. The 29-year-old has 15 goals, 52 points, 144 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -16 plus/minus through 55 games played prior to the injury.
Gaudreau missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, but his return to practice on Wednesday suggests that he'll be back in the lineup vs. the Wild on Thursday. Gaudreau. Was starting to heat up before he got hurt, picking up 14 points (4G / 10A) in his previous 15 games.
Labanc has surprisingly been a healthy scratch for the Sharks' previous four games but will draw back into the lineup Tuesday as they take on the Washington Capitals. The 27-year-old right winger has 10 goals, 15 assists, 83 SOG, 22 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 45 games played.
Merzlikins stopped 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) to snap a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Toronto Maple Leaf's last start. The 28-year-old has a historically bad SV% this season, ranking bottom-five all-time with his .871 SV%, leading to his 6-14-0 record and 4.34 GAA. He will face the New Jersey Devils, who had a three-game winning streak snapped after a 3-2 shootout loss to Minnesota last game and are fourth in the NHL in shots per game (34.1).
Gambrell has a goal, 21 SOG, 27 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 32 games played this season but will be a healthy scratch Monday as the Senators take on Calgary. Austin Watson will fill be drawing into the lineup instead of Gambrell.
