Talbot stopped 17 of 18 shots in the Flames Game 1 win over the Jets. It's probably the easiest win Talbot will ever get in the postseason. Today the Jets will be shorthanded with both Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine getting injured in Game 1. Talbot was 2-2-0 with a 3.01 GAA and .913 SV% in four afternoon starts during the 2020 seaosn.
Hamonic has been granted a leave of absence from the Flames for family reasons. Hamonic's daughter recently overcame a respiratory virus and Hamonic said in a statement that he wishes he "could lace up my skates and be out there battling, but my family has and always will come first."
Chicago selected Mitchell in the second-round (No. 57 overall) in 2017 and he finished his junior season at the University of Denver with 32 points (10G / 22A) in 36 games. The 21-year-old defenseman was a part of Team Canada's World Junior team in 2019, scoring one goal with two assists in five games.
Leonard was a sixth-round pick in 2018 and finished his junior season at UMass-Amherst as a Hobby Baker finalist after tallying a team-high 27 goals and 37 points. In his three-year stint with the MinuteMen, Leonard scored 105 points (56 goals, 49 assists) in 106 career games.
Watson started 2019 with an 18-game suspension and ended up playing just 37 games, scoring seven goals with nine assists (16 points) in 37 games. He figures to be a key factor of the Predators' fourth-line in 2019-20.
Gibson left Friday's game in the third period with what Ducks GM Bob Murray called a "spasm in his groin." Murray added that Gibson is "not bad" but that he thinks they will "hold him out as backup" on Sunday. With Gibson backing up tonight, it seems possible that he's ready for their back-to-back on Tuesday (vs. OTT) and Wednesday (vs. STL).
van Riemsdyk will miss at least one month after breaking his hand in Washington on Wednesday. If he misses the minimum four weeks, van Riemsdyk will be back just in time for the start of the playoffs. Joel Farabee will replace him in Thursday’s lineup but Derek Grant will take his spot on PP2.
Dries leads the Eagles with 21 goals while adding 14 assists (35 points) in 49 AHL games this season. He has six points (3G / 3A) in 43 career NHL games.
van Riemsdyk left Wednesday’s game after blocking a Jonas Siegenthaler shot and did not return. van Riemsdyk immediately underwent X-rays and it was determined that he suffered a broken right hand and will be sidelined for some time. Head coach Alain Vigneault did not know the severity of it post-game but expect him to be re-evaluated and for the Flyers to release a detailed timeline prior to Thursday’s game vs. the Hurricanes. Joel Farabee was recalled from Lehigh Valley (AHL) and will replace van Riemsdyk in the lineup on Thursday.
Talbot stopped all 38 shots that he faced in the Flames shutout win in Florida on Sunday. It was a terrific outing for Talbot, who will start for the second straight game tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. He is 5-6-1 with a 3.17 GAA and .900 SV% on home ice this season and Columbus has gone 0-2-3 while scoring 2.80 goals per game in their last five road games.
Gibson allowed three goals on 34 shots in the Ducks loss to New Jersey on Sunday. Gibson has gone 2-3-1 with a 2.98 GAA and .902 SV% in his last six starts. In his first game against the Blackhawks, Gibson allowed four goals on 33 shots in a 4-2 loss in mid-January.
Gibson allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Ducks win over the Oilers on Tuesday. Gibson has gone 3-3-2 with a 3.08 GAA and .901 SV% in the month of February. Tonight he faces the Penguins for the second time this season, he stopped 26 of 28 shots that he faced in a losing effort in the first meeting.
Gibson allowed six goals on 28 shots in the Ducks loss to the Golden Knights on Sunday. Gibson has lost five of his last six starts (1-3-2) while posting a 3.36 GAA and .893 SV%. The Ducks have struggled mightily in front of him, so it's probably wise to leave him on the bench against Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers.
Gustafsson has been held out of Chicago’s lineup since February 19 in lieu of a possible trade. The 27-year-old broke out in a major way last season, scoring 17 times and adding 43 assists in 79 games. Chicago’s struggles on the power-play this year took a particularly harsh toll on Gustafsson’s numbers, as he managed just six goals and 20 assists in 59 games. He is set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1st.
