Goalie Start
Mike Smith (1-1-1) will be back in goal for the Coyotes.
Over six games against the Kings, Smith holds a 5-1-0 record with a 1.51 GAA and .943 SV%.
Ad
Edmonton Oilers News
Goalie Start
Mike Smith is expected to start in goal for the Coyotes (1-1-1). Smith has stopped 38 of 39 shots in the last four periods he has played.
Over 10 career starts against the Jets, Smith holds a 6-4-0 record, 2.58 GAA and .907 SV%.
Call up / Send down
Devils send Adam Henrique to Albany (AHL)
Henrique needs more ice time as an offensive player. His demotion is a coy move by the Devils even though he loses all of his immediate fantasy hockey value.
Line Change
There’s a possibility that Trotz could insert rookie defenseman Mattias Ekholm into the lineup for Thursday’s home opener. Ekholm was unavailable for Saturday’s game against St. Louis after catching the flu Friday.
Ekblom could fill in for Teemu Laakso on the blue line tonight. Last season he scored 10 goals and 33 points through 55 games with Brynas IF Gavle of the SEL. He could boost the team's offense from the third defensive pairing.
Goalie Start
Goalie Mike Smith is expected to start for the Coyotes (0-1-0), who lost their season opener to the San Jose Sharks, 6-3, on Saturday night at HP Pavilion.
Over three career starts against the Stars, Smith holds a 2-0-1 record with a 3.30 GAA and .878 SV%.
Line Change
In Edmonton’s 2-1 shootout victory to open the 2011-12 season, rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins didn’t just have a strong game, he was dominating. He scored the crucial tieing goal late in the game, but more than that, of the Oilers’ 18 scoring chances, RNH made significant contributions to 12 of them, an astounding total.
Probably a safe pick to grab if still available in your league. His center-only position is the only thing that may hurt his immediate fantasy hockey value.
Goalie Start
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Mike Smith, who calls parts of his game "a work in progress," will be in goal when the Coyotes open the regular season Saturday night at San Jose.
Smith holds a career 2-2-0 record with a 3.56 GAA and .877 SV% against the Sharks. He allowed five goals on 39 shots in his only appearance in the HP Pavilion.
Line Change
The Nashville Predators have finalized their opening day roster and in spite of what Mattias Ekholm's agent reported earlier, it appears that he will start the season in the NHL.
Ekholm sticks in the NHL as a bottom-pairing defender. Last season he scored 10 goals and 33 points through 55 games with Brynas IF Gavle of the SEL. Look for him to get his feet wet at the NHL level.
Line Change
Coach Renney confirms this morning that Nugent-Hopkins will indeed start the season with the #Oilers
RNH starts the year on a nine-game tryout. If he sticks for the full season, there is no reason to believe he cant match the 22 goals and 42 points Taylor Hall put up last season.
Line Change
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Mike Smith, who calls parts of his game "a work in progress," will be in goal when the Coyotes open the regular season Saturday night at San Jose.
Smith, as the team's top free agent signing, gets the first crack at the starting goalie role. Last season he posted a .899 SV% and 2.89 GAA over 22 games with the Lightning. He should improve on his totals with coach Dave Tippett behind the bench.
Call up / Send down
The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has reassigned four players, reducing its 2011 preseason roster to 27. The following four players have been reassigned to the American Hockey League training camp: D, Tyson Barrie, Lake Erie (AHL); LW, Patrick Bordeleau, Lake Erie (AHL); G, Trevor Cann, Lake Erie (AHL); C, Brad Malone, Lake Erie (AHL)
No immediate fantasy hockey value in the AHL.
Line Change
Henrique, 21, thinks it’s a good sign that he’s playing again, but knows nothing is guaranteed yet.
Henrique looked like a shoe-in to make the team out of training camp but has since fallen on the depth chart with Petr Sykora's re-emergence. Last season, the former Windsor Spitfire scored 25 goals and 50 points with the team's AHL affiliate Albany Devils. He shoudl be NHL ready so expect to see him in a Devils' sweater at some point this season.
Line Change
“They’ve worked hard, and Burkie (goaltending coach Sean Burke) continues to work with them. I don’t think either has been the reason we’ve lost, but I think they’re just like the rest of our group. There’s room for improvement.”
As the free agent signing, Smith certainly has the inside track. Last season he won 13 of his 22 appearances with a 2.89 GAA and .899 SV% while with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Look for him to improve those totals under coach Dave Tippett.
Line Change
If Red Deer Rebels’ coach Jesse Wallin was holding to a faint hope that Nugent-Hopkins could be back in his No. 9 sweater with the Western Hockey League junior team, he can probably forget it, at least for the start of the Oilers season with Sam Gagner out with a sprained ankle.
Nugent-Hopkins could stick for longer than nine games if Gagner fails to return by then. If so, expect a similar rookie season to Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle -- somewhere around 15-20 goals and 40-45 points -- while playing on one of the top two lines.
Line Change
Henrique, who will play again Saturday against the Islanders, centered a line with Tedenby on his left wing and veteran tryout Petr Skyora on his right side tonight. He ended up playing 14:57 for the game.
With the injuries down the middle, Henrique figures to make the team out of camp. Last season, the former Windsor Spitfire scored 25 goals and 50 points with the team's AHL affiliate Albany Devils. Look for him to center the third line until Zajac returns.
Call up / Send down
youngsters Garrett Meurs and Calvin Pickard are headed back to their Canadian Hockey League junior teams.
Line Change
Malone is competing for a roster spot with a handful of veterans, primarily centermen Jay McClement, but undoubtedly has the opportunity edge over fellow youngsters Mark Olver, Justin Mercier, Garrett Meurs and Stoa, among others. Malone might not make the opening-night roster but it sure seems the Avs think he can play in the NHL.
Another name to add to an endless list of prospects ready to make the jump to the NHL. Last season he scored 16 goals and 40 points in 43 games for the University of North Dakota. If he makes the big club, he is likely to play a more defensive role.
Rookie Adam Henrique is getting a look centering a line with Mattias Tedenby and Nick Palmieri on his wings.
The Devils may deploy a 'kid line' with Travis Zajac slightly depleting the team's depth. The former Windsor Spitfire scored 25 goals and 50 points with the team's AHL affiliate Albany Devils.
There's going to be a spirited battle for No. 1 goalie for #Coyotes.
Mike Smith played decently in his brief playoff duties, leading most to believe he would be handed the starting job. However, it appears he will battle the veteran backup for playing time.
Smyth RNH Eberle
The current 1st overall pick will push very hard to make the team out of training camp. Playing between Eberle and Smyth would certainly be putting him in position to succeed.
Ad