Stars head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters on Wednesday that Carrick wasn’t close to returning, so his move to IR opened up a roster spot to call-up a reserve defenseman. Dillon Heatherington has been recalled from Texas (AHL).
Bouchard, 19, was the 10th overall pick in this summer’s draft and picked up one goal while averaging 12:21 TOI/GM in seven NHL games. Bouchard was impressive, posting a 55.4 CorsiFor% and +11.0 CF% rel, thanks to a 64.3% Offensive-Zone start percentage. Bouchard returns to the London Knights, where he led the team with 87 points (25G / 62A) in 67 games last year.
Smith allowed one goal on 25 shots in the Flames 3-1 win in Toronto on Monday. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for Smith, who will make his 10th start tonight vs. the Avalanche. The 36-year-old comes in at 2-2-1 with a brutal 4.20 GAA and .847 SV% in five starts at the Scotiabank Saddledome this season.
Smith allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Flames shootout loss to the Capitals on Saturday. It was a slightly better performance than the 9-1 loss to the Penguins on Thursday, but Smith has now lost three straight with a 5.15 GAA and .833 SV%. Tonight he faces a high-powered Maple Leafs team that will be missing Auston Matthews, who suffered a shoulder injury on Saturday.
Smith was pulled after allowing six goals on 21 shots in the Flames 9-1 loss to the Penguins on Thursday. Smith has had a dreadful start to the season, posting a 4.10 GAA and .866 SV% in his first seven starts. The Flames will stick with the veteran netminder this afternoon, but he’s a risky start against the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.
Smith allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Flames loss to the Predators last Friday. David Rittich started the last two games, but Smith will be between the pipes tonight vs. the Penguins. Smith needs to be much better than the 3.38 GAA and .885 SV% that he posted in his first six starts, but has a difficult matchup tonight with the Penguins in town.
Caggiula has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, but will replace Jesse Puljujarvi on Thursday. Puljujarvi has no points and seven shots on goal in three games this season.
It looks like Ryan will come out of the Flames lineup on Thursday, with Austin Czarnik replacing him. Ryan has recorded just two points (1G / 1A) in nine games with the Flames.
Smith allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Flames loss to the Predators last Friday. David Rittich started the last two games, but Smith will be between the pipes tonight vs. the Penguins. Smith needs to be much better than the 3.38 GAA and .885 SV% that he posted in his first six starts, but has a difficult matchup tonight with the Penguins in town.
Caggiula missed Thursday’s game vs. the Bruins with a lower-body injury and his status for Saturday’s game remains in question. If Caggiula can’t play, look for Tobias Rieder to remain in the lineup.
Smith stopped 24 of 26 shots in the Flames win over the Bruins on Wednesday. Smith has won three of his last four starts while stopping 102 of 113 shots (.903 SV%). In his first start against the Predators, Smith stopped all 43 shots that he faced in a 3-0 shutout win.
Caggiula pushed it in practice, but will not play Thursday vs. the Bruins. Tobias Rieder will replace him in the lineup and skate on the second line with Leon Draisaitl and Jesse Puljujarvi.
Pickard allowed one goal on three shots and earned the win in the shootout after replacing Brian Elliott on Tuesday. Elliott has struggled in the early part of the season, so Pickard gets the call tonight vs. Columbus—the Blue Jackets are in the middle of the pack in terms of goal scoring (3.20 goals for per game) so far this season.
Pickard allowed one goal on three shots and earned the win in the shootout after replacing Brian Elliott on Tuesday. Elliott has struggled in the early part of the season, so Pickard gets the call tonight vs. Columbus—the Blue Jackets are in the middle of the pack in terms of goal scoring (3.20 goals for per game) so far this season.
Smith gave up five goals on 24 shots in the Flames loss in St. Louis last Thursday. Smith had an outstanding shutout in Nashville last week, but has played very poorly otherwise. Overall, Smith has a 3.57 GAA and .881 SV% in four starts and tonight’s matchup with the Bruins isn’t very forgiving.
Bouchard has yet to record a point while averaging just 12:59 TOI/GM in the first three games of his NHL career. Bouchard will be replaced by Matt Benning and take a look from the press box tonight.
Smith stopped all 43 shots that he faced in the Flames shutout win in Nashville on Tuesday. Smith has had an inconsistent start to the season, allowing a combined eight goals on 85 shots (.906 SV%) in his first three games of the year. He’s a risky option in St. Louis. The Blues are deep and talented, but have struggled defensively to start the season.
