Smith stopped all 44 shots that he faced in the Coyotes shutout win over the Oilers in his return to the crease last Saturday. Not a bad return at all for Smith, who has gone 11-9-1 with a 2.91 GAA and .908 SV% this season. Tonight he faces a Sharks team that has won seven of their last nine games while averaging 3.11 goals per game.
Nurse was suspended for three games for fighting an unwilling Roman Polak. With his suspension up, Nurse is expected to return tonight vs. St. Louis. The young blueliner has just eight points (2G / 6A) in 59 games this season.
Smith has been sidelined since December 8th, missing the last 40 games with a lower-body injury. Smith will get back between the pipes and make his 23rd start of the season. He has gone 10-9-1 with a 3.06 GAA and .901 SV% this season and one of those wins came in a 27-save performance vs. the Oilers back in Edmonton.
Nurse was suspended for three games for instigating a fight with Roman Polak and absolutely pummelling Polak, who appeared unwilling to fight. Polak suffered a broken nose during the tilt, which likely didn’t help Nurse’s case.
Demers left Tuesday’s game after playing just 11:01 TOI and could miss the remainder of the regular season. The Stars are now down to five healthy defensemen on the roster with John Klingberg also day-to-day. Expect them to make a call-up prior to Friday’s game vs. the Blackhawks.
Ryan scored his first career NHL goal during his call-up and now returns to the AHL, where he leads the Charlotte Checkers with 42 points (17G / 25A) in 55 games.
Pickard allowed two goals on 40 shots in Colorado’s win over the Panthers on Thursday. Pickard has won three straight starts while posting a 2.27 GAA and .930 SV%. This afternoon he takes on a Predators team that is 5-0-1 in their last six—Pickard is 3-1-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .945 SV% in five starts and one relief appearance on home ice.
Pickard stopped 15 of 16 shots after replacing an ineffective Semyon Varlamov in Colorado’s loss to the Wild on Tuesday. Pickard has landed the Avalanche backup gig with a 5-4-1 record, 2.62 GAA, .918 SV% and two shutouts. He has a tough matchup with the Atlantic Division leading Panthers in town—Florida is 1-1-1 to start their five-game road trip.
Hyman has played in 54 games for the Marlies this season, recording 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points. The 23-year-old was named the University of Michigan’s Athlete of the Year in his senior year (2014-15) while also being named a First Team All-American and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. Hyman, who was acquired via trade from Florida in June 2015, was drafted by the Panthers in the 5th round (123rd overall) during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Pickard allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Avalanche’s win in Edmonton on Saturday. With Semyon Varlamov out with an illness, Pickard will go tonight vs. the Sharks. Pickard is 4-3-1 with a 2.67 GAA and .918 SV% on the season and 1-1-0 with a 4.23 GAA and .879 SV% in his first two starts vs. San Jose.
Pickard allowed one goal on 18 shots after replacing Semyon Varlamov in the Avs’ 4-1 loss in Buffalo. Picked has gone 3-3-1 with a 2.75 GAA and .917 SV% this season, including 2-2-0 with a 3.35 GAA and .891 SV% on the road. He’ll take on an Oilers team that has lost six of their last seven games.
Smith has been out with an upper-body injury since December 8th, but will travel on their upcoming road trip. Smith’s return couldn’t come at a better time after Anders Lindback went down with an upper-body injury earlier in the week.
Kane was a healthy scratch on Tuesday after missing Monday’s practice but he will be back in the lineup on Friday. Kane has three goals in his last two games and he has picked up six goals on 45 shots (13.3 shooting%) in his last eight games.
Demers missed Thursday’s game in Chicago with an illness, but is expected to play tonight vs. Washington. Demers has 19 points (7G / 12A) in 48 games this season.
