Vanecek is coming off his lightest workload of the season, facing only 12 shots in a 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and appears to be the Devils' starter once again on Tuesday. The four-year NHL pro has never had a sub.-908 SV% or above 2.69 GAA to end a season but is currently sporting an ugly .884 SV% and 3.32 GAA. Vanecek has only five quality starts in 13 games, a trend that shows no signs of reversing. That said, he continues to be the Devils' go-to option between the pipes and could be in for a better-than-usual performance as the Devils are -156 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that scores the third-fewest goals in the league (2.55 GF / GP).

Kulikov has six points (0G / 6A) in 19 games and was a healthy scratch in the last two games for the Panthers but will return to the lineup on Monday in favour of Uvis Balinskis. Kulikov and Balinskis will likely continue to rotate in and out of the lineup now that Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour have returned from injuries.

Balinskis has two points (1G / 1A) in 15 games this season and will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Dmitry Kulikov to return to the Panthers' lineup. Balinskis has been a healthy scratch in four of the last five games for the Panthers, a trend that will likely continue now that Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour have returned from injuries.

Bobrovsky played very well on Friday but received no goal support, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets and will get the chance to bounce back into the win column on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. Bobrovsky has lost three of his last four (1-3-0) but has played some of his best hockey of the season in terms of consistency, allowing three goals or fewer in each of those games and posting a .910 SV%. The Panthers are -125 road favourites against a Senators team that could again be without goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who has been between the pipes for five of the Senators' eight wins this season.

Vanecek allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Devils' loss in Detroit on Wednesday. Vanecek has struggled in his last five outings, going 1-3-0 with an .860 SV%. Tonight he'll face the Sabres, as -166 home favourites. Buffalo come in ranking 24th in the NHL in GF/60 (2.83).

San Jose will continue to shuffle their goals as Kaapo Kahkonen makes his third start in five games Saturday vs. Vancouver. It has been yet another horrendous season in San Jose for the 27-year-old, who is 1-6-0 with a 4.30 GAA and .887 SV%. He takes on the offensive juggernauts that are the Vancouver Canucks, who have won two of their last three games and lead the NHL in goals per game (4.05).

Vanecek allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Devils' loss in Detroit on Wednesday. Vanecek has struggled in his last five outings, going 1-3-0 with an .860 SV%. Tonight he'll face the Sabres, as -166 home favourites. Buffalo come in ranking 24th in the NHL in GF/60 (2.83).

Bobrovsky will start for the third consecutive game on Friday when the Panthers take on the Winnipeg Jets. Despite a strong 9-5-1 record, Bobrovsky only has seven quality starts in 15 games (.467), a rate that rivals career lows and is significantly beneath his .571 quality start rate over his career. The Panthers are -132 home favourites, but as previously mentioned, Bobrovsky's performance is a coin-flip, especially against a Jets team that has won four straight, outscoring their opposition 17-9.

Dmitry Kulikov will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season, allowing Balinskis to return to the Panthers lineup. Balinskis has two points (1G / 1A) and 15 shots on goal while averaging 13:59 time-on-ice, playing predominantly on the Panthers' third defensive pair.

Kulikov will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Uvis Balinskis to draw back into the lineup. Kulikov has played all 19 games for the Panthers this season, tallying six points (0G / 6A), 26 blocks, and 27 hits while averaging 18:43 time-on-ice.

After missing two games with a knee injury, Barkov was a full participant at practice and should return to the lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Barkov is expected to return to his familiar place on the Panthers' top line with Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues. Before his injury, Barkov was lighting it up with 11 points (5G / 6A) in his last 10 games.

The Devils will turn to Vanecek in Detroit on Wednesday for the third consecutive game. Vanecek allowed four goals on 34 shots enroute to a 5-3 defeat to the Rangers on Saturday. Vanecek has been inconsistent at best this season, but backup Akira Schmid's struggles have allowed Vanecek to retain a firm grip on the starting job. The 28-year-old netminder owns a 7-4-0 record on the season along with an .889 SV% and a 3.38 GAA. He draws a favourable matchup on Wednesday with the Devils being -160 road favourites over the Red Wings.

Kahkonen is coming off his first victory of the season, a heroic 44-save effort (.978 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Despite a horrendous 3.86 GAA, Kahkonen has an impressive 50% quality start rate through seven appearances this season (1-5-0). Expect another busy night for Kahkonen as the Sharks allow a league-worst 38.3 shots on goal per game and are +246 road favourites against a Seattle Kraken team that has points in four straight contests (2-0-2).

A busy schedule for the Panthers has limited Bobrovsky to only two starts in their past four outings, but the team will hope the extra rest will have him at his best on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins. Bobrovsky was heroic in the first round of the playoffs last season and was the main reason the Panthers defeated the Bruins in seven games. Bobrovsky has only lost once in his last seven contests (6-1-0), saving 167 of 184 shots faced (.908 SV%), but was unsuccessful in his only matchup against the Bruins this season, allowing three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss on October 30th.

Barkov did not practice on Wednesday, indicating he will likely miss his second consecutive game due to a knee injury. Barkov has been terrific this season, tallying 17 points (6G / 11A) in 16 games playing predominantly alongside Sam Reinhart on the Panthers' top line. Anton Lundell will move up to the top line, centring Eetu Luostarinen and the previously mentioned Reinhart.

Bobrovsky played well in a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in his last contest, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%), but will look to get back into the win column when he starts against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. Bobrovsky is in the midst of a strong stretch of hockey, helping his team record at least a point in seven of his last eight games (6-1-1) while saving 196 of 215 shots faced (.912 SV%). The red-hot Panthers are only slight -107 home favourites as they welcome an Oilers team that, despite snapping a season-best three-game winning streak on Saturday, seems to have refound their scoring touch, scoring four goals in each of their last four contests (1-3-0).

Barkov left Friday's game in Anaheim following a knee-on-knee hit and did not return. He was not on the ice for Sunday's practice and will not play Monday, but head coach Paul Maurice said they "got lucky with it" and that he's only day-to-day. Anton Lundell moved up to the top line in Sunday's practice session.

Schmidt had played 11 straight games for the Jets, tallying only one point (0G / 1A), seven hits, and five shots, before being a healthy scratch on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. Logan Stanley will sit in place of Schmidt.

The Devils will turn to Vanecek for the second straight game after he allowed just two goals on 23 shots in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Penguins. Given the struggles of Akira Schmid, Vanecek has been just solid enough to maintain a firm grasp on the Devils' starting job. He owns an impressive 7-3-0 record on the season despite an .889 SV% and a 3.30 GAA. Vanecek and the Devils are very slight home favourites (-120) to secure a victory over the Rangers on Saturday.