Fiala is healthy enough to return from his three-game absence due to a lower-body injury but will sit out for at least one more game. Ryan Donato was originally expected to be scratched but he'll remain in the lineup in Dallas.
Rittich stopped 43 of 45 shots in the Flames loss in Winnipeg on Saturday. Rittich has been consistently inconsistent to open 2019-20, going 5-3-2 with a 2.94 GAA and .909 SV% in 10 starts. He has been under siege with regularity, facing an average of 31.7 shots per game and tonight he meets a Hurricanes team that is just outside the top-10 in scoring (3.27 GF/gm, tied for 11th).
Hicketts is the Griffins leading defenseman and is fourth on the team in points with seven assists in eight games this season. Tonight will be his season debut but his 17th career NHL game. Hicketts is expected to replace Madison Bowey in the lineup and will skate with Mike Green.
Hicketts has had a great start to his AHL season, picking up seven assists in his first eight games. The 23-year-old defenseman has three assists in 16 career NHL games and could make his season debut on Tuesday.
Kuemper allowed three goals on 21 shots in the Coyotes' loss to the Islanders last Thursday. It was the first time since March 21st (13 starts) that Kuemper has allowed more than two goals--a stretch where he was 7-5-2 with a 1.52 GAA, .949 SV% and two shutouts. Kuemper has been simply outstayed in the 2019 calendar year, ranking third in all major goalie categories--wins (26), GAA (2.02), SV% (.933) and shutouts (5).
Rittich allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Flames loss in Los Angeles last Saturday. Cam Talbot started the last two games but Rittich will face the Panthers on Thursday evening. Rittich is 3-0-1 with a 1.50 GAA, .952 SV% and one shutout on home ice this season and Florida is 18-20-8 on the road dating back to the start of last season.
Kuemper allowed two goals on 19 shots in the Coyotes overtime win in New York on Tuesday. Kuemper continues to play outstanding hockey and has now won four in a row while posting a 1.75 GAA and .943 SV%. He is a must-start while he is playing well and draws a great matchup vs. an Islanders team that is averaging just 2.50 goals per game (24th in the NHL).
Fiala missed Tuesday's game against the Oilers with a lower-body injury and he was moved to IR on Wednesday morning. His move cleared a roster spot for the Wild to recalled Kaapo Kahkonen from Iowa (AHL) to serve as Alex Stalock's backup on Thursday.
Fiala has had a tough start to the season, getting healthy scratched in Toronto last Tuesday and now day-to-day with a lower-body issue. Luckily for the Wild, Mats Zuccarello will return to the lineup after a four-game absence.
Kuemper stopped 23 of 25 shots in the Coyotes win over the Predators last Thursday. Antti Raanta started Saturday, but they’ll come back to Raanta in New York. Kuemper has won three straight starts while allowing just five goals on 103 shots (.952 SV%). Tonight he faces a Rangers team that has lost four in a row while averaging just 1.75 goals per game.
Rittich allowed one goal on 28 shots in the Flames win over the Red Wings on Thursday. Rittich has been hot as of late, winning two in a row while stopping 48 of 50 shots (.960 SV%). The Kings offence has been solid early-on but they are still 2-5-0, so don’t hesitate to use Rittich on Saturday night.
Kuemper stopped 38 of the 40 shots that he faced in the Coyotes win in Winnipeg on Tuesday. Kuemper has had an outstanding start to the season, winning two of his first four starts while allowing just six goals on 133 shots (.955 SV%). Arizona is giving up an average of 33 shots against per game and Nashville is currently the highest-scoring team in the league, so this could be a tough spot for the 29-year-old netminder.
Kuemper stopped 38 of the 40 shots that he faced in the Coyotes win in Winnipeg on Tuesday. Kuemper has had an outstanding start to the season, winning two of his first four starts while allowing just six goals on 133 shots (.955 SV%). Arizona is giving up an average of 33 shots against per game and Nashville is currently the highest-scoring team in the league, so this could be a tough spot for the 29-year-old netminder.
Rittich stopped 21 of 22 shots in the Flames win over the Flyers on Tuesday. It was a nice bounce-back game for Rittich, who gave up six goals in Vegas in his previous outing. The 27-year-old has been inconsistent to begin 2019-20, allowing at least four goals in three starts and less than two goals in the other three starts. Overall, he is 3-2-1 with a 2.80 GAA and .912 SV% and is a must-start against the Red Wings on Thursday.
Kuemper stopped 37 of 38 shots in the Coyotes win over the Golden Knights last Thursday. Antti Raanta made his season debut in Colorado on Saturday but they’ll come back to Kuemper tonight in Winnipeg. Kuemper is 1-2-0 with a 1.35 GAA and .957 SV% in his three starts this season and stopped 34 of 35 shots in a win in his only start vs. Winnipeg last season.
Rittich gave up six goals on 30 shots in the Flames’ loss in Vegas on Saturday. Cam Talbot made his Flames debut in a loss to the Sharks on Sunday, so they will come back to Rittich on Tuesday. The 27-year-old netminder is 1-0-1 with a 2.00 GAA, .946 SV% and one shutout in two starts in Calgary so far.
Fiala has struggled to start the season, picking up just one assist and seven shots in the first five games of 2019-20. Gerry Mayhew will make his NHL debut and replace Fiala in the Wild’s lineup in Toronto.
Rittich has been outstanding to start the season as he refuses to let Cam Talbot see the ice. The 27-year-old owns a .929 SV%, a 2.46 GAA, and a 2-1-1 record through his first four games. He'll see plenty of work tonight against a Golden Knights team that's averaging 34 shots per game.
