Middleton was set to start the season in the AHL but an injury to Dalton Prout has opened up a roster spot for Middleton to be recalled. He had one assist in three NHL games last season and added 19 points (5G / 14A) in 57 AHL contests.
After an injury-plagued 2018 season, Fleury started 61 games in 2019 and ranked tied for fifth in wins (35), 13th in GAA (2.51) and tied for 21st in SV% (.913). Entering 2020, Fleury is poised to start 60-plus games for the eighth time in his career and should find himself among the league leaders in wins. He was 1-1-0 with a 1.54 GAA, .950 SV% and one shutout in two games vs. the Sharks last year.
After an injury-plagued 2018 season, Fleury started 61 games in 2019 and ranked tied for fifth in wins (35), 13th in GAA (2.51) and tied for 21st in SV% (.913). Entering 2020, Fleury is poised to start 60-plus games for the eighth time in his career and should find himself among the league leaders in wins. He was 1-1-0 with a 1.54 GAA, .950 SV% and one shutout in two games vs. the Sharks last year.
Spurgeon’s $7.575M AAV cap-hit makes him the highest paid player in Minnesota Wild history (by AAV). Spurgeon is coming off of a career-year, posting 14 goals and 29 assists (43 points) in 82 games. In 2020 he will be heavily featured in the Minnesota top-4 and his career 7.2 SH% makes him a threat for for double-digit goals every year.
Since being picked No.20 in 2015, Eriksson Ek has not topped 16 points in his first two NHL seasons. However, once Mikko Koivu went down last year, Eriksson Ek had five goals and two assists in 22 games while averaging 15:23 TOI/gm—averaged 12:22 prior. Koivu will likely be eased back into action early in the season, giving Eriksson Ek an opportunity to get off to a hot start in 2020.
Hartman is a pending RFA, who split last year between the Predators and Flyers. Overall, he had 12 goals and 14 assists (26 points) in 83 games. Hartman should be an offensive upgrade in the Stars’ bottom-6.
Fleury allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Golden Knights double-overtime loss in Game 6. Fleury has had a solid series, posting a .912 SV% and one shutout through six games and brings a ton of Game 7 experience to the crease on Tuesday. Fleury is 3-3- with a 1.86 GAA and .923 SV% in six career Game 7 starts.
Fleury allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Golden Knights 6-3 win over the Sharks in Game 3. Fleury has not been at his best, allowing at least three goals in all three games and posting a .897 SV%, but he has outplayed Martin Jones and that has been enough. He should be able to do the same in Game 4 and that should give Vegas a 3-1 series lead.
Basically Zuccarello still has some discomfort in his arm and they will allow him to take morning skates off so that he is able to remain in the lineup. Through the first two games of the series, Zuccarello has one goal on one shot.
Johansson will be held out for the second straight game with an illness, which means David Backes will remain in the lineup in Toronto. Johansson is day-to-day and questionable for Game 4.
