Lightning head coach Jon Cooper expects Stamkos to skate on Tuesday but will not play tomorrow vs. the Bruins. Tampa Bay won their first round-robin game vs. the Capitals without Stamkos and it's evident they won't rush him back for these pre-playoff games.
Stamkos didn't practice Saturday after training in three-straight sessions with his teammates in Toronto on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Head coach Jon Cooper said they never really had plans for Stamkos to play in Game 1 of the round-robin. With Stamkos likely out, Ondrej Palat will move to the top line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov.
When the season was paused, Stamkos was out after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle injury. He was 100 percent healthy in his return to the ice but suffered a new lower-body injury in a training session in Tampa Bay. Still, GM Julien BriseBois fully expects Stamjos to be ready for the round-robin that starts for the Lighting on August 3rd.
Carrier, who was selected in the fourth round back in 2015, spent most of his fourth professional season in Milwaukee (AHL), amassing 37 points (5G / 32A) in 55 games, which was tied for seventh-best among AHL blueliners. He also appeared in three games with the Predators but failed to get on the scoresheet. With Dan Hamhuis, Korbinian Holzer and Yannick Weber all set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason, there is a path for Carrier to be a full-time third-pairing defenseman in Nashville next season.
The Flyers selected Allison in the second-round (No.52 overall) of the 2016 draft and finished his senior season at Western Michigan University with 10 goals and 13 assists (23 points) in 26 games.
Rueschhoff was an undrafted free agent right winger, who was third on Western Michigan University with 26 points (12G / 14A) in 36 games. Rueschhoff will likely head back to University for his senior season before turning pro.
Nashville selected Novak all the way back in 2015 as a third-round pick. After finished his four years at the University of Minnesota, Novak joined the Predators AHL affiliate in Milwaukee where he eared an NHL contract by finishing second on the team in assists (31) and third in points (42) in 60 games.
Smith was an undrafted free agent forward out of the University of North Dakota. The 24-year-old finished his senior season with 11 goals and seven assists (18 points) in 34 games for the Fighting Hawks.
Saros stopped all 37 shots that he faced in the Predators shutout win in Dallas on Saturday. He posted back-to-back shutouts in their home-and-home with the Stars last week and is now 5-2-0 with a 1.80 GAA, .949 SV% and two shutouts in his last eight appearances (seven starts). Tonight he'll face a Montreal team that has gone 4-7-2 while scoring just 2.54 goals per game over the last month.
Saros stopped all 33 shots that he faced in the Predators shutout win over the Stars on Thursday. It was a terrific game for Saros, who is 6-3-0 with a 2.17 GAA, .934 SV% and two shutouts in his last nine starts. He'll look to have another strong game vs. the Stars today but he's 8-6-3 with a 3.13 GAA and .904 SV% on the road this year.
Saros allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Predators loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. Saros has gone 3-3-0 with a 2.73 GAA and .921 SV% in his last six outings and will start for the sixth time in seven games tonight vs. the Stars. Dallas has gone 2-2-2 with 2.33 goals per game in their last six games.
Angello will draw into the Penguins lineup with Brandon Tanev out with an illness. Angello has picked up one goal in seven NHL games this season and 25 points (16G / 9A) in 48 AHL games.
Saros stopped all four shots that he faced after replacing Pekka Rinne in the Predators blowout loss to the Oilers last night. Prior to Monday, Saros had started four straight while going 3-1-0 with a 2.44 GAA and .932 SV%. On Tuesday, Saros will face a Wild team that has gone 5-1-1 while averaging 4.29 goals for and 2.71 goals against in their last seven games.
Saros surrendered three goals on 39 shots in the Predators win over the Flames on Thursday. Saros is on a three-game winning streak while posting a 2.58 GAA and .932 SV%. Tonight he will face a Colorado team that has won five straight while averaging just 2.40 goals for and 1.20 goals against per game.
Stamkos will undergo a surgical procedure Monday and will miss at least six weeks. That will keep Stamkos sidelined through the rest of the regular season but he should be ready during round one of the playoffs.
Saros surrendered three goals on 39 shots in the Predators win over the Flames on Thursday. Saros is one a three-game winning streak while posting a 2.58 GAA and .932 SV%. Tonight he will face a Colorado team that has won five straight while averaging just 2.40 goals for and 1.20 goals against per game.
Saros allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Predators win over the Senators on Tuesday. Saros has won two straight while stopping 73 of 78 shots (.936 SV%) and will make his third consecutive start tonight vs. the Flames. Calgary has won the first two games of their road-trip and is 6-1-0 while averaging 4.86 goals per game in their last seven road games.
Saros allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Predators win over the Senators on Tuesday. Saros has won two straight while stopping 73 of 78 shots (.936 SV%) and will make his third consecutive start tonight vs. the Flames. Calgary has won the first two games of their road-trip and is 6-1-0 while averaging 4.86 goals per game in their last seven road games.
