Stamkos will miss his third straight round-robin game on Saturday and Jon Cooper's update on his status was not very positive. He noted that Stamkos is "working his tail off" to get back but added that for now "Stamkos is out indefinitely." The Lighting did not need him during the round-robin but that could change come Round 1.
Saros had an ugly start to the 2020 playoffs, giving up three goals in the first 16 minutes of Game 1. However, like he rest of his team, he settled in and Nashville nearly came back from 3-0 down. He finished the game with 33 saves on 37 shots (.892 SV%) and that was enough for the Predators to go back to him in a super important Game 2.
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.
Florida selected Denisenko with the No.15 overall pick in 2018. The 19-year-old winger has spent the last two seasons playing a minimal role in the KHL, posting just 12 points (6G / 6A) in 38 games this past season. However, while playing against players of his age, Denisenko has flourished. He has represented Russia at the World Juniors in each of the last two years and has combined for 18 points (7G / 11A) in 14 games. He should be in a Panthers' uniform in 2020-21 and will be among the pre-season favourites to win the Calder Trophy.
Colorado picked Annunen in the third round of the 2018 draft and is viewed as the potential future in net for them. The 20-year-old netminder was spectacular in the Finnish Elite League in 2019-20, going 15-5-3 while leading the league in both GAA (1.77) and SV% (.920). He also represented Finland at the World Juniors in 2020, where he finished the tournament with a 2.65 GAA and .916 SV% in six starts.
Ylonen was selected in the second-round in 2018 and picked up 12 goals and 10 assists (22 points) in 53 games with the Pelicans of the Finnish Elite League. The 20-year-old winger will likely report to Laval (AHL) when he comes to North America.
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.
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.
With Philippe Myers out long-term, Friedman comes up to serve as the Flyers seventh defenseman. Friedman has one assist in six NHL games this season and has picked up 18 points (3G / 15A) in 45 AHL games.
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.
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.
