Speculation about the Devils acquiring a goalie all season was finally validated on Friday when they acquired Allen from the Montreal Canadiens for a conditional third-round pick that can become a second-round pick depending on games played. Allen is currently sporting a .892 SV% and a career-worst 3.65 GAA through 21 games this season (6-12-3).
Markstrom is set to make a fourth consecutive start on Thursday when the Flames travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning. He saw a personal four-game losing streak come to an end in Monday's game against the Kraken, when he allowed four goals on 30 shots enroute to a 4-2 defeat. He owns a 21-16-2 record on the season to go along with a .912 SV%. He'll have his hands full again on Thursday as the Flames find themselves as +130 underdogs in Tampa.
Nemec was a healthy scratch for the Devils' previous game as Travis Green wanted him to have a "reset" but will draw back into New Jersey's lineup on Thursday vs. St. Louis. The 20-year-old rookie has made an impressive impact in his first season in New Jersey, with two goals, 16 points, 54 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 40 games played this season.
The Devils, losers of three straight, will return to Daws between the pipes after unsuccessfully allowing Akira Schmid to prove himself in a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Daws has showcased horrendous performances in his last two outings (0-2-0), allowing eight goals on his last 27 shots (.704 SV%). That said, the Devils enter action as -151 home favourites against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
The Colorado Avalanche signed Hanzel to an entry-level contract on Thursday morning before dealing him to the Predators in the afternoon. Hanzel was the sixth-round pick of the Avalanche in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. As a 21-year-old, Hanzel has 50 points (13G / 37A) in 58 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) this season.
Bordeleau was called up on Wednesday in correspondence to Ty Emberson (lower-body) being placed on injured reserve. The 22-year-old Bordeleau played six games with the Sharks earlier this season but has spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Barracuda (AHL), tallying 25 points (11G / 14A) in 35 games.
Hanzel was the sixth-round pick of the Avalanche in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. As a 21-year-old, Hanzel has 50 points (13G / 37A) in 58 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) this season.
Bordeleau was called up on Wednesday in correspondence to Ty Emberson (lower-body) being placed on injured reserve. The 22-year-old Bordeleau played six games with the Sharks earlier this season but has spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Barracuda (AHL), tallying 25 points (11G / 14A) in 35 games.
Kovacevic has played four straight for the Canadiens but will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday. In those four games, Kovacevic recorded one assist, a +4 plus/minus, and four hits.
Palat played 15:10 time-on-ice in the Devils' last contest but suffered a lower-body injury at some point and will be unavailable on Tuesday night. The Czech forward has one point (0G / 1A) in his last four games.
Brendan Smith will likely draw into the lineup on Tuesday if Nemec is a healthy scratch. Nemec played 16:18 time-on-ice last night and recorded two shots on goal. The Slovak defender has been held off the scoresheet in four straight games.
MacEwen played only 2:18 time-on-ice before exiting Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The bruising forward was playing in his second game since being recalled last week. Rourke Chartier has been recalled from Belleville (AHL) in the interim.
The Canadiens will turn to Allen between the pipes as they attempt to snap a two-game losing skid on Tuesday. Allen is winless in his last five outings and has allowed four or more goals in three straight, including four on 24 shots (.833 SV%) in a 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils on February 24th. Allen and the Canadiens will visit a Nashville Predators club riding an eight-game winning streak.
Despite all the trade speculation, it seems Jacob Markstrom will be staying in Calgary for the remainder of the season as he gets his seventh-straight start on Monday vs. Seattle. The 34-year-old is second in the NHL with a +18.7 GSAx and has impressed despite the weak roster in front of him with his 21-15-2 record, 2.57 GAA and .914 SV%. He will host the Seattle Kraken on Monday, who have won three of their last five games but are struggling offensively as they are 28th in the NHL in goals per game (2.72).
