Dellandrea has impressed early in the season but will be scratched on Tuesday for what the Stars are calling a "breather." Joel L'Esperance will replace him in the Stars' bottom-6.
Georgiev allowed three goals on 24 shots in the Rangers loss in Buffalo on Tuesday. Igor Shesterkin has started three of the last four games, so they'll give Georgiev the nod in the first game of a two-game set vs. the Penguins. After opening the season with a 23-save shutout, Georgiev has lost his last two while allowing a combined seven goals on 44 shots (.841 SV%). Pittsburgh comes in at 4-3-1 while averaging 2.75 goals per game (19th) through their first eight games.
With Adam Boqvist out due to COVID-19 protocol, Carlsson will make his season debut on Tuesday. Carlsson had one assist in six games with Chicago last season.
Georgiev was pulled after allowing four goals on 20 shots in the Rangers' loss to New Jersey last Tuesday. Igor Shesterkin started the last two games but lost both, so they'll come back to Georgiev on Tuesday. He posted a 23-save shutout in his first start of the season but draws a tough assignment against a Sabres team that is playing good hockey to start the season.
Nutivaara missed the first two games of the season due to COVID-19 protocol but will travel on the Panthers' upcoming trip to Columbus and Detroit. He skated on the "fourth pair" in Monday's practice, suggesting that his Panthers debut may not come until the second game of the trip, Thursday vs. his former team.
Thornton left Wednesday's game following a collision in the third period and appeared to be in obvious discomfort. He underwent further evaluation on Thursday and the Maple Leafs announced he's dealing with a fractured rib on Friday morning. In addition to Thornton, Auston Matthews is also dealing with an upper-body injury, so both Adam Brooks and Pierre Engvall will enter the Maple Leafs lineup vs. Edmonton.
Thornton was hurt early in the third period of Wednesday's loss to the Oilers and did not return. Thornton was not on the ice for Thursday's practice and is scheduled to undergo an MRI. Early indications are that Thornton is going to miss some time. Look for Jimmy Vesey to skate with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on Friday.
The Sharks are looking for more production out of their bottom-6, so they will shake up all four lines, which includes Dylan Gambrell replacing Gregor in the lineup.
Grundstrom sat as a healthy scratch in the first two games but will replace Matt Luff (undisclosed) in the lineup on Tuesday. Grundstrom had five goals and eight assists (13 points) in 18 games with Bjorkloven IF (SHL) during his COVID-loan.
Igor Shesterkin started the season opener but they will turn to Georgiev in the rematch vs. the Islanders. The 24-year-old netminder was 17-14-2 with a 3.04 GAA and .910 SV% in 34 appearances a year ago. If he doesn't improve on those numbers in 2020, Shesterkin will get a very large portion of the starts. Georgiev faced the Islanders four times last year, going 3-1-0 with a 2.81 GAA and .920 SV%.
White, who played most of last season as the Senators' No.1 centre, has plummeted down the depth chart during training camp. According to head coach DJ Smith, there are "four centres ahead of him that had good camps." Those four centres are Josh Norris, newcomer Derek Stepan, Chris Tierney and Artem Anisimov.
Wennberg was bought out by the Blue Jackets yesterday but signed a one-year "show me" deal with the Panthers. In Florida, Wennberg has a perfect opportunity to serve as their second line centre and get back to his point producing ways. He has not topped 30 points in two straight seasons but registered a career-high 59 points (13G / 46A) in 2017.
Schuldt signed with the Golden Knights after four years at St. Cloud State and spent his first professional season with the Chicago Wolves (AHL), where he had six goals and 15 assists (21 points) in 52 games. Schuldt will likely start 2021 in the AHL but will be one of the first blueliners to get called-up by Vegas.
