Grubauer stopped 42 of 43 shots in Colorado’s win in Carolina last Saturday. Grubauer lost his first start with the Avalanche, but has won his last two games while stopping 69 of 73 shots (.945 SV%). Tonight he will take on a surprising Senators team that is averaging the fifth most goals for per game (3.63) through their first eight games.
Grubauer allowed three goals on 30 shots in Colorado’s win in New Jersey on Thursday. Grubauer has surrendered seven goals on 64 shots (.891 SV%) in his first two starts as an Avalanche. Things don’t get any easier this afternoon in Carolina—the Hurricanes lead the NHL in shots per game (42.0) and 10th in goals per game (3.57).
Grubauer allowed four goals on 34 shots in Colorado’s loss in Columbus on October 9th. With Semyon Varlamov playing great, Grubauer has been limited to one start in the first two and a half weeks of the season. Tonight he takes on a Devils team that has started the season 4-0-0 while averaging the third most goals per game (4.25) in the NHL.
Schwartz missed the Blues last two games with a lower-body injury, but was back on the ice for Tuesday’s practice. Schwartz skated in his regular spot on the Blues’ second line and power-play, suggesting that he will play on Wednesday. Schwartz has registered two assists and seven shots on goal in three games this season.
Schultz underwent successful surgery to repair a fracture of his lower left leg on Sunday. Schultz is expected to miss at least four months, which will open the door for Jusso Riikola to become a full-time NHLer on the Penguins blueline. Jamie Oleksiak will draw n for Schultz on Tuesday and Olli Maatta will likely fill in for him on the second power-play unit.
The Penguins are still waiting for official word on Schultz’s injury, but it looks like he is going to miss some time. Schultz was forced to leave Saturday’s game with a gruesome looking leg/ankle injury and left the Bell Centre with crutches and a boot. “We are losing a good hockey player,” Jack Johnson told reporters, suggesting that the early prognosis is not good. If Schultz does miss time, Just Riikola will have a full-time roster spot moving forward and Jamie Oleksiak will draw into the lineup on Tuesday.
There’s no word what kind of lower-body injury Schwartz is dealing with, but he did take a Vladimir Tarasenko shot off of the foot on Thursday. With Schwartz likely out, Samuel Blais skated on the second line during Friday’s practice.
Dunn has been featured on the Blues top power-play to start the season, but is expected to sit tomorrow with Joel Edmundson set to make his season debut. With Dunn out, Alex Pietrangelo will take his spot on the top power-play unit.
Kempny skated with John Carlson during Tuesday’s practice and will play Wednesday vs. the Golden Knights. Kempny had 10 points (3G / 7A) in 53 games a season ago.
Over the last three seasons with the Capitals, Grubauer had a 2.25 GAA and .923 SV% in 63 starts and 18 relief appearances as Braden Holtby’s backup. This summer he was dealt to the Avalanche, where he’s expected to split time with Semyon Varlamov. The Avalanche have won their first two games of the season, but have not been the same team on the road.
Schultz is dealing with a “nagging” upper-body injury but the Penguins don’t think it is anything serious. It sounds like Schultz will get some time off to end training camp to make sure he is ready for the start of the regular season.
