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  • Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Struggles in relief outing

    Lankinen gave up three goals on 12 shots in relief of Nikita Tolopilo in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Flames.

    Lankinen got some rest for a period, but Tolopilo was pulled after giving up the fourth goal. Lankinen has allowed 18 goals on 133 shots (.865 save percentage) during a winless stretch of five appearances. That's somehow worse than his overall numbers, which are at a 3.65 GAA and an .876 save percentage in 42 outings this season, to go with an 8-25-5 record. The Canucks may opt to keep Lankinen heavily in the starting role down the stretch to avoid wrecking Tolopilo's confidence. Avoid the Vancouver crease at all costs, especially with road matchups in Vegas, Colorado and Minnesota next on the slate for the Canucks.

  • Canucks' Nikita Tolopilo: Poor showing in rare start

    Tolopilo stopped seven of 11 shots in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Flames.

    Tolopilo got the start but was pulled 4:36 into the second period after Olli Maatta scored to put the Flames ahead 4-1. The Canucks weren't able to bail out Tolopilo, who ended up with the loss in his first game action in two weeks. He's now at 5-7-2 with a 3.53 GAA and an .886 save percentage over 16 appearances this season. Kevin Lankinen hasn't played that well either, and he gave up three goals on 12 shots in relief Saturday. Bottom line, the Canucks' goaltending is a unit to avoid at all costs in fantasy, especially with a gauntlet of a three-game road trip coming up. That trip kicks off Monday in Vegas.

  • Dustin Wolf G | CGY

    Flames' Dustin Wolf: Gets plenty of support in win

    Wolf stopped 31 of 34 shots in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Canucks.

    Wolf gave up a goal in each period, but the Flames' offense offered a rare burst of support to make this an easy win. With three straight wins, Wolf looks to be benefiting from alternating starts with Devin Cooley again. Wolf is up to 22-25-3 with a 2.95 GAA and an .898 save percentage over 52 outings. If the Flames keep up the goalie rotation, Cooley would get a tough matchup Monday in Colorado, while Wolf's next start would be another difficult one Thursday in Vegas.

  • Kings' Anton Forsberg: Plays third period Saturday

    Forsberg stopped all 11 shots he faced in relief of Darcy Kuemper in the third period of Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Mammoth.

    The Mammoth got an empty-netter early in the third period but didn't put the puck behind Forsberg in his relief appearance. The 33-year-old has given up 15 goals on 140 shots over five appearances in March, which has led to him serving firmly in the backup role. He remains at 11-11-5 with a 2.81 GAA and a .902 save percentage over 30 appearances this season. The Kings have a back-to-back in the middle of the week, hosting the Blues on Wednesday and the Predators on Thursday. Forsberg could get a start in that span, though Kuemper could get doubled up for starts if the Kings need to go all-out to gain ground in the playoff race.

  • Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Pulled after two periods Saturday

    Kuemper stopped 11 of 16 shots in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Mammoth.

    Kuemper was pulled after two periods in an ineffective performance. This was his first regulation loss since March 7 versus the Canadiens -- he went 3-0-4 over the seven outings in between. This poor showing dropped Kuemper to 18-14-13 with a 2.67 GAA and an .896 save percentage over 47 starts this season. The Kings have a back-to-back up next with major implications on the playoff race in both games, as they host the Blues on Wednesday and the Predators on Thursday. Kuemper and Anton Forsberg will likely split those games, though Kuemper would be the more probable of the two to get doubled up for starts, especially if the Kings lose ground in the playoff race while idle for the three days.

  • Mammoth's Karel Vejmelka: Cruises to road win

    Vejmelka allowed two goals on 31 shots in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Kings.

    Vejmelka got all the help he needed as the Mammoth put up three goals in the first period. The 29-year-old did his part to play a steady game between the pipes, though the Kings' top line did get to him twice. He's won three of his last five appearances, giving up nine goals on 111 shots in that span. Vejmelka is up to 33-19-3 on the season with a 2.69 GAA and an .898 save percentage over 57 appearances. He should continue to see the bulk of the playing time as the Mammoth battle for positioning in the Western Conference wild-card race. The Mammoth are off until Thursday's game in Seattle, which is a pivotal one in the playoff battle.

  • Cam Talbot G | DET

    Red Wings' Cam Talbot: Makes relief appearance Saturday

    Talbot stopped all four shots he faced in relief of John Gibson in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Flyers.

    Talbot's entry into the game sparked the Red Wings, though they weren't able to erase all of the four-goal deficit they faced. The 38-year-old netminder had been sidelined by an undisclosed injury Friday. Talbot figures to see little work as long as the Red Wings are hunting for a playoff spot, as Gibson has taken over as a workhorse in March. For the season, Talbot is at a 12-8-5 record with a 3.01 GAA and an .892 save percentage over 29 appearances. The Red Wings have a back-to-back next weekend, which could offer Talbot a chance to get a start if he doesn't get one before then.

  • John Gibson G | DET

    Red Wings' John Gibson: Yields four goals in loss

    Gibson allowed four goals on 21 shots before he was replaced by Cam Talbot in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Flyers.

    Gibson made his 11th straight start, but playing on consecutive days didn't go well for the 32-year-old. He exited the game after giving up Owen Tippett's hat-trick tally in the third period. It was Gibson's third loss in his last four games, and he's allowed 12 goals in that span. His heavy workload could be catching up to him. He's now at a 27-18-3 record with a 2.58 GAA and a .905 save percentage over 50 appearances this season. The Pittsburgh native seems likely to get the nod in his hometown when the Red Wings begin a three-game road trip Tuesday versus the Penguins.

  • Blues' Jordan Binnington: Barely breaks sweat beating Leafs

    Binnington made 12 saves in a 5-1 win over Toronto on Saturday.

    Binnington had a fairly easy night with most of the action at the other end of the ice. He has been better since returning from the Olympics, but Joel Hofer continues to see most of the action for the Blues. Hofer has gone 6-0-2 in eight outings in March compared to Binnington's 4-1-0 record in five appearances.

  • Dan Vladar G | PHI

    Flyers' Dan Vladar: Bends, doesn't break in win

    Vladar stopped 32 of 35 shots in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Red Wings.

    Vladar was pitching a shutout until the Red Wings scored three times in a span of 2:31 late in the third period. He was able to fend off their attempt at an equalizer, and Sean Couturier's empty-netter gave the Flyers a little more breathing room to close out the win. Vladar has won four of his last six games, allowing just 12 goals on 166 shots in that span. He's up to 24-12-7 with a 2.44 GAA and a .907 save percentage across 45 appearances this season. The Flyers play again Sunday versus the Stars, but since they're in a tight playoff race, Vladar could get the nod again, though Samuel Ersson has shown much better play since the Olympic break.

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