NHL Player News

Dobes will patrol the home crease versus Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Sam Montembeault will start against the Devils on Saturday, leaving Sunday's start to Dobes. Dobes has struggled in his last three starts, going 0-2-1 and allowing 12 goals on 106 shots (.887 save percentage). Dobes won his first five starts in the NHL and is 5-2-1 with a 2.45 GAA and a .917 save percentage. The Lightning could give Dobes all sorts of problems as Tampa Bay is generating 3.49 goals per game, third in the NHL this season.

Montembeault will tend the twine at home versus New Jersey on Saturday.

Montembeault has given up three or more goals in each of his last four outings, posting a 1-3-0 record and .892 save percentage. Heading into the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Habs will roll with Montembeault on Saturday before Jakub Dobes gets the nod at home versus the Lightning on Sunday.

Skinner will defend the home net versus Colorado on Friday, per Tony Brar of Oilers TV.

Skinner is coming off a 20-save performance Tuesday in a 3-2 overtime win versus St. Louis. Skinner is 20-12-4 with two shutouts, a 2.68 GAA and a .902 save percentage in 36 starts this season. The Avalanche will be a tired team after defeating the Flames 4-2 on Thursday in Calgary. Colorado is generating 3.21 goals per game, ninth in the NHL this season.

Skinner will defend the home net versus Colorado on Friday, per Tony Brar of Oilers TV.

Skinner is coming off a 20-save performance Tuesday in a 3-2 overtime win versus St. Louis. Skinner is 20-12-4 with two shutouts, a 2.68 GAA and a .902 save percentage in 36 starts this season. The Avalanche will be a tired team after defeating the Flames 4-2 on Thursday in Calgary. Colorado is generating 3.21 goals per game, ninth in the NHL this season.

Lyon will be between the home pipes versus Tampa Bay on Saturday, per Daniella Bruce of the Red Wings' official site.

Lyon has been great of late, going 5-1-1 in 10 appearances since the Christmas break. allowing 16 goals on 218 shots (.927 save percentage). Lyon is 10-6-1 with a 2.58 GAA and a .908 save percentage across 21 games this season. Lyon has a tough matchup as the Lightning are scoring 3.49 goals per game, third in the NHL this season.

Luukkonen (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision ahead of Saturday's clash with Nashville, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.

Luukkonen didn't dress for Tuesday's game versus the Sabres due to his undisclosed injury but was back at practice Friday and could still get the starting nod versus the Predators. The 25-year-old backstop is riding a three-game winning streak during which he posted a 2.67 GAA and .902 save percentage. Still, with Luukkonen joining Team Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Sabres could decide to give him some extra rest and utilize James Reimer or Felix Sandstrom between the pipes Saturday.

Hofer gave up three goals on 34 shots in a 3-2 defeat to Florida on Thursday.

Hofer has now been on the losing end of three straight contests, going 0-3-0 with a 3.53 GAA in his last four outings -- one of which was a no-decision relief appearance. Given Jordan Binnington's underwhelming numbers -- he's 14-19-4 with a .899 save percentage -- the opportunity is there for Hofer to see more starts, but he hasn't been able to grab the reins.

Knight stopped 20 of 22 shots on his way to a 3-2 win over St. Louis on Thursday.

Knight has picked up wins in consecutive games for just the second time this season and has featured in two of the Panthers' last three contests. While Sergei Bobrovsky remains the No. 1 option in Florida, head coach Paul Maurice has been deploying Knight in closer to a split share of late, which could be a way to keep Bobrovsky fresh for a postseason run.

Gustavsson racked up 37 saves on 38 shots in a 2-1 victory over Carolina on Thursday.

Gustavsson has gotten absolutely peppered in his last two outings, facing a combined 90 shots while making 83 saves (.922 save percentage). After a rough start to January, the 26-year-old backstop appears to have rediscovered his game, going 3-1-0 with a 2.51 GAA in his last four appearances. With Gustavsson joining Team Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Wild may decide to give him the night off versus the Islanders on Saturday and roll out veteran Marc-Andre Fleury instead.

Andersen gave up just two goals on 24 shots but came up short in a 2-1 loss to Minnesota on Thursday.

Andersen put together one of his best performances of the season in Thursday's contest but was let down by a lack of offensive support. With the Hurricanes rotating netminders since Andersen's return from a long-term knee injury, it will likely be Pyotr Kochetkov between the pipes at home versus Utah on Saturday, which means Andersen is unlikely to play again until after the 4 Nations Face-Off.