Gauthier is having an excellent season in Anaheim, with 65 points (38G / 28A) in 73 games, and has been sorely missed during the team's recent losing streak. The 22-year-old forward will miss a third straight game on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators, but should return in one of Anaheim's following two games.
The Ducks have been abysmal defensively in recent games, allowing four or more goals in each of their last five games (0-4-1), with the brunt of the hardship falling on their goalies. The 25-year-old Dostal allowed six goals on 29 shots (.793 SV%) in his most recent outing, a miserable 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Dostal has salvaged a 5-4-1 record in his last 10 games despite posting an ugly 3.40 GAA and .874 SV%. The Ducks enter Tuesday's contest as -139 home favourites against a Nashville Predators team that had a 3-2 shootout loss last night to the Los Angele Kings as they continue their late-season battle for a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
With only five games remaining in the regular season, it's unclear who Carolina will turn to in the playoffs, as they continue their goalie rotation on Tuesday with Bussi tending the twine. The 27-year-old Bussi had a rough stretch exiting the Olympic break, but he has played better in recent outings. He has won four straight, allowing three or fewer goals in each game while posting a 2.50 GAA and .884 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as -179 home favourites against a Boston Bruins team that has scored only three goals in its last three games (0-2-1).
Mintyukov just recently returned to the lineup after missing time with a lower-body injury, and quickly returned to the sidelines and missed another two games. That said, he was back at practice on Monday and will return on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. The 22-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:26 time-on-ice and has 20 points (8G / 12A) in 68 games this season.
Swayman has continued his excellent play, but the Bruins' struggles offensively have hindered his effectiveness. The 27-year-old Swayman saved 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in his most recent outing, but did not receive enough goal support, losing 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has lost three of his last five games (2-3-0) despite posting a serviceable 2.60 GAA and .906 SV%. The Bruins enter Tuesday's contest as +166 road underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes team, coming off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators.
With Valeri Nichushkin (upper body) returning from a one-game absence, Kiviranta will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Kiviranta had a career-high 16 goals in 79 games last season, but has been limited to only three goals and six assists through 46 games this season.
Nichushkin was a late scratch on Sunday, missing the game due to an upper-body injury, but he will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 31-year-old Nichushkin is producing at his lowest offensive output in five seasons, but has been more productive lately, with seven points (1G / 6A) in his last eight games. He has 45 points (15G / 30A) in 66 games this season. Joel Kiviranta will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Nichushkin's return.
Roy has been effective in a bottom-six role since being acquired by Colorado, and will re-enter the lineup after being sidelined for two weeks due to an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old had five goals in 59 games with Toronto, but already scored three in nine games with Colorado. Zakhar Bardakov will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Roy's return.
With Nicolas Roy returning from an upper-body injury, Bardakov will head to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Bardakov has only played one game in the past two weeks. He has 10 points (1G / 9A) in 57 games this season.
It's unclear who the league-leading Avalanche will turn to during the postseason, but lately, they have received more reliable play from Wedgewood, who will return to the crease on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 33-year-old Wedgewood was terrific in his previous outing, recording his third shutout of the season with a 17-save performance in a 2-0 win over his former team, the Dallas Stars. In his last five appearances (3-1-1), Wedgewood has a dazzling 1.35 GAA and .941 SV%. The Avalanche enter Tuesday's contest as -145 road favourites against a desperate St. Louis Blues team that is 2-0-1 in its last three games.
With Kevin Lankinen (upper body) sidelined, the Canucks' crease likely belongs to Tolopilo until he returns. The 26-year-old Tolopilo had a poor showing in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 23 shots (.739 SV%) in a 7-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has lost four straight games (0-4-0), posting a dreadful 5.69 GAA and .819 SV%. The Canucks enter Tuesday's contest as +221 home underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights team that has outscored its opponents 15-6 in its last three games (3-0-0).
Stuart Skinner (upper body) was a late scratch on Sunday, resulting in the team recalling Taylor Gauthier from the ECHL. Gauthier was eventually sent back, with Murashov being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That said, with Skinner being a full participant at practice on Tuesday, and the Penguins not playing until Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, it seems unlikely that Skinner will miss any more time unless the team decides to be extra cautious with the postseason on the immediate horizon.
The Ducks have been abysmal defensively in recent games, allowing four or more goals in each of their last five games (0-4-1), with the brunt of the hardship falling on their goalies. The 25-year-old Dostal allowed six goals on 29 shots (.793 SV%) in his most recent outing, a miserable 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Dostal has salvaged a 5-4-1 record in his last 10 games despite posting an ugly 3.40 GAA and .874 SV%. The Ducks enter Tuesday's contest as -139 home favourites against a Nashville Predators team that had a 3-2 shootout loss last night to the Los Angele Kings as they continue their late-season battle for a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
The Maple Leafs were officially eliminated from playoff contention in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks, and they also lost Ekman-Larsson, who exited the game after only 7:03 time-on-ice due to a middle-body injury. Ekman-Larsson did not play in Toronto's following game, but he could re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. The 34-year-old Swedish defenseman has 38 points (8G / 30A) in 73 games this season.
Suniev was a third-round pick of the Flames in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, who made his NHL debut last season, playing one game. The 21-year-old forward has 23 points (15G / 8A) in 55 games this season with the Calgary Wrangelrs (AHL).
Dach was acquired before the trade deadline, but only suited up in three games for Edmonton before suffering an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him for the past month. The 23-year-old second-year forward has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 56 games this season, primarily as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
With the Panthers out of the playoff picture, the team has leaned more heavily on Tarasov in recent games, and he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens. That said, the increased workload hasn't translated into improved play for Tarasov, who has lost five of his last seven appearances (1-5-0), posting an ugly 4.55 GAA and .863 SV%. The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as significant +202 road underdogs against a Canadiens team whose eight-game winning streak was snapped on Sunday in a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
The acquisition of Tristan Jarry has not panned out as hoped for the Oilers, with Connor Ingram being labelled as their starting goalie, but Jarry has played well in recent games and will tend the twine on Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth. The 30-year-old Jarry was solid in a 5-2 win over Utah two weeks ago, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%). He has wins in three of his last four appearances (3-1-0), posting a 3.03 GAA and .853 SV%. The Oilers enter Tuesday's contest as +115 road underdogs against a Mammoth team that has outscored opponents 19-8 over its last three games (3-0-0).
Tkachuk is welcoming the birth of his child and will not play on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens. The Panthers have had a miserable 2025-26 season, but Tkachuk has remained his usual productive self, scoring at a point-per-game pace with 32 points (13G / 19A) in 30 games.
The Blue Jackets remain within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, but have struggled immensely in recent weeks and will need to immediately turn things around if they have any hopes of making the playoffs. Greaves played well in his recent game, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%), but did not receive ample goal support in a 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 25-year-old Greaves has been reliable most of the season, but has lost five of his last six (1-4-1) despite posting a solid 2.34 GAA and .915 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight -103 road underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings team that is also struggling to stay in playoff contention after losing four of their last five (1-4-0).
