Smith has not played since December 21st, missing 11 straight games, but is nearing a return to the lineup. The 29-year-old Smith was averaging 13:03 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 34 games before his injury.
Smith has not played since December 21st, missing 11 straight games, but is nearing a return to the lineup. The 29-year-old Smith was averaging 13:03 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 34 games before his injury.
The Blackhawks will hope to snap a three-game losing skid on Thursday when they turn to Soderblom between the pipes in a matchup against the Nashville Predators. The 25-year-old Soderblom struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 34 shots (.882 SV%) in a 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. He has a 2.99 GAA and .903 SV% in 19 appearances this season (6-11-1). The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as significant +241 road underdogs against a Predators squad coming off an impressive 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, the Panthers will turn to Knight between the pipes on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. Knight has only played once in the previous seven game but was stellar in that outing, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 23-year-old Knight has a 2.80 GAA and .891 SV% in 15 appearances this season (7-6-1).
T.J. Brodie will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Kaiser to re-enter the lineup. The 22-year-old Kaiser is averaging 17:44 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 32 games this season.
Knight went 2-2-1 with a 3.80 GAA and .846 SV% in five games in December. Knight will look to put a tough month of December behind him, as he starts January with a decent matchup vs. the Penguins. Despite being on the second half of a back-to-back, Knight and the Panthers have the second-highest implied Win% (65.6%) on the slate. Knight has been significantly better on home-ice this season, going 2-3-0 with a. 2.09 GAA, .914 SV% and one shutout in Florida, versus 4-3-1 with a 3.39 GAA and .871 SV% on the road.
Connor Murphy will not play on Friday against the Montreal Canadiens due to a groin injury, allowing Kaiser to re-enter the lineup. Kaiser has not played since December 14th. He is averaging 17:33 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in 28 games this season.
Petr Mrazek played in Chicago's 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues in Tuesday's Winter Classic. The Blackhawks will revert to Soderblom between the pipes on Friday, looking to snap a five-game losing skid. Soderblom allowed five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. He has a 2.78 GAA and .907 SV% in 16 games this season (5-9-1). The Blackhawks enter Friday's contest as +124 home underdogs against a Montreal Canadiens squad outscoring their opposition 12-4 during a three-game winning streak.
Toninato is yet to play an NHL game in 2024-25 after registering five points in 15 games with the Jets last season. The Jets placed Haydn Fleury (lower-body) on injured reserve in a corresponding move.
Exiting the holiday break, the Panthers will turn to Knight between the pipes on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Knight was excellent in his previous outing, saving 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 23-year-old Knight has a 2.78 GAA and .891 SV% in 13 games (6-5-1).
