Nugent-Hopkins missed the last two games, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Canucks. The first line rushes he took were with Nail Yakupov and Teddy Purcell, but then he was reportedly between Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall at the end of practice, so expect him to be in his usual spot on the top-line. He has one assist in two games.
Nugent-Hopkins is on the ice for the Oilers morning skate and is participating in line rushes, which suggests he will return to the lineup tonight after missing the last two games. RNH is skating on the third line with Nail Yakupov and Teddy Purcell. Monitor his status following the morning skate.
Nugent-Hopkins skated on Tuesday but missed yesterday's game against the Kings and will not play tonight vs. the Coyotes. However, it is a positive sign that he has skated two days in a row, so consider him day-to-day.
Andersen allowed three goals on 42 shots in a 4-3 shootout win over the Flyers last night. He has posted a 3-0 record with a 1.95 GAA and .928 SV% in his first three starts. John Gibson was sent to the AHL for the weekend, so this is Andersen's gig right now.
Andersen only had to stop 11 of 12 shots to earn a 5-1 win over the Sabres last night. Despite head coach Bruce Boudreau saying both goalies would play twice on this road trip and most people believing that John Gibson would go tonight, it is Andersen who will put his 2-0 record on the line tonight vs. the winless Flyers.
Nugent-Hopkins was reportedly injured on a hit in the Vancouver game on Saturday. He won't play tonight and should be considered questionable for tomorrow's game. Mark Arcobello will centre the top line with RNH out.
RNH missed practice on Monday with an undisclosed and is not practicing on any particular line this morning, which would suggest he is not playing tonight. Mark Arcobello is skating in his spot on the top-line, so if RNH can't go expect that the be the case tonight. We will get an update following the skate.
Head coach Bruce Boudreau said both goalies would play twice on this road-trip which suggested John Gibson would start tonight after Andersen started vs. the Sabres last night. I guess we will have to wait until pre-game warmups to see who gets the start. Andersen faced just 12 shots (stopped 11) in the afternoon game yesterday, so he is fresh enough to play the back-to-back.
Andersen allowed two goals on 29 shots in a 3-2 win over the Red Wings on Saturday. John Gibson was lit up in his first start, so the Ducks will go to Andersen for two straight games. He is a must-start against Sabres this afternoon.
The other member of the Ducks' goaltending tandem John Gibson was shelled for six goals on 39 shots in a 6-4 loss to the Penguins in the season opener. Andersen had a 20-5-0 record with a 2.29 GAA and .923 SV% in his first NHL season and followed it up with a nice preseason, so expect another strong season behind a great Ducks team. He will face the Red Wings, who beat the Bruins 2-1 in their opener.
Kapanen, 18, was the 22nd overall pick in this summer's draft. He had one goal on six shots in four preseason games, but will head back to KalPa Kuopio in Finland, a team he had seven goals and seven assists (14 points) in 47 games with last season.
Andersen was injured in game 3 and has not played since. Rookie John Gibson has filled in exceptionally for Andersen. The Ducks could close out the series tonight, but the crease appears to be Gibson's until further notice.
Andersen left game 3 with a lower-body injury midway through the third period and did not return. He also did not skate this morning so it will be either Jonas Hiller or rookie John Gibson manning the goal for the Ducks in game 4 tonight.
Head coach Bruce Boudreau elected to go with Andersen over Jonas Hiller, who lost the first two games in Anaheim. Andersen made 22 saves on 23 shots in two and a half periods, before being relieved by Hiller, who allowed one goal on eight shots but walked away with the win. There was no medical update on Andersen after the game other than he is 'day-to-day', so monitor his status leading up to game 4.
Andersen stopped 34 of 36 shot in a 6-2 win over the Stars on game 5. It was a nice bounce back game for Andersen, after he was pulled in game 4's loss in Dallas. The series shifts back to Dallas and Andersen carries a 2.93 GAA and .909 SV% in the series.
There was speculation that Gibson or Hiller could see some action after the Ducks' collapse but Boudreau will return with the rookie Andersen.
Andersen has been praised for his play in big games for the Ducks this season and will continue to lead their playoff run tonight.
Andersen stopped 32 of 35 shots in the 3-2 win over the Stars in game 1. Anaheim jumped out to a 4-0 lead, just to allow the Stars to come back. He will be the Ducks' starter until he falters, and game 1 gave us a good idea of what he is capable of.
Andersen stopped 27 of 30 shots in a win over the Kings in his last regular season start. He has won his last four starts while holding his opponents to 10 goals on 131 shots (.924 SV%). He finished his first NHL season at 20-5-0 with a 2.29 GAA and .923 SV% and with Jonas Hiller struggling down the stretch Andersen will make his postseason debut in game 1 vs. Dallas tonight.
Andersen (upper-body) looks lie he will return to the Ducks' crease after missing the last three games. He stopped 30 of 32 shots in a win over the Oilers in his last start. Andersen has gone 19-5-0 with a 2.27 GAA and .924 SV% in his first NHL season. Tonight, he will look to move to 3-0 over the Kings this season.
