Ryan Miller started the Canucks’ season opener last night, so Markstrom will start tonight as the Canucks host the Hurricanes. The 26-year-old had a nice 2015-16 season, going 13-14-4 with a 2.73 GAA and .915 SV%, but he will need to be better than that if he want to surpass Miller as the starter in Vancouver.
Kulikov missed the Sabres’ season opener on Thursday but was on the ice for practice on Friday and is encouraged that he will be able to play on Sunday. Kulikov was skating on the third pair with Cody Franson.
Kulikov had been practicing with the team leading up to tonight’s season opener, but his bruised tailbone has not healed enough for him to be in the lineup vs. Montreal. Casey Nelson will replace the offseason acquisition to start the year.
Gudas was suspended for six games after his shoulder-to-head hit on Bruins’ rookie Austin Czarnik on Saturday night. The Flyers’ will already be without Michael Del Zotto on the back-end, but it looks like Brandon Manning (shoulder) will be healthy enough to replace Gudas in the season opener.
Tkachuk was selected sixth overall this summer after picking up 107 points (30G / 77A) in 57 games with the London Knights. Tkachuk has impressed in his first NHL training camp and will break camp with the Flames. He is expected to start on a line with Sam Bennett and Troy Brouwer, which gives him an excellent chance to produce right away.
Marchand, 28, is coming off of a career-high 37 goals and 60 points. The Canadian-born winger has scored 20-plus goals in every full 82-game season that he has played in and is in a great spot on Patrice Bergeron’s wing out in Boston. He has had a very strong showing in the World Cup of Hockey which shows last year may not be a fluke.
Ekblad was sent home after suffering a neck injury and a reported concussion at the World Cup of Hockey. Ekblad is back skating in Florida and is expected to be ready to anchor the Panthers’ top-pair in the season opener.
Markstrom’s NHL career didn’t get off to a great start, but he seems to have settled in in Vancouver. He was excellent with Utica (AHL) two years ago and went 13-14-3 with a 2.73 GAA and .915 SV% in 32 games with the Canucks last season. Markstrom will battle with Ryan Miller for starts as the Canucks’ No. 1 netminder.
Ekblad, 20, will carry a $7.5 million cap-hit in the 2017-18 season, which would make him the sixth highest paid defenseman as of now. The 6-foot-4, 216 lbs. blueliner has had two great years to kick off his NHL career—posting 39-points (12G / 27A) in 2014-15 and 36 points (15G / 21A) last season. Ekblad will be the cornerstone of the Panthers franchise through the 2024-25 season.
Jones, 21, had 20 points (2G / 18A) in 41 games with the Blue Jackets after he was acquired from Nashville. Overall, he had 31 points (3G / 28A) in 2015-16, which was a new career-high for the 2013 4th overall pick. Jones has top-pairing upside and the Blue Jackets are hoping he takes a big step forward in 2016-17.
Markstrom stopped 34 of 36 shots in the Canucks win in Anaheim on Friday. The Canucks did not hold a morning skate because of the early start time in Edmonton, but they'll stick with their strict goalie rotation and go with Markstrom tonight. The 26-year-old has gone 1-1-0 with a 1.48 GAA and .948 SV% in two starts against the Oilers this season.
Markstrom stopped 34 of 36 shots in the Canucks win in Anaheim on Friday. The Canucks did not hold a morning skate because of the early start time in Edmonton, but they have stuck with a strict goalie rotation and it’s Markstrom’s shot to start. The 26-year-old has gone 1-1-0 with a 1.48 GAA and .948 SV% in two starts against the Oilers this season.
The Canucks have stuck with a strict goalie rotation for weeks now and it is Jacob Markstrom's turn in the rotation, so the belief is that he will start, but there won't be confirmation until a few hours before puck-drop.
Markstrom allowed four goals on 37 shots in the Canucks loss in St. Louis last Friday. Markstrom has lost his last four starts while posting a 3.03 GAA and .914 SV%. Tonight he will face the Sharks on home ice. San Jose has lost three of their last four and Markstrom is 5-7-1 with a 2.96 GAA and .898 SV% at Rogers Arena this season.
Markstrom allowed four goals on 37 shots in the Canucks loss in St. Louis last Friday. Markstrom has lost his last four starts while posting a 3.03 GAA and .914 SV%. Tonight he will face the Sharks on home ice. San Jose has lost three of their last four and Markstrom is 5-7-1 with a 2.96 GAA and .898 SV% at Rogers Arena this season.
