Lightning head coach Jon Cooper expects Stamkos to skate on Tuesday but will not play tomorrow vs. the Bruins. Tampa Bay won their first round-robin game vs. the Capitals without Stamkos and it's evident they won't rush him back for these pre-playoff games.
Stamkos didn't practice Saturday after training in three-straight sessions with his teammates in Toronto on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Head coach Jon Cooper said they never really had plans for Stamkos to play in Game 1 of the round-robin. With Stamkos likely out, Ondrej Palat will move to the top line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov.
When the season was paused, Stamkos was out after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle injury. He was 100 percent healthy in his return to the ice but suffered a new lower-body injury in a training session in Tampa Bay. Still, GM Julien BriseBois fully expects Stamjos to be ready for the round-robin that starts for the Lighting on August 3rd.
Colorado picked Annunen in the third round of the 2018 draft and is viewed as the potential future in net for them. The 20-year-old netminder was spectacular in the Finnish Elite League in 2019-20, going 15-5-3 while leading the league in both GAA (1.77) and SV% (.920). He also represented Finland at the World Juniors in 2020, where he finished the tournament with a 2.65 GAA and .916 SV% in six starts.
Smith was an undrafted free agent forward out of the University of North Dakota. The 24-year-old finished his senior season with 11 goals and seven assists (18 points) in 34 games for the Fighting Hawks.
Saros stopped all 37 shots that he faced in the Predators shutout win in Dallas on Saturday. He posted back-to-back shutouts in their home-and-home with the Stars last week and is now 5-2-0 with a 1.80 GAA, .949 SV% and two shutouts in his last eight appearances (seven starts). Tonight he'll face a Montreal team that has gone 4-7-2 while scoring just 2.54 goals per game over the last month.
Saros stopped all 33 shots that he faced in the Predators shutout win over the Stars on Thursday. It was a terrific game for Saros, who is 6-3-0 with a 2.17 GAA, .934 SV% and two shutouts in his last nine starts. He'll look to have another strong game vs. the Stars today but he's 8-6-3 with a 3.13 GAA and .904 SV% on the road this year.
Saros allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Predators loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. Saros has gone 3-3-0 with a 2.73 GAA and .921 SV% in his last six outings and will start for the sixth time in seven games tonight vs. the Stars. Dallas has gone 2-2-2 with 2.33 goals per game in their last six games.
Saros stopped all four shots that he faced after replacing Pekka Rinne in the Predators blowout loss to the Oilers last night. Prior to Monday, Saros had started four straight while going 3-1-0 with a 2.44 GAA and .932 SV%. On Tuesday, Saros will face a Wild team that has gone 5-1-1 while averaging 4.29 goals for and 2.71 goals against in their last seven games.
Saros surrendered three goals on 39 shots in the Predators win over the Flames on Thursday. Saros is on a three-game winning streak while posting a 2.58 GAA and .932 SV%. Tonight he will face a Colorado team that has won five straight while averaging just 2.40 goals for and 1.20 goals against per game.
Stamkos will undergo a surgical procedure Monday and will miss at least six weeks. That will keep Stamkos sidelined through the rest of the regular season but he should be ready during round one of the playoffs.
Saros surrendered three goals on 39 shots in the Predators win over the Flames on Thursday. Saros is one a three-game winning streak while posting a 2.58 GAA and .932 SV%. Tonight he will face a Colorado team that has won five straight while averaging just 2.40 goals for and 1.20 goals against per game.
Saros allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Predators win over the Senators on Tuesday. Saros has won two straight while stopping 73 of 78 shots (.936 SV%) and will make his third consecutive start tonight vs. the Flames. Calgary has won the first two games of their road-trip and is 6-1-0 while averaging 4.86 goals per game in their last seven road games.
Saros allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Predators win over the Senators on Tuesday. Saros has won two straight while stopping 73 of 78 shots (.936 SV%) and will make his third consecutive start tonight vs. the Flames. Calgary has won the first two games of their road-trip and is 6-1-0 while averaging 4.86 goals per game in their last seven road games.
Stamkos left Tuesday's game vs. the Maple Leafs when an old injury popped back up. Stamkos is not on the ice for the morning skate, so don't expect him to play tonight vs. the Blackhawks. Ondrej Palat moved up to the top line after Stamkos left Tuesday's game and Mitchell Stephens was recalled from the AHL on Wednesday.
Head coach Jon Cooper said that the injury that Stamkos has been dealing with came up again. Stamkos has only missed a total of six games this season but has been dealing with a lower-body injury on-and-off. With Tampa Bay sitting comfortably in second in the Atlantic Division, don't be surprised if Stamkos misses some time to ensure he's 100 percent for the playoffs.
Skjei was acquired from the Rangers for a first-round pick on Monday and will replace Brett Pesce (shoulder) on Tuesday. Skjei, who will skate with Jaccob Slavin on the top-pair, has 23 points (8G / 15A) while averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.7 hits in 60 games with New York this season.
Originally drafted by New York 28th overall in 2012, Skjei had become an integral part of the Rangers blue-line. The 25-year-old played at least 78 games in each of the last three seasons, averaging 30 points per 82 games. Skjei has eight goals and 15 assists in 60 games this season. He carries a $5.25M cap-hit through the 2023-24 season.
