Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 35 shots in the Blue Jackets win over the Flyers on Thursday. It was Bobrovsky’s best start of the young season and earned him another start tonight vs. Chicago. The Blackhawks had a hot start to their season, but have lost three of their last four (1-1-2) coming into tonight.
Bobrovsky allowed right goals on 31 shots in the Blue Jackets blowout loss in Tampa Bay on Saturday. Bobrovsky has struggled in the early part of the season, allowing a combined 13 goals on 93 shots (.860 SV%). He was 2-1-1 with a 1.96 GAA and .925 SV% against the Flyers in 2017-18.
Bobrovsky allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Blue Jackets win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. Bobrovsky has backed up Joonas Korpisalo twice already this season, but will make his third start of the year tonight in Tampa Bay. Bobrovsky was 0-1-1 while allowing six goals on 57 shots (.895 SV%) in two starts vs. the Lightning last year.
Paul, 23, had one goal in 11 games with the Senators last season. The former fourth round pick spent most of the season with Belleville, where he had 14 goals and 13 assists (27 points) in 54 games. Paul has been called-up to take up a roster spot with Ryan Dzingel (lower-body) and Alex Formenton (concussion) landing on IR.
Last year, Bobrovsky started 60-plus games for the just the second time in his eight-year career but saw his numbers from 2017 drop a bit. Bob is one of the best goalies in the NHL and has done a fantastic job during his six seasons in Columbus—posting a 2.37 GAA and .923 SV%. He got opening night off so he could start the home opener and draws a solid matchup vs. a Hurricanes team that also played last night.
Mermis spent most of the 2018 season in the AHL, where he had two goals and 17 assists (19 points) in 59 games with Tucson. He had a nine-game stint with the Coyotes and will fight for a spot as their No.6/7 defenseman in training camp.
Tavares walks away from the Islanders after nine seasons, in which he scored 272 goals with 349 assists (621 points) in 669 games. The 27-year-old signs with his childhood team, joining one of the best, young teams in the NHL. Tavares, Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri is as formidable of a trio down the middle as you will find across the league. Over the last four seasons, Tavares is sixth in the NHL in points (306), tied for sixth in goals (136) and 22nd in assists (170). His cap-hit is now tied with Drew Doughty for the second highest in the NHL.
Domi was acquired from the Coyotes in a straight-up trade for Alex Galchenyuk. Domi was selected No.12 overall in 2013 and has yet to fully live up to expectations after a great rookie season—18 goals and 34 assists in 81 games. Since then he has scored just 18 goals with 65 assists (83 points) in 141 games. Domi brings some physicality along with great playmaking ability to the left-side of the Canadiens’ lineup, where he figures to slot in behind Max Pacioretty.
