Lyubushkin has played five straight for the Maple Leafs, registering two assists, a +1 plus/minus, and 25 hits. The Maple Leafs play back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday but Lyubushkin is unlikely to play the front-end against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Bertucci has signed a three-year, $2.85 million entry-level contract ($950,000 AAV) with Dallas after putting up an impressive nine goals, 41 points, and 77 PIMs in 56 games with the Flint Firebirds (OHL) this season. The 18-year-old defenseman was Dallas' 2023 second-round pick (61st overall).
Lyubushkin played 16:08 time-on-ice in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, recording one assist and five hits, but is battling an undisclosed injury and might not play on Saturday. Since joining the Maple Leafs, Lyubushkin has had two points (0G / 2A) and 20 hits in six games.
The Stars will return to Oettinger on Thursday after he allowed four unanswered goals in their last outing, a disappointing 4-3 regulation loss to the Florida Panthers. Before that, Oettinger was riding a four-game winning streak, allowing two or fewer goals three times and posting a .885 SV%. The Stars enter the action on Thursday as -184 home favourites against a New Jersey Devils club that has lost five of their last six (1-5-0).
With Thatcher Demko sidelined with an undisclosed injury for the next several weeks, DeSmith becomes the defacto starting netminder for the Canucks. DeSmith has showcased mixed results this season, posting a 2.85 GAA and .898 SV% in 19 games (8-4-5), but has been excellent in his last two appearances (1-0-), saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%). The Canucks enter action as -119 home favourites against a Colorado Avalanche club that played last night, defeating the Calgary Flames 6-2.
Oettinger will return to the crease for the sixth time in the last seven games on Tuesday night. The 25-year-old netminder has been inconsistent all season, highlighted by a six-game stretch (5-1-0), where he has impressively allowed two or fewer goals four times and allowed a concerning five or more twice. That said, he saved 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in his last outing, a 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The Stars, riding a five-game winning streak, are slight -106 home favourites against an equally hot Florida Panthers club.
Ertel is Dallas' 2021 3rd-round pick (79th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract that starts at the beginning of the 2024-25 season. The 20-year-old left-winger is having a sensational second season in North Bay (AHL) this season, with 25 goals, 66 points, 72 PIMs and a +23 plus/minus through 61 games played.
Seguin has missed the last eight games with a lower-body injury and has no timetable to return, but took a step in the right direction after returning to practice on a non-contact capacity on Monday. Before his injury, Seguin was enjoying his best campaign in several years with 45 points (20G / 25A) in 58 games.
Lundkvist will return to the lineup on Friday as the Stars are opting to dress seven defensemen. Craig Smith will sit in his place.
On the front end of a back-to-back, the Stars will turn to Oettinger between the pipes on Friday night. Oettinger has won three straight but struggled in his last outing, allowing six goals on 20 shots (.700 SV%) in a 7-6 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks. The Stars are significant -320 road favourites against an Anaheim Ducks club that will likely be missing several key offensive pieces on Friday night.
Punnett is a 20-year-old, undrafted hard-nosed defenseman from Powassan, Ontario. In his fourth season in the OHL, Punnett has 19 points (5G / 14A) and 39 penalty minutes in 25 games with the Oshawa Generals. Dallas has signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Lundkvist will be the odd-man out Tuesday in order to make room for Chris Tanev's Stars debut. Lundkvist has two goals and 13 assists in 45 games this season.
Oettinger will start for the fourth straight game in a rematch against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night. The 25-year-old Oettinger saved 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Sharks on Saturday and has allowed two or fewer goals in three of his last four outings (3-1-0). The Stars enter action as sizeable -405 road favourites.
Ty Dellandrea has been playing in Seguin's spot on the second line with Matt Duchene and Mason Marchment over the last few games since Seguin has been out of the lineup. Before his injury, Seguin was enjoying his best campaign in several years with 45 points (20G / 25A) in 58 games. Seguin's injury allowed the Stars to recall Logan Stankoven, who has been playing superbly on a line with Jamie Benn and Wyatt Johnston.
Lyubushkin made his debut with the Maple Leafs on Saturday after being acquired in a trade from the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the week but was unable to complete the game, playing only 12:12 time-on-ice before exiting with a head injury after being hit by New York Ranger Matt Rempe. The hard-nosed Lybushkin is in his second stint with the Maple Leafs and has 116 hits and 138 blocks in 56 games this season.
