Schwartz missed the last two games but is skating on the Blues' top line with Alex Steen and T.J Oshie this morning. His participation in line-rushes during the morning skate suggests that he is back in. Schwartz has eight goals and 14 assists (22 points) in 31 games. With David Backes out Schwartz has a great shot on the top-line tonight vs. Montreal.
Consider Schwartz day-to-day and could be available for Thursday's game vs. San Jose.
The Blues did not hold a morning skate because of the back-to-back, so we will likely have to wait until 6 p.m EST when they arrive at the rink to see if Schwartz will play.
There is no word on what is ailing Schwartz but his absence from the morning skate suggests that he will not be in the lineup tonight against the Senators. Schwartz has been hot as of late posting five goals and seven assists in his last 12 games.
Grubauer stopped 39 of 41 shots in a shootout loss to the Panthers on Friday. It was another great outing for Grubauer who is 2-0-1 with a 1.52 GAA and .957 SV% since being recalled from Hershey. He draws a solid matchup today vs. the Flyers. Hopefully for his sake, Steve Mason doesn't decide to pull a Ray Emery on a Capitals goalie.
Gurbauer stopped 32 of 34 shots in a win over the Lightning on Tuesday. He has won each of his two starts since coming up from Hershey and has earned himself a third straight start. He is a great spot-start option against the Panthers tonight.
Grubauer made nine saves in a relief effort on Tuesday, but has not made a start for the Capitals this season. In nine starts with Hershey (AHL) he was 4-4-1 with a 2.60 GAA and .910 SV%. He faces a Rangers team who are coming off of a loss to the Devils last night.
Oleksiak, 20, was the 14th overall pick in 2011 and appeared in 16 games with the Stars last season. He posted two assists and a minus-5 rating in his first NHL go-around. He is a monster at 6-foot-7, 241 lbs. but is a tremendous athlete and brings size and physicality to the Stars blueline.
Oleksiak has three goals and two assists in 22 games with Texas this season. He appeared in 16 games on Dallas' blueline last season where he had two assists and a minus-5 rating. He will be fighting with Kevin Connauton for playing time.
Grubauer is 4-4-1 with a 2.60 GAA and a .910 SV% with Hershey this season. He made two NHL appearances last season going 0-1-0 with a 3.57 GAA and .915 SV%. With Michal Neuvurth going down with a lower-body injury last night and Braden Holtby making the start, Grubauer could be in line to start tonight vs. the Islanders.
Larsson will miss his second straight game after being injured on Saturday. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said the injury is not serious and believes Larsson will avoid a stint on injured reserve, so consider him day-to-day and questionable for Friday.
Larsson is not skating this morning and the Devils have recalled Jon Merrill on an emergency basis, suggesting that Larsson is unable to go tonight vs. Winnipeg. Larsson has not developed into the offensive-defenseman the Devils were hoping for when they made him the fourth overall pick in 2011. There is no word how long Larsson will be out.
Eberle will skate with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov tonight. He is on a three game point streak (2G / 2A) and has three goals and five assists in nine games.
Eberle (undisclosed) was considered day-to-day after missing the last two days of practice. This is a good sign that their leading scorer will be available tonight vs. Montreal.
Eberle's availability for tomorrow's games with the Habs is unknown. Tyler Pitlick has been recalled and would slide into the lineup if Eberle can't go.
Larsson has no points and is a minus-5 in six games this season.
Looks like Schwartz will draw on to the top line while Perron finds himself anchoring Reaves and Cracknell on the 4th
Larsson sat out of the Devils last game with an unspecified injury, he will likely return to lineup tonight because of Anton Volchenkov suspension.
Tallinder will play in his place.
Grubauer was called-up to back-up Holtby this weekend because Neuvirth was ill.
