Defenseman Jaccob Slavin (COVID-19 Protocol) and goaltender Antti Raanta (upper-body injury) both will not be available this evening. For Slavin, he will miss at least tonight and Saturday against Vancouver. Brendan Smith is slated to play on defense in the available spot. Ethan Bear is expected to play in Slavin's spot on the second power play unit. Raanta's situation is a bit more uncertain, as earlier this week General Manager Don Waddell announced that the goaltender isn't day-to-day but also isn't long-term.
Additionally, in terms of netminders, Alex Lyon, who did practice Wednesday with the team, was not on the ice with the team at morning skate. That means Jack LaFontaine will back up Frederik Andersen tonight. LaFontaine will wear #80, becoming just the second member in team history to wear it. The other one? Shady 80, Kevin Weekes, who will be in the house tonight as a part of the ESPN+ practice.
Those things considered, tonight's projected lineup is:
Forwards:
Teravainen - Aho - Jarvis
Svechnikov - Trocheck - Fast
Niederreiter - Staal - Necas
Lorentz - Kotkaniemi - Stepan
Defensemen:
Skjei - DeAngelo
Cole - Pesce
Smith - Bear
Starting Goalie:
Andersen
Injuries:
Antti Raanta
COVID-19 Protocol:
Jaccob Slavin
Scratches:
Jordan Martinook
Note: Lineup subject to change prior to opening faceoff
Worth A Click:
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Practice Report: LaFontaine's Arrival
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