News and notes from around the crease...
Bryzgalov goes again
Ilya Bryzgalov will get his second start coming off an injury when he takes on the Kings in Los Angeles tonight.
Bryzgalov, 33, returned to action on Sunday against Anaheim and stopped 31 of 34 shots in a 3-2 loss. The Russian netminder had been sidelined after getting bowled over against Dallas on Dec. 1.
Bryzgalov has very good numbers on the year -- a 2.35 GAA and .932 save percentage -- but is still looking for a few more wins, as has he has just one (a 3-0 victory over Nashville) thus far.
Martin Jones, the NHL’s reigning third star of the week, will get the nod for L.A.
Luongo starts at Xcel
History to be damned, says Canucks head coach John Tortorella. Roberto Luongo is starting tonight in Minnesota.
For more, here’s Mike Russo of the Star-Tribune:
Luongo gets the start for the Canuckleheads. He is 3-9-2 with a 3.56 goals-against average and .873 save percentage at the X, and that includes a 0-0 tie in his first-ever start at the X with Florida in 2000. Luongo has been pulled in his past three starts here and has just had such struggles here that former Van. coach Alain Vigneault didn’t play him in Minnesota since Oct. 19, 2010. Luongo joked yesterday to ask AV if he was playing.
“He’s going to exorcise that demon, I guess, if that’s what everybody thinks this is,” Canucks coach John Tortorella said. “He’s a pro. He needs to play.”
Josh Harding will start for the Wild.
Elsewhere...
Flames at Bruins: Reto Berra vs. Tuukka Rask
Jets at Sabres: Ondrej Pavelec vs. Ryan Miller
Panthers at Leafs: Scott Clemmensen vs. Jonathan Bernier (likely)
Lightning at Islanders: Ben Bishop vs. Evgeni Nabokov
Capitals at Flyers: Braden Holtby vs. Steve Mason
Ducks at Red Wings: Jonas Hiller vs. Jonas Gustavsson
Coyotes at Canadiens: Carey Price in for Habs. No word yet on who Phoenix will start.
Sharks at Blues: Antti Niemi vs. Jaroslav Halak
Blackhawks at Preds: Antti Raanta vs. Carter Hutton
Avs at Stars: Jean-Sebastien Giguere will go for Colorado. No word on a Dallas starter yet.