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Goalie nods: Nabokov faces Sharks, Halak starts fourth straight

New York Islanders v Pittsburgh Penguins - Game Five

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 09: Evgeni Nabokov #20 of the New York Islanders makes a save in against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on May 9, 2013 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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News and notes from around the crease...

Nabokov faces ex-mates

Evgeni Nabokov will face San Jose for the first time in his career tonight, when the Sharks take on the Isles at Nassau.

Nabokov spent the first 10 years of his NHL career in San Jose, winning 293 games while backstopping the Sharks to a pair of Western Conference finals. Friday’s start will mark the second straight for the Russian netminder, as he was in goal for Monday’s 7-4 over the Canucks on Monday.

For the Sharks, Antti Niemi will get the nod in goal.

Halak starts for Washington

Jaroslav Halak will get his fourth start for the Caps since coming over from Buffalo at the trade deadline, as he’ll be in goal tonight versus the Canucks.

Halak is 1-2-0 with a 2.37 GAA and .920 save percentage since joining the Caps and played very well in his last game, stopping 32 of 34 shots in a 2-0 loss to the Penguins. It’s worth noting that Washington head coach Adam Oates is going right back to Halak for tonight’s game, rather than giving Braden Holtby a shot -- all told, it’ll be four straight appearances for Halak as Holtby has been backing up since Mar. 6.

No word yet on who Vancouver will start, though Eddie Lack looks probable.

Elsewhere...

Oilers at Red Wings: Jimmy Howard for Detroit, Viktor Fasth likely for Edmonton

Devils at Panthers: Cory Schneider vs. Roberto Luongo (read more here)

Predators at Blackhawks: Pekka Rinne vs. Corey Crawford

Rangers at Jets: Henrik Lundqvist vs. Ondrej Pavelec

Flames at Stars: Joey MacDonald vs. Tim Thomas

Ducks at Avs: Jonas Hiller vs. Semyon Varlamov