News and notes from around the crease...
Caps riding Halak
Jaroslav Halak will make his seventh straight start on Thursday when the Caps take on the Kings in L.A.
Halak, who has all but taken Washington’s No. 1 gig and bolted Braden Holtby to the pine, was brilliant in his last outing, stopping 43 of 45 shots in a 3-2 win over the Ducks in Anaheim. The Slovakian netminder is now 4-2-0 since joining the Caps at the trade deadline, with a .931 save percentage and 2.35 GAA.
For the Kings, Jonathan Quick is likely to get the start.
Mason back in
The red-hot Philadelphia Flyers will go back to Steve Mason tonight against Dallas.
Mason, who will be starting for the ninth time in the last 10 games, got a rest on Tuesday (when Ray Emery beat Chicago), which came after winning back-to-back games against Pittsburgh over the weekend. The former Columbus ‘tender has stopped 69 of the last 74 shots he’s faced, and has seen his overall save percentage rise to .914 on the year as a result.
For the Stars, it looks as though Tim Thomas will get the nod in net.
Elsewhere...
Wild at Devils: Ilya Bryzgalov vs. Cory Schneider (read more on Bryz here)
Blue Jackets at Canadiens: Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Carey Price
Bolts at Sens: Robin Lehner for Ottawa; Ben Bishop likely for Tampa Bay
Pens at Red Wings: Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Jimmy Howard
Sabres at Oilers: Matt Hackett vs. Ben Scrivens
Panthers at Coyotes: Roberto Luongo vs. Mike Smith
Ducks at Sharks: Antti Niemi for San Jose; Frederik Andersen likely for Anaheim.