After a dreadful start to the year, Tuukka Rask picked up his first shutout on Tuesday in a 6-0 whitewash of the Coyotes.
Now, he’ll try and string together a second straight quality start.
Rask will go up against the Panthers in Florida, facing off against veteran netminder Roberto Luongo. Though Rask’s numbers on the year are still rough -- most notably his .874 save percentage -- the Finn can try to build on last year’s success against the Panthers (2-1-1, 1.96 GAA, .918 save percentage) and the fact that two-thirds of Florida’s top line, Jaromir Jagr and Aleksander Barkov, is out with injury.
Elsewhere...
-- Battle of the backups in Buffalo, as Philly will go with Michal Neuvirth while the Sabres counter with Linus Ullmark. Both teams are in the second of back-to-back scenarios, so there could be some goals.
-- Jonathan Bernier plays for the first time in nearly a week when the Leafs host the Rangers at the ACC. Henrik Lundqvist will also play for the first time in nearly a week; his last game came on Saturday, when he mad 46 saves on 48 shots in a loss to Philly.
-- Sergei Bobrovsky versus Braden Holtby at Verizon, as the Jackets take on the Caps.
-- Seymon Varlamov gets a chance to build on last night’s 34-save win over Tampa Bay, as the Avs play in Carolina. No word on a ‘Canes starter yet, but Cam Ward is expected after Eddie Lack beat the Isles on Thursday.
-- Andrew Hammond goes for Ottawa in Detroit tonight, and the Wings will counter with Jimmy Howard. The Hamburglar hasn’t played since last Thursday, when he allowed four goals on 32 shots in a loss to the Devils.
-- Minnesota will start Devan Dubnyk against Chicago, while the ‘Hawks appear likely to go with Scott Darling after Corey Crawford played in last night’s loss to Winnipeg.
-- Joni Ortio replaces the injured Jonas Hiller in Calgary, where the Habs will go with Mike Condon. Carey Price gets the night off after allowing four goals in last night’s collapse against Edmonton.
-- Mike Smith for Arizona tonight. Richard Bachman will make his first start of the year, and his Canucks debut, as Ryan Miller finally gets a rest.