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Goalie nods: With Ward (concussion) on IR, Lack assumes No. 1 duties in Carolina

Eddie Lack, Stanislav Galiev

Eddie Lack, Stanislav Galiev

AP

It’s Eddie Lack time for the ‘Canes.

Lack, who’s been Cam Ward’s understudy for most of this season -- Ward’s started 30 times, Lack 15 -- will now transition into the starter’s role, beginning tonight when Carolina takes on the Leafs in Toronto.

Ward was placed on IR yesterday with a concussion, which resulted in 21-year-old Czech netminder Daniel Altshuller being recalled from AHL Charlotte.

Altshuller is relatively inexperienced, in the midst of his first American League campaign after spending time with ECHL Florida.

Carolina’s third-round pick in 2012, Altshuller has played well for the Checkers this season, going 9-1-1 with a 1.71 GAA, a .941 save percentage and one shutout in 11 games.

But he likely won’t challenge Lack for minutes.

As such, this marks a real opportunity for the Swedish ‘tender to take hold of the No. 1 job, as Ward’s a pending UFA with no guarantee of returning next season. Lack, who signed a two-year extension with Carolina right before the start of the season, hasn’t been great this year -- 8-9-1, 2.97 GAA, .891 save percentage -- but has gone 5-2-2 in his last nine starts.

For Toronto, James Reimer gets the start in goal.

Elsewhere...

-- Jacob Markstrom gives the in-form Ryan Miller a rest when the Canucks take on the Bruins in Boston. Markstrom will likely be up against Tuukka Rask.

-- Craig Anderson versus Cory Schneider as the Sens go up against the Devils at Prudential.

-- Both the Flyers and Penguins will roll with their No. 1s in the latest installment of the Battle of Pennsylvania: Steve Mason versus Marc-Andre Fleury.

-- Karri Ramo goes back in for the Flames tonight, after Bob Hartley went with Jonas Hiller for a brief stretch. Ramo will be up against Sergei Bobrovsky for Columbus.

-- Stanley Cup Final rematch between the ‘Hawks and Bolts tonight, and each team will be going with the guys that were in goal for last June’s decisive Game 6: Corey Crawford, and Ben Bishop.

-- It’s Pekka Rinne up against Connor Hellebuyck as the Preds visit Winnipeg.

-- After getting a rest the other night in favor of Anders Nilsson, Cam Talbot returns to the Edmonton net. Looks like Antti Niemi will go for Dallas.

-- San Jose will look to rebound from a shootout loss to Ottawa, and will do so with Martin Jones in goal. No confirmation from Arizona yet, but it looks like the Coyotes will stick with Louis Domingue.

-- Devan Dubnyk gets the night off after playing on Wednesday against the Ducks, so Darcy Kuemper starts in L.A. He’ll be up against Jonathan Quick.