Saturday’s game between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins will be a battle of the backups.
Montreal will give Mike Condon a fifth straight start with Carey Price nursing a lower-body injury. Condon has been terrific this season, as he’s posted a 5-0-1 record to go along with a 1.50 goals-against-average and a .941 save percentage.
It’s no surprise that the Bruins will turn to Gustafsson and not Tuukka Rask.
Boston will play two games this weekend and Rask has an ugly 3-14-3 record in his career against the Habs.
He will likely face the Islanders on Sunday.
Elsewhere...
-Roberto Luongo is expected to be in goal for Florida. The Kings are expected to counter with Jonathan Quick.
-Michael Neuvirth will make his third consecutive start for the Flyers. Ondrej Pavelec will be between the pipes for the Jets. Pavelec has 4-3-1 record with a 2.45 goals-against-average and a .919 save percentage this season.
-Andrew Hammond will make third start of the season for Ottawa. The ‘Canes will go with Cam Ward after Eddie Lack lost to the Stars on Friday.
-James Reimer may start his second game in two nights in Saturday’s clash against the Capitals. Washington will start Braden Holtby, who’s 2-2-0 in his last four starts.
-Jake Allen will face-off against Pekka Rinne when the Predators host the Blues. Allen is 4-1-0 in his last five starts and hasn’t allowed more than two goals in each of those contests.
-The Tampa Bay Lightning will start Ben Bishop tonight. The Wild will counter with Devan Dubnyk, who has allowed three goals or more in each of his last four starts.
-Henrik Lundqvist is expected to get the call for the Rangers. Mike Smith will be in the crease for the ‘Yotes.
-After watching from the bench in Friday’s game against Edmonton, Marc-Andre Fleury will get the start for Pittsburgh. Karri Ramo will get his fourth straight start for the Flames.
-Frederik Andersen and Martin Jones are expected to square off in Saturday’s tilt between the Ducks and Sharks.