The play of goaltender Cam Talbot has been one of the biggest factors in the Edmonton Oilers’ surprising start to the 2016-17 season.
He has not only been outstanding in the crease, but he has played in literally every game this season for the Oilers. Not only has he started every game, he has played all but 10 minutes of the Oilers’ season.
That games played streak comes to an end on Sunday when backup Jonas Gustavsson makes his first start of the year against his former team, the Detroit Red Wings.
Talbot played on Saturday in the Oilers’ 4-3 shootout win.
Part of his ability to start every game has simply been the circumstances of the schedule where the Oilers had not played a set of back-to-back games until now.
Gustavasson has only faced one shot this season when he replaced Talbot on Oct. 16 in a 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
He will play opposite of Jimmy Howard. Howard has taken on more of a backup role this season behind Petr Mrazek has been outstanding when given the chance to play, taking a .973 save percentage into Sunday’s game.
Elsewhere...
-- It will be Scott Darling (Chicago) vs. Kari Lehtonen (Dallas) when the Blackhawks and Stars play the second half of their weekend back-to-back set.
-- After getting the day off on Saturday in a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins, Henrik Lundqvist returns to the net on Sunday when the Rangers host the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have yet to announce their starter.
-- Semyon Varlamov goes for Colorado against Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues.
-- No official word yet from the Flames and Ducks, but after Brian Elliott started on Saturday against Los Angeles look for Chad Johnson to go for the Flames.
-- Cory Schneider will get a night off for the Devils who will turn to backup Keith Kinkaid against the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward started on Saturday for the Hurricanes, which could mean Eddie Lack on Sunday.