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Goalie Nods: Laurent Brossoit gets rare start for Oilers

Edmonton Oilers v Calgary Flames

CALGARY, AB - JANUARY 21: Connor McDavid #97 (L) and Laurent Brossoit #1 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrate after defeating the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on January 21, 2017 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

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The easiest job in the NHL right now might just be the backup goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers have been using Cam Talbot as their workhorse all year, starting him in 53 of the team’s first 59 games. Obviously, that has left just six starts for backups Jonas Gustavsson and Laurent Brossoit, and only two since early December (one each for Brossoit and Gustavsson). It has been a massive workload that has resulted in him playing 200 more minutes than any other goalie in the league.

When the Oilers visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, as part of a back-to-back on their trip through Florida, it will be Brossoit getting a rare start as Talbot gets his first night off in nearly a month.

For Brossoit it will be just his fourth appearance of the season (and only second start) and only the eighth start of his NHL career.

In his first start this season he stopped 38 out of 41 shots in a 7-3 win over the Calgary Flames back on Jan. 21.

He will be trying to extend the Oilers’ winning streak to four games and help them try to close the gap in the Pacific Division as they enter the day five points behind the San Jose Sharks for the top spot.

For the Lightning, it will be Ben Bishop getting the call as they look to extend their current point streak to seven games.

Elsewhere on Tuesday night...

-- After taking the loss against Detroit on Sunday evening Matt Murray is back in net for the Pittsburgh Penguins when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward, who always seems to play well against Pittsburgh, gets the start for the Hurricanes.

-- It’s a pretty massive goaltending matchup in New York with Carey Price going against Henrik Lundqvist. Price still hasn’t been himself over the past couple of months as the Canadiens struggle to get out of their slump, while Lundqvist is starting to regain his form and has been sensational for about three weeks now.

-- After Mike Condon got the start in two of Ottawa’s past three games Craig Anderson is back in net on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. He will be opposed at the other end of the rink by Cory Schneider.

-- Petr Mrazek goes again for the Red Wings and looks to continue his recent white hot play that has seen him record a .943 save percentage in his past four starts. The New York Islanders are going back to Thomas Greiss.

-- After sitting two of the past three games Frederik Andersen is back in the crease for Toronto when they take on Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets.

-- The Minnesota Wild can take over the top spot in the NHL with a win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night, and of course it will be Devan Dubnyk getting the start. Corey Crawford goes for Chicago.

-- It will be Brian Elliott vs. Pekka Rinne when the Nashville Predators host the Calgary Flames.

-- The Kings have not officially announced their starter for their game in Colorado, but look for Peter Budaj to go once again. The Avalanche are going with Calvin Pickard.