BARZAL, SHABANOV TAKE MAINTENANCE
Mathew Barzal and Max Shabanov took maintenance days on Saturday and did not participate in practice.
Barzal has 18 points (7G, 11A) through 24 games this season, while Shabanov has seven points (3G, 4A) through 13 games this season. Head Coach Patrick Roy said they are both expected to play on Sunday.
SHABANOV SKATES WITH HORVAT AND HEINEMAN
Max Shabanov was elevated to a line with Bo Horvat and Emil Heineman after Palmieri left the game on Friday – he finished the night with a career-high 22:19 TOI.
Shabanov has been ramping up offensively since he returned from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for 12 games, recording four points (2G, 2A) in his last seven games since returning.
“I find that he’s getting more confident with the puck every game,” Horvat said. “He’s making plays, creating, holding onto the puck on the rush. The more he plays, the more opportunity he gets, he’ll run with it.”
