What It Means:

Budaj is making his first start since being called up in the wake of Jonathan Quick's groin injury. He and Jeff Zatkoff will split duties for at least the next three months until Quick is able to return.

Zatkoff has struggled in Quick's place, recording an .839 save percentage and 4.38 goals against average, both of which are league-worsts among all goalies with at least three starts this season. Our models don't expect much better for Budaj on Thursday, projecting him to get rung for 3.53 goals on 27.74 shot attempts with just a 28.0 percent chance of getting the win.