Makar is fifth among all defensemen in points (43) and second in goals (13) but will miss Wednesday's game vs. Calgary due to an undisclosed injury. The 2022 Norris Trophy winner is considered day-to-day as we wait for more of an update on his ailment.
Lucchini had one goal, 14 SOG, and was a -2 plus/minus through 11 games with the Senators but has been reassigned to Belleville (AHL) after clearing waivers earlier Wednesday. Lucchini heads back to Belleville (AHL) where he had seven goals, 16 assists, two PIMs and a -12 plus/minus through 25 games prior to being promoted.
Labanc has 10 goals, 25 points, 79 SOG, 22 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 43 games this season but will be a healthy scratch for a second straight contest as the Sharks take on Dallas. Labanc is expected to return to the lineup sooner rather than later.
Cicek has four assists, 15 PIMs, and one SOG through 12 games with the Sharks so far this season but will head to the press box as a healthy scratch Wednesday. He is replaced by Scott Harrington in San Jose's lineup.
Harrington has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will draw back into the lineup Wednesday as the Sharks take on the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old has one goal, five assists, 16 SOG and a -2 plus/minus through 16 games this season.
Martin allowed four goals on 35 shots (.886 SV%) for his fifth-straight loss as he was defeated by Florida in his previous start. The 27-year-old has been very poor for the Canucks all season, as shown by his .880 SV%, 3.76. GAA and 11-10-1 record. He draws the unfortunate start of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are in the middle of a four-game winning streak and are fifth in the NHL in goals per game (3.6).
Joseph has two goals, seven assists, 28 SOG, 12 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 25 games this season but will be a healthy scratch Wednesday vs. the Penguins. Josh Norris' return to the lineup (injury) is the reason Joseph will head to the press box.
Markstrom allowed two goals on 29 shots (.931 SV%) for his second straight loss as he was defeated by Nashville in his previous start. The 32-year-old has struggled for the first half of the season, with his 13-11-5 record, 2.81 GAA and .894 SV%. He will face the Colorado Avalanche, who are in the middle of a two-game winning streak which has seen them score 13 goals during that span.
DeSmith stopped 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) to snap a two-game losing streak as he beat Anaheim in his previous start. The 31-year-old regular backup has struggled with his starting duties as of late, with his 6-9-2 record, .906 SV% and 3.10 GAA. He faces the Ottawa Senators, who have lost four of their last five games after a 2-1 loss to St. Louis in their last game.
Evans was forced to leave the Canadiens' previous game vs. the Islanders due to a lower-body injury after just 7:04 TOI and he has now been placed on the injured reserve, meaning he will miss 8-10 weeks. The 26-year-old depth piece has two goals, nine assists, 20 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 43 games prior to the injury.
Armia has three goals, four assists, 56 SOG and a -7 plus/minus through 32 games this season but will now be out until after the All-Star break as he deals with an injury for the second time this season. He has been placed on the injured reserve retroactive to January 15th for an upper-body injury.
Allen has not played since January 7th due to an upper-body injury and will miss at least one more week as he is on the mend. The 32-year-old Canadiens' starter has been very weak this season, with his 10-16-1 record, 3.52 GAA and .892 SV% prior to his injury.
Drouin has 12 assists, 34 SOG, two PIMs and is a -14 plus/minus across 28 games played but will out until after the NHL All-Star break as he deals what an upper-body injury.
Slafkovsky left the Canadiens' game Saturday vs. the New York Rangers after just 9:04 TOI with a lower-body injury and will be out for at least three months. It is another chapter in a very disappointing opening season for the 2022 1st overall pick, who had four goals, six assists, and 42 SOG through his first 39 games prior to his injury.
DeSmith stopped 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) to snap a two-game losing streak as he beat Anaheim in his previous start. The 31-year-old regular backup has struggled with his starting duties as of late, with his 6-9-2 record, .906 SV% and 3.10 GAA. He faces the Ottawa Senators, who have lost four of their last five games after a 2-1 loss to St. Louis in their last game.
Norris has been sidelined since October 22nd but will be back on the second line with Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux on Wednesday. Giroux is expected to take the face-offs, but Norris provides a massive offensive boost to the Senators, who averaged 4.2 goals per game in the five games Norris played earlier in the season.
Talbot allowed two goals on 20 shots (.900 SV%) for his fourth straight loss as he was defeated by St. Louis in his previous start. The 35-year-old has struggled in his first season in Ottawa, with a 10-12-1 record, 2.86 GAA and .906 SV%. He will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won their last game 4-3 over Anaheim and are 13th in the NHL in goals per game (3.21).
Dufour has 13 goals, 12 assists, 19 PIMs and is a -11 plus/minus through 37 games with the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL) but has earned his first NHL call-up. The 20-year-old was a 5th round selection in 2020 (152nd overall).
Cholowski has 17 assists, 12 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 35 games with Bridgeport (AHL) and has been recalled for the first time this season to New York. Cholowski has played in 115 career NHL games, with 10 goals, and 30 points across that span.
Rutta has three goals, five assists, 53 SOG and is a +4 plus/minus through 42 games this season but will miss Wednesday's game as he is now considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. It is a tough loss for the Penguins who are already down Kris Letang (illness).
