Nordstrom missed nine games with a leg injury and served as a healthy scratch on Tuesday but will play Thursday against the Flyers. Nordstrom has five goals and two assists (seven points) in 39 games this season.
Rask missed Tuesday’s game against the Jets but was on the ice for Wednesday’s practice and is expected to be available for Thursday’s game. Monitor Rask’s status during the Bruins morning skate to see if he will start or backup Jaroslav Halak.
Vatanen was forced to leave Monday’s game in Pittsburgh following an elbow from Derick Brassard. Vatanen said he was feeling OK after the game but started showing concussion-like symptoms afterwards. There is no timetable for Vatanen’s return.
With Carter Hart and Anthony Stolarz having strong showings out of the All-Star break, McKenna will spend some time in the AHL while they decide what to do with him. McKenna allowed four goals on 24 shots in a loss in his only game with the Flyers.
Gurianov will be on the Stars fourth line on Wednesday and enters the lineup with three points (1G / 2A) in 12 games with Dallas this season.
Nichushkin will be scratched for the third straight game despite skating on the fourth line on Tuesday. Denis Gurianov was called up on Wednesday morning and draw into the lineup, leaving Nichushkin on the sidelines again.
Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 39 shots in the Lightning’s win over the Sharks on January 19th. The All-Star netminder will get right back between the pipes after the break and draws a tough assignment right away. Vasilevskiy has not faced the Penguins this season but is 8-2-2 with a 2.49 GAA, .923 SV% and two shutouts on the road.
Murray allowed six goals on 32 shots in the Penguins loss to New Jersey on Monday. It was a rare loss for Murray, who has been lights out since returning from injury. Tonight he draws a brutal matchup vs. the NHL’s top team—Murray allowed four goals on 26 shots in a 4-3 loss in his first start vs. the Lightning (Nov.15).
Gurianov has been great with Texas this season, posting over a point-per-game with 34 points (13G / 21A) in 33 games. In his 12 games with Dallas, the 21-year-old has one goal and two assists (three points) in 12 games.
Blueger, 24, was a second-round pick (No.52 overall) in 2012 and could make his NHL debut on Wednesday after 179 career games in the AHL. Blueger leads Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in points, scoring 21 goals with 18 assists (39 points) in 45 games.
Johnson missed the Lightning’s final game before the All-Star break/bye week but will play Wednesday. Johnson has collected 18 goals and 16 assists (34 points) in 47 games this season—but just one assist in his last five games.
Jones was originally questionable after suffering a minor injury during the All-Star game. However, Jones is on the ice for warmups and will play against the Sabres. Jones has seven goals and 22 assists (29 points) in 41 games this season.
Niku has been in the Jets lineup for the last six games but will be replaced by Ben Chiarot in the lineup on Tuesday.
Chiarot has missed the last three games but will replace Sami Niku in the lineup on Tuesday. Chiarot has four goals and four assists (eight points) with a plus-6 rating and 38 PIMS in 45 games this season.
Bishop allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Stars win over the Jets on January 19th. Bishop has played well as of late, going 5-3-1 with a 2.34 GAA and .922 SV% in his last nine starts. Tonight he faces a Sabres team that played in Columbus last night and come in at 11-12-3 on the road this season.
Hunwick has been a healthy scratch for the last 13 games but will replace Lawrence Pilut on Tuesday. It will be Hunwick’s first game since December 18th and just third NHL game of the season.
Pilut has been great for the Sabres since being recalled but can’t seem to stick in the lineup. Pilut played in the last two games but will be replaced by Matt Hunwick on Tuesday.
Hintz has split the 2019 campaign between the AHL and NHL. During his time in Dallas, Hintz has just five points (2G / 3A) but is over a point-per-game with 22 points (9G / 13A) in 21 AHL games.
Pitlick was hurt vs. the Kings on January 17th and missed their game vs. the Jets on the 19th. Pitlick’s move to IR opened up a roster spot for the Stars to recall Roope Hintz from Texas (AHL).
