Beaulieu has not been in the lineup for the last five games—four with an upper-body injury and one as a healthy scratch. Beaulieu, who has six points (3G / 3A) in 23 games this season is expected to replace Lawrence Pilut.
Pilut has been in the lineup for the last three games and even played 20:22 TOI on Thursday but is expected to be a scratch on Saturday. Nathan Beaulieu is expected to draw in for Pilut.
Elliott has picked up one goal and three assists in eight games with Belleville since being acquired from the Penguins. The 27-year-old has 25 points (8G / 17A) in 86 career NHL games.
Wolanin has spent most of the season with Belleville, where he has five goals and 13 assists (18 points) in 26 games. Wolanin could draw into the lineup on Saturday with Thomas Chabot injured. The 23-year-old, former fourth-round pick has one goal and two assists in 11 career NHL games.
Chabot was forced to leave Friday’s game against the Islanders with an upper-body injury and will not be available on Sunday, The Senators are now without their No.1 defenseman and No.1 goalie which is going to make things very difficult for an already overmatched team. There is no word on the severity of Chabot’s injury so consider him day-to-day until we get more information.
Koekkoek has been a healthy scratch for the last 18 games so the Lightning have sent him down to get some playing time. The 24-year-old, who has just one goal in nine games with Tampa Bay this season, had 13 points (2G / 11A) in 48 games the last time he was in the AHL (2016-17).
Kaskisuo spent some time in the AHL and ECHL last season but has gone 3-5-0 with a 4.12 GAA and .866 SV% in 11 games with the Marlies this season. Kaskisuo figures to serve as Garret Sparks’ backup on Saturday with Frederik Andersen dealing with a groin injury.
Frederik Andersen was on the ice for Friday’s optional morning skate and stayed on late for extra work with Garret Sparks starting in Columbus. The Maple Leafs announced that their No.1 netminder is day-to-day with a groin injury and Kasimir Kaskisuo was recalled to serve as Sparks’ backup on Saturday. The Maple Leafs are not well equipped to deal with Andersen being sidelined long-term after losing Curtis McElhinney and Calvin Pickard in training camp, so they are hoping this is a minor groin injury.
Lehner was scheduled to start the front-end of the Islanders back-to-back on Friday with Greiss going on Saturday but head coach Barry Trotz elected to switch it up. Greiss has been steady all season and is a great option against a below-average Senators team.
Sparks allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Maple Leafs come-from-behind overtime win vs. Detroit last Sunday. Sparks is now 5-1-1 despite a below-average 3.00 GAA and .908 SV% this season. He will have to be great tonight as he goes head-to-head with Sergei Bobrovsky but he catches a break with the Blue Jackets playing last night.
Backes will miss Saturday’s game in Buffalo, the Winter Classic and next Thursday’s game vs. the Flames before being eligible to play next Saturday vs. the Sabres.
Gibson suffered an upper-body injury in the first period of Thursday’s game and did not return for the second period. The Ducks recalled Kevin Boyle from San Diego (AHL) on Friday, which suggests that Gibson will not be available for Saturday’s game. Look for Chad Johnson to start while Gibson is sidelined.
Boyle has been recalled because John Gibson suffered an upper-body injury on Thursday. Boyle figures to serve as Chad Johnson’s backup on Saturday.
