Shortly after being acquired from the Hurricanes, Fox has agreed to an entry-level contract with the Rangers. The Hobey Baker Award finalist had nine goals and 39 assists (48 points) in 33 games at Harvard University.
Calvert missed Game 3 with an upper-body injury he suffered late in Game 2 but head coach Jared Bednar expects him to play in Game 4. In seven postseason games, Calvert has tallied three assists while averaging just over 13:30 TOI/gm.
Grubauer surrendered three goals on 30 shots in Colorado’s 4-2 loss to the Sharks in Game 3. After playing exceptionally well in the first-round, Grubauer has allowed a combined 10 goals on 90 shots (.889 SV%) in his first three starts in round two. The Avalanche will stick with Grubauer in Game 4—he has stopped 89 of the 96 shots (.927 SV%) that he’s faced in the Pepsi Center during the postseason.
Kuhlman played in Game 3 after sitting as a healthy scratch in Games 1 and 2 vs. the Blue Jackets but will come back out of the lineup tonight in Columbus. David Backes will replace Kuhlman on the Bruins second line.
Backes has been a healthy scratch since Game 5 of the Toronto series but will replace Karson Kuhlman in Game 4. Backes has one assist and nine shots on goal in his four playoff appearances this year. Backes will skate on the second line with David Backes and Jake DeBrusk.
Olivier is an undrafted centre who played five years in the QMJHL, where he had 27 goals and 22 assists (49 points) with Sherbrooke in his final season. Olivier turned pro this year, collecting four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 54 games with Milwaukee (AHL).
Blidh’s contract is a two-way deal and the 24-year-old is coming off of his fourth year in the AHL, where he had 10 goals and 13 assists (23 points) in 74 games. Blidh has just one goal and one assists in 21 career NHL games.
Veleno dropped to the Red Wings in last summer’s draft, where he was selected No.30 overall. Veleno dominated the QMJHL where he was third in the league in assists (62), fourth in points (104) and seventh in goals (42). Veleno will have an opportunity to make the Red Wings out of training camp but could head to Grand Rapids (AHL) for some extra seasoning.
The Hurricanes could end up receiving two second-round picks if Fox plays 30 NHL games for the Rangers next season. Fox was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, scoring nine gaols and 39 assists (48 points) in 33 games as a Junior at Harvard University. The Hurricanes were unable to sign Fox, who had made it known he wanted to play for the Rangers.
Fedun played in just two games in round one and played in the first three games of round two, but will be replaced by Joel Hanley in Game 4. Fedun was a minus-2 in Game 3 and is a minus-5 through five playoff games.
Hanley spent most of the season in the AHL, where he had eight goals and 20 assists (28 points) in 60 games. Hanley played 16 games with Dallas and has just six assists in 38 career NHL games—tonight will be his first career NHL playoff game.
Clutterbuck was hurt in Game 2 in Brooklyn but travel to Carolina for Game 3 and remains a game-time decision for Wednesday’s tilt. If looks like Michael Dal Colle will be in the lineup regardless of Clutterbuck’s status, so expect the rugged winger to replace Tom Kuhnhackl if he ends up playing.
The Hurricanes got some good news on the injury front on Wednesday, as the Mrazek injury was not as bad as they had originally feared. Their No.1 netminder was able to take to the ice on Wednesday morning, which is a good sign for his potential availability for Game 4 on Friday.
The Hurricanes could get Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Martinook back in Game 3 but they will have to wait at least one more game for Ferland. The 27-year-old has been out since Game 3 of the first round but was on the ice again on Wednesday and is targeting a Game 4 return. The Hurricanes have moved out to a 2-0 series lead and will be even more dangerous when all three forwards are healthy and back in the lineup.
Martinook has missed the first two games of the second round but it looks like he will draw back into the lineup for Game 3. Martinook has been in and out of the lineup all postseason as he battles a lower-body injury but he has tallied two assists and 10 shots in six games overall.
Svechnikov has been sidelined by a concussion since being knocked out by Alex Ovechkin in Game 3 of the first round. Svechnikov has been cleared to play but a decision will be officially made after he gets through warmups. It looks like the rookie will be eased back into the lineup and start on the fourth line (with Greg McKegg and Patrick Brown) and second power-play unit. Svechnikov had two goals and one assist in just 34:46 TOI before getting hurt in the first round.
