Richardson left Tuesday’s game early and did not return, but he was on the ice for the Canucks optional morning skate and should play tonight vs. the Panthers. He has eight goals and 11 assists in 38 games this season. Expect Linden Vey to come out of the lineup.
Jets head coach Paul Maurice said it will be months before Clitsome can start skating again, meaning that his season is likely over. However, Maurice is confident that Clitsome will eventually be able to resume his career.
Bogosian, who has missed the last 14 games, will be back in the lineup tonight vs. Arizona. He will be paired with Jay Harrison for the first time this season. Harrison was acquired while Bogosian was on IR. Bogo has eight assists in 25 games.
Talbot stopped all 18 shots that he faced in the Rangers 1-0 win over the Hurricanes on December 21st. Talbot has been great this year, but has been limited to seven starts (3-3-1 / 2.02 GAA / 928 SV%) because of Henrik Lundqvist’s strong season. He has been much better at home than on the road—he comes in at 1-3-0 with a 3.06 GAA and .895 SV% away from Madison Square Garden.
Vrbata took part in the Canucks optional morning skate, which is a good sign that he will return to the lineup tonight vs. the Panthers. Vrbata missed Tuesday’s game with an illness, but coach Willie Desjardins wouldn't say if he would be in for sure.
Hamhuis had been doing some light workouts by himself, but took part in the Canucks optional morning skate today. Hamhuis has been sidelined since November 20th and isn’t expected to be back until late-January.
Head coach Bob Hartley said that Ramo’s injury is minor and the news is pretty good. Ramo was placed on IR this morning which means he will miss at least the next two games. Jonas Hiller is confirmed to start on Friday, with no decision for Saturday’s game.
Hiller allowed two goals on nine shots after replacing Karri Ramo in the Flames loss to the Red Wings on Wednesday. Ramo is on IR, so Hiller could start both games of the back-to-back. Hiller is 7-5-1 with a 2.15 GAA and .909 SV% at home this year.
Bogosian was on the ice for the Jets’ morning skate and was paired with Jay Harrison, which suggests that he will be in the lineup tonight in Arizona. Bogosian has missed the last 14 games—he has eight assists in 25 games this season.
Smith surrendered six goals on 39 shots in the Coyotes 6-0 loss to the Blues on Tuesday. The Coyotes rewarded him for Saturday’s win with another start, but Smith did not deliver. Despite another awful outing, Arizona will go back with Smith tonight vs. Winnipeg. He is 6-16-2 with a 3.57 GAA and .882 SV% this year, so yeah…stay away.
Summers has not been in the lineup for the last six games; he missed four due to an upper-body injury and two as a healthy scratch. He will replace Zbynek Michalek, who is out with an upper-body injury.
Michalek is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. There was no word on when he suffered the injury, but he will be held out of tonight’s game vs. Winnipeg. Monitor his status leading up to Saturday’s game.
Hanzal will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury that he suffered on Saturday night. Hanzal is listed as day-to-day and head coach Dave Tippett would not rule him out for Saturday.
Parise, who missed Tuesday’s game to be with his ailing father, lost his father to lung cancer this morning. Parise is on non-roster status, so if he wanted to play, someone would need to be sent down in order to make room for him.
Quick was pulled after he allowed three goals on nine shots in the Kings 7-6 OT loss to the Predators last Saturday. With four days off in between games, the Kings will come back with Quick tonight vs.the Rangers. Quick is 13-3-2 with a 1.94 GAA and .931 SV% at home this season and catches a break with Cam Talbot, not Henrik Lundqvist getting the start.
Miller made 29 saves on 30 shots in the Canucks 4-1 win over the Red Wings on Saturday. After getting Tuesday night off, he will be back in goal vs. Florida. Miller has been excellent as of late—he is 4-1-1 with a 1.66 GAA and .950 SV% over his last six outings. With Bobby Lu making his return home, this is a big one for Miller.
Niemi allowed two goals on 19 shots in the Sharks win over the Jets on Monday. He was given Tuesday night off, but it looks like he will be back in tonight in St. Louis. He faced the Blues on Saturday and was shelled for six goals on 27 shots in a 7-2 loss, so tread with caution here.
Rinne allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Predators 3-2 victory over the Hurricanes on Tuesday. It was a nice bounce-back game for Rinne, who gave up six against the Kings. Rinne has gone 7-0-1 with a 2.81 GAA and .906 SV% in his last eight starts. He will make his third start of the season vs. Dallas—he is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .943 SV% in the first two.
Thornton took part in the Sharks morning skate, but will miss his fourth consecutive game. The Sharks power-play has been awful without Thornton, going 1-for-17 (5.8%) in the last three games.
Niemi allowed two goals on 19 shots in the Sharks win over the Jets on Monday. He was given Tuesday night off, but it looks like he will be back in tonight in St. Louis. He faced the Blues on Saturday and was shelled for six goals on 27 shots in a 7-2 loss, so tread with caution here.