Scandella left last night’s game with an undisclosed injury and did not return. Missing practice this morning puts his status for Thursday’s game in question. Expect an update after practice today or on Thursday.
Pastrnak, who was recalled after the World Juniors on Tuesday, will not play tonight vs. Pittsburgh. He will however, be in the lineup tomorrow vs. the Devils.
Rask stopped 35 of 36 shots in the Bruins 2-1 shootout loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday. Rask has lost three in a row despite posting a 2.20 GAA and .916 SV%. There is a good chance that that losing streak is extended tonight with the Bruins in Pittsburgh to take on Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.
Schneider allowed one goal on 21 shots in the Devils 4-1 win over the Sabres on Tuesday. Schneider has won back-to-back games and three of his last four while posting a 1.75 GAA and .928 SV%. On Thursday, he will start in Boston—Schneider has gone 8-12-0 with a 2.73 GAA and .915 SV% on the road this season.
Mason took the ice for practice this morning, but left quickly with what the Flyers called “soreness.” Philadelphia will take on the Capitals tomorrow, so if Mason is unable to go, look for Ray Emery to start.
Kadri took line rushes on the Maple Leafs top-line in today’s morning skate and interim head coach Peter Horachek says he is hopeful that he will have Kadri in the lineup tonight. Monitor his status during warmups.
Sill has missed the last 11 games with an upper-body injury, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Bruins. Sill will replace Marcel Goc, who is out with an illness. Sill has no points with a minus-1 rating in 25 games this season.
Goc will be held out of tonight’s contest with an illness. Coach Mike Johnston said that he is just sick, nothing else (i.e mumps). With Goc out, Zach Sill will return to the lineup tonight.
Martin, who returned to practice on Tuesday, was on the ice for the Penguins game day skate this morning. Coach Mike Johnston said that Martin could return tonight, but if he doesn’t he will definitely be back on Saturday vs. the Canadiens. Monitor his status during pre-game warmups.
Fleury surrendered four goals on 33 shots in the Penguins 4-1 loss to the Canadiens on Saturday. It has been a rough six-game stretch for Fleury—he has gone 1-4-1 with a 3.16 GAA and .898 SV%. The Penguins have been very banged up, but are starting to get healthy, so expect things to turn around for Fleury soon.
Kadri is on the ice for the second straight day and is taking line rushes on the top-line with Phil Kessel and Daniel Winnik. Kadri has missed the last two games, but it appears as if he will return ahead of schedule and get back in tonight vs. the Capitals. He has 24 points (11G / 13A) in 38 games this season.
Bernier allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Maple Leafs loss to the Wild last Friday. The loss snapped Bernier’s brief two game winning streak and moved him to 15-9-3 on the year. Tonight he will make his second start of the year vs. the Capitals—he made 35 saves in a 6-2 win in late November.
Maatta has been skating for over a week but still needs to join full practice, before a return is imminent. He is one and a half weeks into a four-week timetable, and there has been no word on whether or not he is ahead of schedule.
Carrick, 22, has scored three goals with 13 assists (16 points) in 31 games with the Marlies this season. He spent five games with the Maple Leafs earlier in the year, but did not register a point. He could be in the lineup tonight vs. the Capitals.
Jurco suffered a back injury in the Red Wings win over the Oilers last night. After the game head coach Mike Babcock said that Jurco will not play on Wednesday in Calgary, so expect either Dan Cleary or Joakim Andersson to reenter the lineup in Jurco’s place.
Vrbata was a late scratch on Tuesday night because of an illness and was replaced by Linden Vey. The Canucks are back in action on Thursday, so keep an eye on Vrbata to make sure he gets back into the lineup.
Hanzal missed Tuesday’s game with an upper =-body injury, but because the Coyotes did not hold a morning skate, his status was not discovered until pre game warmups. He is day-to-day and in danger of missing Thursday’s game vs. Winnipeg.
Lundqvist turned aside 24 of 25 shots in the Rangers win over the Sabres on Saturday. King Henrik started the year out at 9-7-2, but he has won nine of his last 10 starts and sits at 18-8-3 with a 2.35 GAA and .914 SV%. Things have really turned around for Lundqvist, who enters play tonight with at 7-3-1 with a 2.16 GAA and .919 SV% on the road this season.
Lindback allowed one goal on 10 shots after replacing Kari Lehtonen in the Stars shootout win over the Oilers on December 21st. He comes into play tonight with a 1-5-0 record, 4.28 GAA and .864 SV%. Yep, those are real numbers, so be extremely careful with Lindback.
Parise will not play tonight because he is with his father who continues to battle stage 4 lung cancer. Jason Zucker will play on the top line with Mikko Koivu and Jason Pominville with Parise out.
