With the mumps breakout across the NHL, every time a player misses practice due to illness, you have to worry. The Red Wings are in action tomorrow vs. the Blue Jackets, monitor Franzen’s status tomorrow morning.
Zajac missed the last eight games. He was dealing with a groin injury, but then got sick before he was ready to return to the lineup. He will centre the Devils top line with Scott Gomez and Jaromir Jagr on his wings. He has just eight points (4G / 4A) in 23 games this season.
Bishop allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Lightning’s 4-2 loss to the Capitals on Saturday. He has now dropped his last three starts with a 3.44 GAA and .877 SV%. It has been a tough stretch for Bishop, who will look to get back on track tonight vs. a Penguins team without Sidney Crosby.
LaBarbera has not played since returning from a hand injury, so he has been placed on waivers with the intent of sending him to the AHL. Ilya Bryzgalov has been recalled from his conditioning stint, effectively ending LaBarbera’s run with the Ducks.
Wagner did not get into a game with the Ducks during his recall. He heads back to the AHL where he has 13 points (8G / 5A) in 14 games with Norfolk.
Bryzgalov went 1-1-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .915 SV% in his two game conditioning stint with Norfolk. With Bryzgalov being recalled, Jason LaBarbera has been placed on waivers. Bryzgalov could make his season debut on Tuesday in Toronto.
Heatley played two games with Norfolk, he failed to record a point and had a minus-3 rating. Heatly was skating on as the fourth forward on the Ducks third line this morning, so there is no guarantee that he will be in the lineup on Tuesday.
Kinkaid stopped all three shots that he faced in relief of Cory Schneider on Saturday. In his only start since being recalled he stopped 37 of 39 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Blackhawks. He has yet to record a win, but has posted a nice 1.64 GAA and .943 SV% in four games. Tonight will be a big night for him as he gets the start on Long Island, very close to his hometown.
Green had been on the Capitals’ second unit in the two games that he has been back for. It looks like he and Matt Niskanen will swap places, which should open the door for more production from Green. He has 12 points (3G / 9A) in 21 games this season.
Crosby will not play on Monday, but passing the infectious stage means that he will be able to return to practice. The Penguins are back in action on Thursday, so monitor his status leading up to Thursday’s clash with the Avalanche.
Bennett is already on IR with a knee injury, but now he also has mumps symptoms. Bennett can not catch a break. He just started skating again, so this will slow his recovery down.
Bortuzzo suffered an upper-body injury in the Penguins loss to the Blue Jackets on Saturday. With Bortuzzo out, Brian Dumoulin will enter the lineup on Monday vs. the Lightning.
Carter missed Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury and will not play on Tuesday after being placed on IR this morning. Brett Sutter has been recalled and should be in the lineup for Carter tomorrow.
Ballard has missed the last two games after being hit from behind and suffering multiple facial fractures last Tuesday. Ballard remains without a timetable for his return.
Sutter, 27, has five goals and nine assists (14 points) in 26 games with Iowa this season. With Ryan Carter going on IR, expect to see Sutter in the lineup on Tuesday in Chicago.
Boychuk will miss his ninth consecutive game with an upper-body injury. He was on the ice for the Islanders morning skate on Monday, but won’t be back tonight. The Islanders next game is on Friday in Detroit, monitor Boychuk’s status leading up to Friday.
Hamonic will miss his sixth consecutive game with an upper-body injury. He was on the ice for the Islanders morning skate on Monday, but won’t be back tonight. The Islanders next game is on Friday in Detroit, monitor Hamonic’s status leading up to Friday.
Gorges left Saturday’s game early due to a undisclosed injury and did not return. Despite the injury, Gorges was on the ice Monday for the morning skate. Gorges said he doesn’t feel 100% but should be good enough to play; just needs to be cleared by the medical staff.
Enroth allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Sabres 4-3 OT win over the Panthers on Saturday. Enroth has won three straight and six of his last seven with a 2.23 GAA and .934 SV%. Tonight he will face a Senators team who have gone 2-5-1 in their last eight games.
Cizikas has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury that he suffered on December 6th vs. the Blues. He will be back in for Michael Grabner, who is day-to-day with a lower-body ailment. Cizikas will centre the fourth line with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck.
