Skinner, 21, has missed the Hurricanes’ last 11 games with an upper body injury sustained in the team’s game on October 24 at Minnesota. Prior to suffering the injury, Skinner led the Hurricanes in scoring with nine points (3G / 6A) in 10 games, and his plus-5 rating ranks first on the team. He is expected to skate on the top-line with Eric Staal and Jiri Tlusty.
Semin suffered a concussion half-way through Saturday's game against the Blues. There has been no updates on how serious Semin's concussion is. Consider him out indefinitely until the Hurricanes establish some type of timetable.
Skinner is skating with the top-line for the second straight day, a good sign he could be back tonight. We will update when head coach Kirk Muller talks to the media following the morning skate.
Quincey injured his knee on Tuesday vs. Nashville and did not skate on Wednesday but will play tonight. He announced yesterday that he would be fine and was on the ice for the Red Wings optional skate this morning. With Danny DeKeyser out for 3-6 weeks, Quincey will take on an expanded role.
Fraser was injured in the first period of Saturday's game against the Sabres. Morgan Rielly will stay in the lineup with Fraser out. Rielly was a plus-1 in 17:45 on Tuesday. Consider Fraser questionable for Saturday versus Washington.
Bozak is not quite ready to return to the Maple Leafs lineup tonight. "It's a little sore still," Bozak said. He is hoping to be in the lineup on Saturday vs. Washington. Toronto sent Carter Ashton back to the AHL this morning, so they will not need to make a roster move when Bozak is ready.
It will be the sixth straight game he has missed after being injured early in the first period on November 9. The Bruins will also be without Dennis Seidenberg, so Kevan Miller will make his NHL debut and Matt Bartowski will stay in the lineup.
Rask was fantastic allowed one goal on 44 shots in a win over the Rangers on Tuesday. There was talk of potentially giving Chad Johnson the start, but I'm sure Claude Julien is happy he went with Rask. He is fifth in wins (12), third in GAA (1.61) and second in SV% (.946) - he is safe to deploy, regardless of his matchup.
Mazanec stopped all 27 shots for his first career shutout on Tuesday vs. the Red Wings. He did not look like a goalie making his fourth career start, very calm and composed all evening. He carries a 2-2-0 record with a 2.45 GAA and .927 SV% into Toronto, where he will likely get the start tonight.
With Dennis Seidenberg (lower-body) not skating this morning, it appears as if Miller will be in the lineup tonight after being an emergency call-up from Providence (AHL) on Wednesday. Miller is in his fourth season with the Providence Bruins, he has one goal and two assists in 12 games.
Seidenberg was injured in the first period on Tuesday and it appears he will make way for Kevan Miller tonight. Seidenberg is usually good for five goals and 20 assists per season, but so far this year he has no goals and six assists in 21 games.
Emery stopped 30 of 31 shots in a win over the Penguins on November 13. He was sharp all night en route to his second win of the season. Steve Mason has been great as of late, but an easy matchup with the Sabres gives Philadelphia a chance to get Emery into a game. With the soft matchup Emery has some spot-start value tonight.
Rask was fantastic allowed one goal on 44 shots in a win over the Rangers on Tuesday. There was talk of potentially giving Chad Johnson the start, but I'm sure Claude Julien is happy he went with Rask. He is fifth in wins (12), third in GAA (1.61) and second in SV% (.946) - he is safe to deploy, regardless of his matchup.
Bernier allowed two goals on 37 shots in a 5-2 win over the Islanders on Tuesday. He gets the call tonight against the 10-9-2 Predators. Bernier has seen a ton of rubber this season, but he has been equal to the task posting a .939 SV% in 14 appearances. His only shutout of the season came against these Predators so he should make for another strong start tonight.
After he plays two games, he will be there to stay because he will have to go through waivers to get back to the AHL. The Red Wings will obviously not place him on waivers, because he would immediately be claimed. Nyquist led the Grand Rapids Griffins with 21 points (7G / 14A) in 15 games. Hopefully the talented forward sparks the Red Wings quiet offence. Expect him to skate on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen.
Bickell was injured in the first period of Tuesday's contest with the Avalanche. Bickell has not been the player he was in the 2013 playoffs, tallying five goals and one assist in 22 games.
Ashton appeared in 13 games with the Maple Leafs, registering one assist while averaging 7:56 TOI. His designation to the AHL could be paving the way for Tyler Bozak (hamstring) to return tonight.
Schneider allowed one goal on 20 shots in a tough-luck loss to the Kings last Friday. Schneider has a great 1.98 GAA and .918 SV% in nine appearances… But just one win. In his last three starts the Devils have scored a total of one goal. He will face the Kings again tonight, hopefully for his owners, New Jersey can find the twine this time around.
Coach Claude Julien said after the 2-1 victory that it was "obviously a lower body injury where he couldn't come back" and that Seidenberg would be evaluated after the team returned to Boston. In 20 games this season, Seidenberg has six assists and a plus-10 rating. He has missed five games in the previous three seasons. Monitor his status following Thursday's morning skate for an injury update.
Dennis Seidenberg was hurt last night so Miller gets the call-up in case he can not play tomorrow vs. St. Louis. Miller has spent the last three season with Providence. He has never played at the NHL level but has one goal and two assists in 12 games in the AHL this season.