Ty Dellandrea will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Gaudette to re-enter the lineup. The 29-year-old Guadette is averaging 11:33 time-on-ice and has 25 points (17G / 8A) in 62 games this season.
John Klingberg will return from an injury on Wednesday, sending Mukhamadullin to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Mukhamadullin is averaging 16:51 time-on-ice and has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 45 games this season.
Shakir Mukhamadullin will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, accommodating Klingberg's return from a two-week injury. The 33-year-old Klingberg has 24 points (10G / 14A) in 54 games this season, but he has been held off the scoresheet in nine of his last 11 games.
The Sharks need near-perfect in their final six games of the season as they battle for a Wild Card Spot in the Western Conference, and will turn to Nedeljkovic on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 30-year-old Nedeljkovic was solid in his previous outing, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. He has helped his team record at least a point in four straight appearances (3-0-1), posting a solid 1.95 GAA and .918 SV%. The Sharks enter Wednesday's contest as slight +103 home underdogs against an Oilers team coming off a 6-5 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth last night.
Rasmussen left in the second period of Tuesday's game and was unable to return. He will not play on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, and with only three games remaining afterwards, it is unclear if Rasmussen will be targeting a return this season.
Appleton has missed Detroit's past three games and will remain out of the lineup on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, The 30-year-old Appleton has 14 points (6G / 8A) in 65 games this season and has been held off the scoresheet in 32 of his last 34 outings.
Thompson had his first night off in nearly a month in Sunday's embarrassing 8-1 loss to the New York Rangers, but he will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. With only four games remaining in the regular season, the Capitals will need near-perfection from Thompson as they desperately try to stay in contention for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 29-year-old Thompson snapped a four-game streak of allowing four or more goals (3-1-0) in his most recent outing with a dazzling 37-save performance (.949 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The Capitals enter Wednesday's contest as -151 road favourites against a Maple Leafs team that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1).
Duke made his season debut for Tampa Bay on Wednesday, recording a -1 plus/minus in 9:22 time-on-ice. The 23-year-old forward has 55 points (31G / 24A) in 67 games this season with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL).
DeAngelo has not played in over two weeks due to a lower-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 30-year-old DeAngelo has 33 points (5G / 28A) in 72 games this season.
Ellis has regularly served as Buffalo's backup goalie in recent weeks, and will return to the position on Wednesday as Alex Lyon is battling a lower-body injury. The 25-year-old Ellis as served as Buffalo's third goaltender for most of the season and has not had many opportunities to tend the twine.
Dunne has only played two games in the last month and will return to the sidelines as a healthy scratch on Wednesday. The 27-year-old forward is averaging 9:24 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 33 games this season.
Greenway has played the last few games for the Sabres after missing over two months due to an injury, but he will return to the sidelines on Wednesday. The 29-year-old forward is averaging 12:21 time-on-ice and has six points (1G / 5A) in 37 games this season.
Conor Timmins will draw into Buffalo's lineup on Wednesday, sending Stanley to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Stanley has two assists and 27 penalty minutes in 14 games with the Sabres.
Pearson hasn't played much since being acquired by Buffalo at the trade deadline, but he will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday. The 33-year-old forward has one assist in two games with the Sabres.
Kozak has seen limited action in recent weeks, but he will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the New York Rangers. The 23-year-old Kozak is averaging 11:17 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 42 games this season.
Logan Stanley will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Timmins to re-enter the lineup. The 27-year-old Timmins is averaging 18:56 time-on-ice and has seven assists in 36 games this season.
For the first four weeks following the Olympic break, the Sabres had an equal goalie rotation, but with Alex Lyon struggling in recent games, the team will turn to Luukkonen for his fifth start in their last six games. The 27-year-old Luukkonen was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Since returning from the Olympic break, Luukkonen has boasted an impressive 2.25 GAA and .921 SV% in 12 games (9-2-1). The Sabres enter Wednesday's contest as -138 home favourites against a suddenly surging New York Rangers team that has outscored opponents 27-8 in their last six games (5-1-0).
Luke Schenn will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Kesselring to re-enter the lineup. The 26-yeaer-old Kesselring has not played in four weeks. He has two assists and is averaging 13:26 time-on-ice through 32 games this season.
Michael Kesselring will re-enter Buffalo's lineup on Wednesday, sending Schenn to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 36-year-old Schenn has been used sparingly since being acquired by Buffalo at the trade deadline. The 36-year-old defenseman has zero points and seven hits in three games with Buffalo.
Lyon was already schedule to not dress in Wednesday's game against the New York Rangers, as the Sabres have regularly had Colten Ellis serve as the team's back up goalie, but now he will be sidelined due to a lower-body ailment. The 33-year-old Lyon has struggled in recent outings, resulting in his starting only one of the team's last five games. The severity of Lyon's injury is unclear, but the team will hope he can use the time off to reset and return to his early-season form.
