Ward has missed the last eight games with a knee injury. It would be beneficial for him to get back into the lineup to get back up to game speed before jumping into playoff action.
Stanton had three goals and 22 assists in 73 games with Rockford this season.
Forsberg recalled
Crosby took line rushes on the Penguins "fifth" line which would suggest that he won't play tomorrow. He did practice on the #1 power-play unit. I think he will be back for game 1 of the playoffs. If not he should be back at some point in the first round.
Hedberg will get the call in the Devils last game of the season.
After winning three straight starts, Crawford has lost each of his last two starts. He has had a fantastic season going 18-5-5 with a 1.98 GAA and .925 SV%. He is a must start against the lowly Flames tonight.
Visnovsky is healthy, he is just getting rest before the playoffs.
Hickey was scratched yesterday but he will be back in tonight with Lubomir Visnovsky getting some rest before the playoffs.
Nabokov has been superb for the Islanders this season and has them in the post-season for the first time since 2007. Nabby has yet to lose in regulation this month, going 7-0-3 with a 2.53 GAA and .913 SV% in 10 starts in April. He has a good matchup vs. the Sabres so he should make for a solid start.
We'll have to wait and see if McMillan is Mike Rupp insurance or if he's playing regardless. The gritty McMillan, a 2007 seventh-rounder, has 2 goals and 5 points in 15 Wild games over two seasons. This would be his season debut if he plays tonight. The way it looked yesterday, Jason Pominville was unlikely to play tonight vs. Edmonton. The hope was Rupp would take Pominville's place in the lineup, but when Rupp said after practice that he would have to see how his knee responded this morning.
Panik had five goals and four assists in 25 games with the Lightning.
Gudas recorded his second career NHL goal on Wednesday. He had two goals and three assists 22 games with Tampa Bay.
It sounds like Corvo will play in the season finale tomorrow vs. Pittsburgh.
It’s unclear whether the issue is even an upper-body or lower-body injury, although it looked like the big forward’s leg was bothering him. In the meantime, it looks like Chris Kreider will get a chance to prove that he deserves more reps.
Miller allowed two goals on 42 shots in a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Tonight will mark the end of the season for the Sabres and Miller's 500th career NHL game. He has a fairly tough matchup against an Islanders team who has clinched a playoff spot.
Randy Carlyle hinted that a couple of guys were banged up and might sit tonight. Apparently one of those guys is Bozak. Nazem Kadri will move up to the first line.
Reimer allowed four goals on 25 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Lightning last night. He has a great matchup in the second game of a back-to-back vs. the Panthers.
