Kassian was suspended for a hit on Stars D-man Brenden Dillion on March 6. The Canucks will not need to make a call-up for the Ryan Kesler injury with Kassian returning to the lineup. He has 11 goals and seven assists (18 points) with a minus-10 rating and 118 penalty minutes in 59 games this season.
Orlov will make $1.75M in 2014-15 and $2.25M in '15-16. Orlov has three goals and six assists with a minus-4 rating in 39 games this season.
Anderson was run over by teammate Milan Michalek on Monday and has not returned to practice since. There has been no updates on Anderson's status but at this point consider him doubtful for Saturday.
Gudas has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury. He was reportedly close to playing on Monday but was held out. He told reporters today that he is good to go, so it sounds like he will be back in the lineup vs. the Panthers.
Howard was scheduled to start on Tuesday, but he was feeling under the weather prior to puck-drop and the Red Wings made a late switch to Petr Mrazek. Howard has lost each of his last three starts with a miserable 3.24 GAA and .882 SV%. The Wings are trying to make it to the playoffs for the 23rd consecutive year, but Howie is not doing them any favours right now. He was unreal last season, they need that Jimmy Howard to return if they want to make it into the post-season.
Grabovski has missed the last seven games and has only played two minutes of NHL hockey since January 24. This is the first time he has skated with the team since before the February 24th contest that he only lasted two minute in. He remains day-to-day.
Varlamov stopped 37 of 39 shots in a 3-2 win over the Blackhawks on Wednesday. The win was his 100th of his career and moved him into second in the NHL in wins with 33. Friday will see him take on the Ducks in Denver. Varly has won five of his last six starts and stopped 35 shots in a 6-1 win in the season opener vs. Anaheim.
Semyon Varlamov is slated to start the next two games (FRI / SUN) and the J.S Giguere should start on Tuesday in Montreal, so that leaves Berra to make his Avalanche debut on Wednesday vs. the Jets.
Howden, 22, was drafted in the first-round (25th overall) in 2010. He has yet to play with the Panthers this season, but had zero potions in 18 games with them in 2012-13. He has been recalled because Sean Bergenheim is unavailable for Thursday's meeting with the Lightning. Howden has 10 goals and 17 assists (27 points) in 57 games with San Antonio this season.
Petrovic had no points in five games with the Panthers earlier this season, but then suffered an upper-body injury which cost him his spot with the big-club. He is back now with Erik Gudbranson out and has recorded two goals and 11 assists (13 points) in 43 games in San Antonio.
Mottau played 8:55 in Tuesday's loss to the Coyotes. He suited up for the injured Erik Gudbranson, but has been returned to the AHL in favour of Alex Petrovic.
Bobrovsky stopped 39 of 40 shots in a Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Red Wings. Detroit hounded the Blue Jackets in the first 40-minutes, but Bob was there to shut the door time after time. He has won five of his last six starts, but draws an ugly matchup versus the Sharks. Bob gave up three goals on 47 shots in a 3-2 lead in their first meeting.
Kesler left Wednesday's 3-2 shootout win over the Winnipeg Jets in the second period after a knee-on-knee hit from the Jets' Jim Slater. Kesler was seen wearing a brace after the game and is expected to be out for a while. In 67 games with Vancouver this season the 29-year-old has 22 goals and 18 assists. A tough season is about to get a little more difficult for the Canucks.
Smith stopped 31 of 32 shots in a 3-1 win over the Panthers on Tuesday. Smith has now won four of his last five starts while posting a 1.77 GAA and .938 SV%. Smith is playing better now than he has at any other point in the season. He will need to keep that hotstreak going if the 'Yotes are going to get a win in Boston tonight. The B's have won six in a row.
Jurco is suffering from a rib injury that occurred in Tuesday’s 4-1 loss at Columbus. According to Wings general manager Ken Holland he’ll miss 10-14 days and then be re-evaluated. Teemu Pulkkinen will replace him in the lineup on Thursday.
Rask stopped 17 of 20 shots in a 4-3 shootout win against the Lightning on Saturday. He has won three in a row with a 1.98 GAA and .923 SV%. Rask is 0-2-0 with a 3.31 GAA and .889 SV% in his previous two outings against the rival Habs. With Carey Price still on the shelf, Rask makes for an even more intriguing start.
Sobotka skated for the second straight day on Wednesday and is looking to be back in game action tomorrow vs. Edmonton. Sobotka has missed the last 12 games with a lower-body injury he suffered in late January. He has seven goals and 18 assists (25 points) with a plus-17 rating in 46 games this season.
Harding has not played a game since December 31 because of complications with his multiple sclerosis. This is unfortunate because Harding was having a tremendous season before the MS forced him from action. He was 18-7-3 with a 1.66 GAA and .933 SV% at the time he stopped playing. The effects of MS will likely haunt him throughout his playing career. Expect Darcy Kuemper and Ilya Bryzgalov to manage the Wild goal for the remainder of the season.
This comes as no surprise. Drop him in all fantasy formats.
Miller allowed three goals on 30 shots in a 3-2 OT loss to the Stars on Tuesday. It was his first loss since being traded to St. Louis, but he still sits at 4-0-1 with a 1.78 GAA and .925 SV%… not too shabby. Get him in your line-up tonight with the Oilers in town. Beware however, Edmonton has quietly won eight of their last 12.
