Bains has earned his second call-up of the season to Vancouver after scoring 14 goals, and 49 points in 53 games with Abbotsford (AHL) this season. The 23-year-old undrafted left-winger appeared in five games already with the Canucks, but had failed to pick up a point while averaging 12:57 TOI with six SOG and a -3 plus/minus.
In a surprise move on Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks have placed Thatcher Demko on LTIR retroactive to March 9th for some cap relief. The 28-year-old is first eligible to return on April 6th, so he has the potential to return before the playoffs begin on April 20th. He was one of the league's top goaltenders when he went down with injury, noticeable by his 34-13-2 record, 2.47 GAA, .917 SV% and five shutouts.
Marner has missed the Maple Leafs' previous eight games due to an ankle injury and will be forced to miss at least their next two games as he eyes a return possibly next week. The 26-year-old will likely fall just short of 100 points for a third straight season as he was at 25 goals, and 76 points in 62 games before the ailment.
Rielly missed his first game of the season due to injury on Tuesday due to a lower-body injury and is at risk of not playing again Thursday vs. Washington as he is questionable to dress. The 30-year-old All-Star defenseman has enjoyed a very strong year leading the Maple Leafs' point, with seven goals, 51 points, 165 SOG, 27 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 65 games played.
Despite Ilya Samsonov announcing he feels healthy to return on Thursday, Joseph Woll will get his third straight start on Thursday as he attempts to put an end to a two-game losing streak. The 25-year-old has enjoyed an up-and-down season filled with injuries but still has a respectable 10-9-1 record, 2.96 GAA and .908 SV% this season. He will take on the surging Washington Capitals at home, who find themselves in the final wildcard playoff spot after winning six of their last seven games.
The extent of Oskar Sundqvist's lower-body injury is not yet known but head coach Drew Bannister has confirmed that the forward will be out on Thursday vs. Calgary. The 30-year-old veteran has been having an average season as far as personal production in his first year in St. Louis, with his six goals, 21 points, 68 SOG and 32 PIMs in 71 games played before the injury.
Varlamov will take over the Islanders' crease for the second time in three games as he takes on the Panthers in Florida on Thursday. The 35-year-old backup netminder has done admirably when called upon this season, with his 8-7-4 record, 2.86 GAA and .910 SV%. He will head to Florida to take on the recently struggling Panthers, who have surprisingly lost five of their last six games but are still second in the NHL in shots per game (33.4).
Samsonov was unable to finish Saturday's game vs. Edmonton and did not dress on Tuesday after bruising his calf in a victory over the Oilers. The 27-year-old has stated he is good to go on Thursday when Toronto takes on Washington. He has endured the definition of an up-and-down season in 2023-24, with his 19-6-7 record, 3.12 GAA and .889 SV%.
Lauko has dressed for the previous four games for the Bruins' but finds himself the odd man out of Boston's lineup on Wednesday as he is replaced by James van Riemsdyk. The 23-year-old Lauko averages only 9:45 TOI per game in his complimentary role but has two goals, eight points, and 32 PIMs in 53 games played this season.
van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch for the Bruins' previous game but he will draw back into the lineup for Jakub Lauko on Wednesday vs. Tampa Bay. The 34-year-old has enjoyed a strong first season in 2023-24 with the Bruins, with his 11 goals, 38 points, 137 SOG, 18 PIMs and +10 plus/minus minus in 65 games played.
Boston's goaltender carousel is expected to continue on Wednesday as Linus Ullmark looks to pick up Boston's fifth win in their last eight games. The 30-year-old reigning Vezina Trophy winner has enjoyed another strong 2023-24, with his 19-8-7 record, 2.66 GAA and .914 SV%. He will host the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, who have won seven of their last eight games and have the top powerplay in the NHL (29.0%).
Vasilevskiy will occupy Tampa's crease for the 11th time in the last 12 games after the rare night off in the Lightning's previous game vs. Anaheim. The 29-year-old is up to an impressive 45 games played despite missing a large chunk of the season due to a back injury and has a 26-16-2 record, 2.94 GAA and .897 SV% to show for it. He will host the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, who are one win from clinching a playoff birth and have won four of their last six games.
Quinn has been out since January 27th due to a lower-body injury but will return on Wednesday vs. Ottawa. The 22-year-old has had his season decimated by injuries but has still produced when healthy with his five goals, 12 points, 37 SOG and six PIMs in 17 games before his latest injury.
Rousek unfortunately was the victim of a freak injury in Buffalo's practice on Tuesday as he took a stick high and is expected to be day-to-day and miss Wednesday vs. Ottawa. The 24-year-old rookie is still looking for his first goal of the 2023-24 season but has two assists, four SOG, and a +1 plus/minus through nine games this season.
de Haan will unfortunately be the odd-man out of Tampa Bay's lineup on Wednesday vs. Boston as Victor Hedman returns from a lower-body injury and one-game absence. The 32-year-old de Haan has found himself in the Lightning lineup on most nights and has performed solid with his modest three goals, eight points, 56 SOG and 20 PIMs through 57 games played.
Sheary finds himself the odd man out of Tampa Bay's lineup on Wednesday vs. Boston due to Brayden Point returning from a lower-body injury. Sheary has struggled in a reduced role in his first season in Tampa Bay, with only three goals, 13 points, 44 SOG and 12 PIMs in 52 games played in 2023-24.
Hedman missed Tampa Bay's previous game due to a lower-body injury but was a full participant in the morning skate on Wednesday and is expected to return vs. Boston. The 33-year-old towering defenseman is back to his dominant offensive ways after an off-season in 2022-23, with 12 goals and 69 points in 68 games played before his injury. Hedman will return to his spot on Tampa Bay's top defensive pairing as well as their top power play.
Point missed the Lightning's previous game due to a lower-body injury but was a full participant in practice (including powerplays) and will return on Wednesday vs. Boston. The 28-year-old was on a tear prior to his injury picking up seven points (5G/2A) in his last three games to add to his impressive 80 points (41G/39A) in 70 games played on the season.
Despite having an optional skate on Wednesday, Luukkonen was occupying the starters' crease and is expected to start his third straight game when Buffalo takes on Ottawa. The 25-year-old started the season in a trio of goalies but has torn away from the pack due to his solid 24-18-3 record, 2.48 GAA and .913 SV%. He will host the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, who despite having won five of their last eight games are not playing for much due to their rank in the standings.
Jones was a late scratch on Tuesday, with the team not announcing his injury until warmups. His absence makes way for the return of Trevor Zegras (ankle).
