Smith has been out since December 21st due to a lower-body injury but is expected to return to the Sharks' lineup on Saturday after being activated off Injured Reserve on Wednesday. The 25-year-old bruising right winger will provide some much-needed grit into the Sharks' lineup with his one goal, two assists, 27 SOG, 33 PIM and -4 plus/minus through 26 games before the injury.
Cizikas was limited to only 8:31 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins before exiting the game with an undisclosed injury. The Islanders' next game is on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues.
MacLean played six games with the Islanders earlier this season, scoring one goal during that stint. The undrafted 24-year-old has earned himself another call-up due to solid play in the AHL, tallying 22 points (6G / 16A) in 43 games with the Bridgeport Islanders.
Arvidsson exited Tuesday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after playing only 17 seconds due to an undisclosed injury. It was only Arvidsson's fourth game of the season as he recently made his debut, returning from back surgery in October. He was off to a strong start before his injury, tallying two points (0G / 2A) and 12 shots in his first three games.
Urho Vaakanainen will replace Lindstrom, who will be a healthy scratch for the third time in the last seven games. Lindstrom has five points (3G / 2A), 20 hits, and 32 blocks in 23 games this season.
Gustav Lindstrom will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Vaakanainen to re-enter the lineup after not playing on Monday. The 25-year-old Vaakanainen has nine points (1G / 8A), 48 shots, and 56 hits in 46 games this season.
Gibson has started the last three games, winning twice, and will return to the crease on Wednesday. In his last outing, Gibson was tremendous, saving 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The Ducks enter action as slight -107 home favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that played last night, losing 5-1 to the Los Angeles Kings.
MacDonald made his return to the Sharks lineup on Monday after being a healthy scratch in his previous outing but was placed on waivers by the Sharks on Tuesday. In 22 games this season, MacDonald has seven points (6G / 1A), 34 shots, and 33 hits.
White has been with Pittsburgh since the beginning of January but has been placed on waivers with the intention of being reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). White played 11 games with Pittsburgh this season and failed to register a point.
Samsonov will start for the second straight game and attempt to extend his winning streak to five games on Wednesday night. Samsonov was solid in his last outing, saving 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. The Maple Leafs have done a stellar job of protecting their netminder lately, as Samsonov has managed to record two of his last three victories while saving fewer than 20 shots.
Noah Gregor will draw back into the lineup on Wednesday, making Reaves a healthy scratch for the second time in the last four games. Reaves has one goal and 24 hits in his last seven games.
Ryan Reaves will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Gregor to re-enter the Maple Leafs lineup. Before being a healthy scratch on Monday, Gregor played 12 straight for the Maple Leafs, tallying four assists and 48 hits.
As has been the case all season, the Bruins will continue their goalie rotation on Wednesday and turn to Ullmark after Swayman played in the previous game. Ullmark had a rough outing in his last contest, allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Bruins enter action as +118 road underdogs against the Edmonton Oilers and their fifth-ranked offence (3.56 GF / GP).
Parker Wotherspoon and Lorei are both drawing into the Bruins' lineup on Wednesday as Hampus Lindholm (undisclosed) and Kevin Shattenkirk (healthy scratch) are both not expected to play. Lohrei has not played for the Bruins since January 18th and has six points (3G / 3A) in 27 games this season.
Shattenkirk will be a healthy scratch for the sixth time in the last 12 games as Mason Lohrei and Parker Wotherspoon are expected to draw back into the Bruins lineup. The veteran Shattenkirk has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 45 games, averaging a career-low 15:47 time-on-ice.
Mason Lohrei and Wotherspoon are both drawing into the Bruins' lineup on Wednesday as Hampus Lindholm (undisclosed) and Kevin Shattenkirk (healthy scratch) are both not expected to play. Wotherspoon last played on February 15th and registered a -1 plus/minus and one hit in 14:01 time-on-ice.
Lindholm is not expected to play on Wednesday as he is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is now considered out week-to-week. The 30-year-old defenseman has 19 points (1G / 18A), 71 shots, and 73 blocks in 56 games. Parker Wotherspoon and Mason Lohrei are both expected to back into the lineup for the Bruins.
Spence has not played the last four games and has been reassigned to the Ontario Reign of the AHL. Despite seeing limited action, Spence has been quietly productive when called upon, tallying three points (0G / 3A) in his last five outings.
Skinner will return to the crease for the Oilers on Wednesday, his fifth start in their last six games. Skinner has recorded a sub-.900 SV% while allowing three or more goals in each of his last four games. That said, he saved 22 of 25 shots (.880 SV%) in a 6-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. The Oilers enter action as -127 home favourites against a Boston Bruins club that defeated the Dallas Stars 4-3 in their last contest.
Nugent-Hopkin was not at practice on Wednesday due to an illness, indicating he may be unavailable for Wednesday's game against the Boston Bruins. At practice, Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod were elevated to top-six roles.
