Hamonic returned to the lineup from a two-game absence on Sunday, but only played 5:23 before exiting the contest, subsequently missing Tuesday's contest. Hamonic has five points (2G / 3A) in 40 games this season and will not play on Thursday.
Foote has been limited to only four games with the Devils this season, spending most of his time with the Utica Comets (AHL), scoring nine points (2G / 7A) in 24 games. He will be away from the Devils' team indefinitely on a leave of absence.
McLeod has 19 points (10G / 9A) in 45 games and was pacing for the best offensive output of his career. He will be away from the Devils' team indefinitely on a leave of absence.
Kane has missed the last three games due to a lower-body injury but returned to practice on Wednesday. Earlier this week, Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde suggested that Kane could return before the All-Star break. Kane has been a major contributor in the Red Wings offence, scoring 16 points (7G / 9A) and tallying 63 shots in 19 games.
Palat last played on December 30th, missing the last 10 games, but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. In 35 games this season, Palat has 14 points (5G / 9A), his lowest point-per-game pace since his rookie season in 2012-13.
Matthew Poitras will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, allowing Steen to return to the lineup from a two-game absence. Steen has seen limited ice-time this season, averaging 8:55, but has only one point (1G / 0A) in 27 games, including zero points in his last 19.
Parker Wotherspoon will be the odd man out on Wednesday, serving as a healthy scratch to allow Shattenkirk to re-enter the Bruins' lineup. Shattenkirk had a team-worst -2 plus/minus in his last contest, despite recording one point (0G / 1A) in a one-side 9-4 victory for the Bruins over the Montreal Canadiens.
Poitras has zero points and only one shot on goal in his last four games, including being the only Bruins forward without a point in a 9-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Oskar Steen will draw into the lineup in favour of Poitras.
Kevin Shattenkirk will draw back into the lineup on Wednesday, prompting the Bruins to make Wotherspoon a healthy scratch. Wotherspoon played 16:43 time-on-ice in the Bruins' 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday, recording two shots and two hits.
Bertuzzi was not at practice on Tuesday and will be away from the team again on Wednesday, missing the Maple Leafs contest against the Winnipeg Jets to attend to the birth of his child. Bertuzzi had one point in the Maple Leafs' previous contest, snapping a three-game pointless skid.
Smith's 16 points (5G / 11A) in 46 games have been rewarded with a two-year, $2 million contract extension. The 28-year-old winger has most recently been playing on a line with Michael McCarron and Philip Tomasino.
Forsling sat out the previous game for the Panthers for personal reasons but will be ready to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Arizona Coyotes. Forsling has scored a goal in each of his last two games while registering six shots and four hits.
The Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak on Monday with Anthony Stolarz between the pipes but will return to Bobrovsky on Wednesday evening. Bobrovsky's 2.55 GAA is his best since the 2017-18 campaign with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but the veteran netminder has struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in three straight (0-1-1), posting an ugly .846 SV%. The Panthers are sizeable -206 home favourites against an Arizona Coyotes club riding a two-game winning streak.
Head coach Paul Maurice expressed that Barkov will likely return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Arizona Coyotes, barring any unforeseen changes. Barkov has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury and was on a tear before he left the lineup, scoring seven points (0G / 7A) in his last five games.
Rafferty had two goals, 13 assists, six PIMs and a +2 plus/minus in 35 games played with Grand Rapids (AHL) but served as a healthy scratch for the Red Wings on Tuesday. The 28-year-old defenseman last appeared in the NHL in 2020-21 with Vancouver and has an assist in three career NHL games played.
Mrazek's 3.01 GAA and .907 SV% are his best totals in three seasons, considerably more impressive considering he plays for the defensively troubled Blackhawks. As a result of his strong play, Mrazek has been rewarded with a two-year, $8.5 million ($4,250,000 AAV) contract extension. He should continue to see an edge in starts over Arvid Soderblom for the remainder of the season.
The Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak on Monday with Anthony Stolarz between the pipes but will likely return to Bobrovsky on Wednesday evening. Bobrovsky's 2.55 GAA is his best since the 2017-18 campaign with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but the veteran netminder has struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in three straight (0-1-1), posting an ugly .846 SV%. The Panthers are sizeable -206 home favourites against an Arizona Coyotes club riding a two-game winning streak.
Byram will return to the Avalanche lineup on Wednesday for his first game since January 4th, an eight-game absence. Before his injury, Byram was amid a cold stretch, with only two points (1G / 1A) in his last 11 games.
Lehkonen has been a full participant at practice for the last two weeks and will return to the lineup for the first time since suffering a neck injury on November 9th. Before his injury, Lehkonen had eight points (3G / 5A) in 12 games, averaging 18:30 time-on-ice, playing predominantly alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, including a spot on the top powerplay. With Valeri Nichushkin out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, Lehkonen should benefit immediately from favourable offensive deployment.
With Washington on a back-to-back, Lindgren will take the crease Wednesday after backing up Darcy Kuemper on Tuesday. The 30-year-old has deservedly earned the majority of the Capitals' starts of late as he's put up a 3-2-1 record, and .928 SV% in his last seven games played. He takes on the Colorado Avalanche on the road Wednesday, who have won five of their last seven games and rank 2nd in the NHL in goals per game (3.77).
