It's a tough blow to what's already been an injury riddled campaign for Minnesota's captain, as this marks the third separate injury Spurgeon has suffered through this season. Spurgeon has no goals and five assists in just 16 games on the year. The Wild recalled Daemon Hunt from Iowa (AHL) to fill Spurgeon's spot on the roster.
With the debut of Max Pacioretty incoming Wednesday Hendrix Lapierre will be the odd man out of the Capitals' forward lines vs. New Jersey. The 21-year-old centre has been enjoying a successful first full season in Washington, with two goals, four assists, 18 SOG, and a -1 plus/minus.
Edmundson will head to the press box Wednesday vs. New Jersey as he takes a maintenance game on the Capitals' second half of their back-to-back. The 30-year-old shutdown defensemen has a goal, an assist, and eight PIMs in 21 games played this season and will be replaced by Trevor van Riemsdyk Wednesday.
van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch for the Capitals' first game of their back-to-back Tuesday but will draw back into the lineup Wednesday as they take on New Jersey. The 32-year-old will replace Joel Edmundson (maintenance) and will look to pick up his first goal to go alongside his six assists, 34 SOG, six PIMs and -6 plus/minus through 30 games played.
Karlsson had seven goals, 16 assists, 10 PIMs and +8 plus/minus through 25 games played with Abbotsford (AHL) and has been recalled to Vancouver for the second time this season. The 24-year-old last appeared on December 5th for the Canucks and has yet to pick up a point in three games and only 10:26 TOI/GP.
With the news of Tyler Pitlick (lower body) being out week-to-week, Brennan Othmann has been recalled from Hartford (AHL) for the first time in his career. The 20-year-old left-winger is the Rangers' 2021 first-round pick (16th overall) and had nine goals and 23 points in 28 games with Hartford prior to his promotion.
Pitlick left the Rangers' previous game vs. Carolina after just 6:58 TOI due to a lower-body injury and is now considered out week-to-week. The 32-year-old has struggled offensively in 2023-24, with only a goal, two assists, 28 SOG, four PIMs and a -1 plus/minus in 28 games prior to his injury. Pitlick will be replaced by top prospect Brennan Othmann in the Rangers' lineup which he is on the mend.
Lyon will make his fourth consecutive start between the Red Wing crease as he goes for his second-consecutive win after a 24 save (.889 SV%) victory over San Jose in his last start. The 31-year-old started the season as Detroit's third goaltender but has taken over the starting gig due to his strong play and 6-4-0 record, 2.53 GAA and .917 SV%. He will head to Los Angeles to take on the Kings, who have lost three straight games but are 10th in the NHL in goals per game (3.38).
Copp did not practice Wednesday due to a lower-body injury and will be a game-time decision Thursday vs. Los Angeles as the team determines the severity of the ailment. The 29-year-old has struggled to live up to his decently sized contract as he only has five goals, 17 points, 68 SOG, 18 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus in 38 games played in 2023-24.
Holloway has been out since November 13th due to a lower-body injury but has been activated off the Long-Term Injured Reserve Wednesday and loaned to Bakersfield (AHL) for a conditioning stint. The 22-year-old sophomore got out to a bit of a slump prior to his injury as he had only a goal, no assists, 29 SOG, 13 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 14 games played.
Lindgren was originally considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury after leaving the Capitals' game Friday vs. the Islanders and has been placed on the Injured Reserve Wednesday. The injury comes at an unfortunate time for the 30-year-old who was having a surprise breakout season with his 7-3-3 record, .928 SV% and 2.27 GAA.
Pacioretty is returning from a second torn achilles injury but will make his Capitals' debut Wednesday as Washington takes on New Jersey at home. The 35-year-old signed a one-year, $2 million contract in the offseason after collecting three goals in five games prior to a season ending injury with Carolina in 2022-23.
Balinskis made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with Florida after three seasons in the Czechia pro league and was rewarded Wednesday with a two-year, $1.7 million ($850,000) contract extension. The 27-year-old has managed to pick up a goal, an assist, 18 SOG, and six PIMs in 18 games played in his first season in Florida.
Cousins was the recipient of a controversial hit from Arizona's Jason Zucker which has led to a hearing but is now said to be in concussion protocol and is expected to be out Thursday vs. Vegas. The 30-year-old scrappy centre has struggled to produce offensively in 2023-24 with only two goals, three assists, 20 PIMs, 63 SOG and a -10 plus/minus in 37 games played.
Karlsson will miss at least the next two games as he tends to a lower-body injury. He played 18:36 time-on-ice in the Golden Knights 3-0 loss at the hands of the Seattle Kraken at the Winter Classic on Monday. Karlsson was previously occupying the center-ice position on the third line between Paul Cotter and Michael Amadio.
Ingram will return to the crease for the Coyotes on Thursday as their equal distribution goalie rotation is back in full effect. In his last outing, Ingram saved all 28 shots he faced for a 2-0 shutout victory over the Anaheim Ducks, his second shutout in four outings. Ingram and the Coyotes will be facing a tougher foe on Thursday when they welcome the New York Islanders, who have points in five of their last seven games (3-2-2). In his last 12 games (7-4-0), Ingram has four shutouts and a dazzling .928 SV%.
Johansen was not present at practice on Wednesday as he battles an illness and will be a game-time decision against the Dallas Stars on Thursday. In Tuesday's 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders, Johansen was held off the scoresheet and recorded a -1 plus/minus rating in 14:11 time-on-ice. He has three points (1G / 2A) in his last three games.
Beauvillier left the game in the second period after taking an awkward hit along the boards and will be out for the foreseeable future as he has been placed on injured reserve. Beauvillier has scored six points (2G / 4A) in 15 games since joining the Blackhawks last month.
Semyon Varlamov exited Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period, his second injury in less than a week, prompting the Isaldners to recall Appleby again. If Varlamov is out for an extended period, Appleby will unlikely see much action between the pipes as Varlamov will take the reigns between the pipes.
Bortuzzo drew back into the Islanders lineup on Tuesday but played only 8:10 time-on-ice and exited the game with a lower-body injury. Bortuzzo had difficulty leaving the ice and will be out of action for at least one week as he was placed on injured reserve.
