Pastrnak has missed the last 13 games and will miss at least two more games with a thumb injury. Pastrnak may be eligible to return to the lineup vs. the Blue Jackets on Saturday, but monitor his status as the week progresses.
Kuraly has missed the last two games but will replace Marcus Johansson in the lineup on Thursday. Kuraly, who will skate on the fourth line, has six goals and 11 assists (17 points) in 63 games this season.
Zadorov will not travel to Dallas for Thursday’s game after suffering an upper-body injury on Tuesday. Ryan Graves will replace him on the Colorado blueline.
Zacha appears close to returning to the Devils lineup but will miss his ninth straight game on Tuesday. His next chance to return to the lineup will be Friday in Washington.
Jokiharju came up for one game but has been returned to the AHL because Brent Seabrook is expected to play on Sunday. Jokiharju goes back to Rockford, where he has picked one goal and eight assists (nine points) in nine games.
Zacha will miss his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury and it doesn’t appear like there has been any significant progress towards returning to the lineup.
With Brent Seabrook (abdomen) out and Carl Dahlstrom (illness) questionable, Jokiharju has been called up and will likely be in the lineup on Friday. Jokiharju has picked up a point-per-game (1G / 8A) in nine games with Rockford since being sent down. He is one of the Blackhawks best defensemen and could remain with the team moving forward as they continue their hunt for the playoffs.
Mittelstadt will miss his second straight game but skated the last two days, which suggests that he won’t be out long. Evan Rodrigues will remain on the Sabres second line.
DiPietro is one of the league’s top goaltending prospects but has struggled since a midseason trade to the Ottawa 67’s, where he is 7-2-0 despite a 2.82 GAA and .896 SV%. DiPietro will backup Jacob Markstrom vs. the Capitals because Thatcher Demko tweaked something in warmups on Monday.
Jokiharju appeared in five of the last six games before the All-Star break after returning home from the World Juniors. He had just one assist during that stretch and the addition of Slater Koekkoek allows Jokiharju to go to the minors.
Jokiharju was a healthy scratch against the Capitals on Sunday but will replace Carl Dahlstrom on Tuesday. Jokiharju has just one assist, a minus-3 rating and two shots on goal in four games since returning from the World Juniors.
