Zucker adds some offensive depth to a Predators club that already added Anthony Beauvillier to their roster via trade on Thursday. The 32-year-old Zucker has 25 points (9G / 16A), 104 shots, and 74 hits in 51 games and will likely be a fixture in the Predators middle-six down the stretch.
Thompson was a late scratch for Thursday's game with the team not announcing his absence until less than an hour before puck drop. The Sabres added that he is day-to-day with the injury. His first chance to return to the lineup will be for Saturday's game against the Oilers.
Johnson will take a seat on Thursday in order to make room for new arrival Bowen Byram. Johnson has no goals and seven assists in 41 games this season.
Byram was acquired from Colorado in a one-for-one deal for Casey Mittlestadt on Wednesday and will make his Sabres' debut on Thursday in Nashville. The 22-year-old offensive defenseman is expected to pair with Rasmus Dahlin out of the gate and will hope to add to his eight goals, 20 points, 40 PIMs and 63 SOG through 40 games played this season.
Zucker and Matthew Dumba will both be held out of the Coyotes' lineup in anticipation of a deal before Friday's trade deadline. Zucker has 24 points (9G / 16A), 104 shots, and 74 hits in 51 games this season.
The Sabres blueline will be a treat for years to come after acquiring Byram on Wednesday, adding to an already talented core of Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. Byram was having a down year offensively with the Avalanche, with 20 points (8G / 12A) in 55 games this season.
Lyon has lost two straight but will return to the crease on Wednesday for the Red Wings. The 31-year-old Lyon has allowed four goals in two straight (0-2-0), but was sensational against the Colorado Avalanche on February 22nd, saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime victory. That said, the Red Wings enter action as +172 underdogs on the road in Colorado.
Byram has 20 points (8G / 12A) in 55 games this season but has been limited to only one assist in his last seven games. Recently, he has played on the third defensive pairing alongside Jack Johnson.
The Sabres will turn to Luukkonen between the pipes on Wednesday for a season-high ninth straight start. Luukkonen last played on Sunday, allowing three goals on 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 5-2 losing effort against the Winnipeg Jets. The Sabres enter action as +153 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs squad they handily defeated 9-3 in December.
Arizona will protect their trade asset in Jason Zucker by healthy scratching him for Tuesday's matchup for trade-related purposes. With Friday's Trade Deadline looming, Zucker's first and only season in Arizona may be coming to an end as he likely closes it out with nine goals, 25 points, 104 SOG, 58 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 51 games played.
Timmins has missed the last 15 games but should return to the Maple Leafs roster imminently after making a full recovery from mono. Timmins last played on January 24th and has six points (1G / 5A) in 16 games this season.
Lyon will get the chance to redeem himself after a poor showing in his last outing. On Thursday, Lyon allowed four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders, snapping his four-game winning streak where he allowed only eight total goals. He will face off against the Florida Panthers, the team he made a name for himself with last season, and saved 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) against in a 3-2 victory on January 17th.
Norris collided with the net in the second period and exited Tuesday's contest with an upper-body injury after playing only 6:03 time-on-ice. Norris, who missed most of the previous two seasons with a shoulder injury, received imagining and has been ruled out for the foreseeable future. Zack MacEwen was recalled from Belleville (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Luukkonen will continue his reign over the Sabres' crease on Thursday, starting for the seventh straight time. He has allowed fewer than three goals in five of his last seven games while posting a dazzling .932 SV%. The Sabres are +135 road underdogs on Thursday against a Tampa Bay Lightning club that has struggled to keep the puck out of their net lately, allowing four or more goals in three of their last six games (2-4-0).
Norris collided with the net in the second period and exited Tuesday's contest with an upper-body injury after playing only 6:03 time-on-ice. Norris, who missed most of the previous two seasons with a shoulder injury, received imagining and has been ruled out for the foreseeable future.
