Valimaki will draw into the lineup on Monday in favour of Troy Stecher, who will be a healthy scratch. Valimaki has been out of the lineup for the last six games and has only six points (0G / 6A) in 30 games, a substantial decline from the 34 points (4G / 30A) he had in 78 games last season.
Svechnikov was a late scratch for Sunday's game, with the team only announcing his absence after warmups began. His first chance to return to the lineup will be on Wednesday when the Hurricanes travel to Boston.
Deslauriers will get the chance to play on Sunday in place of the injured Owen Tippett (lower-body). Deslauriers is yet to register a goal and has just three assists in 42 games this season.
Reilly will be the odd-man out on Friday as Samuel Bolduc enters the lineup in his place. Reilly has three goals and six assists in 26 games this season.
The Hurricanes claimed Spencer Martin off of waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, allowing the Hurricanes to ease Kochetkov slow back into the lineup as he recovers from a concussion. Kochetkov has skated at practice the last couple of days, indicating that his return to the lineup is on the horizon despite being placed on the injured reserve.
With the return of both Sean Couturier (undisclosed) and Jamie Drsdale (illness), Deslauriers finds himself the odd man out of the Flyers' lineup Thursday vs. Dallas. The 32-year-old bruiser has yet to find the back of the net this season, but has three assists, 40 SOG, 46 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus in 42 games.
After defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-2 yesterday, the Canadiens will turn to Primeau between the pipes on the back end of a back-to-back. Primeau has played only one game this month, a stellar performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Philadelphia Flyers when he allowed two goals on 39 shots (.949 SV%). The Canadiens are +159 road underdogs against a rested Ottawa Senators team that has lost six of their last seven (1-6-0).
Antti Raanta has been serviceable filling in for Kochetkov over the last two games, but the Hurricanes will be eager to get him back in the crease, and his presence at practice the last two days is a promising sign that he should be ready to return shortly. The Hurricanes' next game is on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Bussi was recalled last week after Linus Ullmark suffered a lower-body injury, but his reassignment to Providence (AHL) indicates that Ullmark is likely ready to make his return to the Bruins.
If Ehlers is unable to play against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, it will be a crushing blow for a team already without Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, putting their eight-game winning streak at risk. After starting the season with only 11 points (6G / 5A) in his first 22 games, Ehlers has flipped a switch, scoring 22 points (9G / 13A) in 19 games, partly coinciding with increased playing time due to Connor's absence from the lineup.
Perets was recalled on Friday as Pyotr Kochetkov is in concussion protocol and remains out of the lineup indefinitely after exiting Thursday's contest against the Anaheim Ducks. Perets, who has a .906 SV% and 2.62 GAA in 15 games with the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL, will likely serve as the backup to Antti Raanta while Kochetkov is out of the lineup.
Kochetkov was replaced by Antti Raanta late in Thursday's victory over the Anaheim Ducks and needed to be assisted off the ice. The Hurricanes net likely belongs to Raanta in the interim while we wait for a more definitive timeline for Kochetkov's return to the lineup.
Deslauries was a scratch in the last game after playing in three straight games for the Flyers but will return to the lineup on Friday. In his last outing, he played 7:43 time-on-ice, recorded three hits, and two shots on goal while playing on a line with Garnet Hathaway and Ryan Poehling.
Kochetkov suffered the injury late in the second period and had to be helped off the ice. He was replaced by Antti Raanta. We should expect to receive an update on Kochetkov's injury and a possible timeline for his return to the crease following the completion of Thursday's game.
A well-rested Kochetkov, who has not played since January 5th, will return to the crease on Thursday in search of his fifth straight victory. The 24-year-old Kochetkov has been tremendous during his four-game winning streak, allowing two or fewer goals in each contest, posting a terrific .936 SV%. Kochetkov and the Hurricanes have a favourable matchup as -335 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks squad that snapped a five-game losing streak in their most recent contest, a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators.
A well-rested Kochetkov, who has not played since January 5th, will likely return to the crease on Thursday in search of his fifth straight victory. The 24-year-old Kochetkov has been tremendous during his four-game winning streak, allowing two or fewer goals in each contest, posting a terrific .936 SV%. Kochetkov and the Hurricanes have a favourable matchup as -335 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks squad that snapped a five-game losing streak in their most recent contest, a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators.
Bussi has been recalled from the Providence Bruins of the AHL, indicating that Linus Ullmark will be unavailable after exiting Tuesday's game in overtime with a lower-body injury. Jeremy Swayman is expected to take the reigns in the crease, while Bussi will serve as his backup. In 20 games with Providence (10-6-3), Bussi has a 2.97 GAA and .901 SV%.
Carrier did not play the last game for the Golden Knights, has only played two of the last six, and has been placed on IR with an upper-body injury. Carrier has been held off the scoresheet in his last three games while registering three shots and four hits.
