Nichushkin has missed the last six games with groin/hip injuries, but was back on the ice this morning. Despite returning to practice, Nichushkin skated on the Stars 'fifth-line' which suggests he is nearing a return, but it will not be on Tuesday vs. St. Louis. After tomorrow, Dallas is off until Friday, that seems like a more realistic return date.
Nichushkin continues to improve but he will miss the Stars' back-to-back games vs. the Devils and Islanders on Friday and Saturday. Monitor Nichushkin's status leading up to Tuesday's game vs. the Blues.
Nichushkin will miss his fourth straight game tonight, but returning to practice tomorrow would be a positive step in his return to the lineup. He could be back in one of the Stars' back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday.
Nichushkin has missed the last three games with groin and hip issues. He is expected to miss another week as he rests his nagging injuries. He is eligible to return whenever he is healthy.
Nichushkin, 19, has been dealing with the nagging injury for about six weeks and it has not improved, so the Stars will shut him down for "about a week" and let it heal. With Nichushkin out, Colton Sceviour got a chance on the Stars top line on Tuesday and produced one assist, three shots and a plus-3 rating. The Stars believe there is a seven to 10 day window before Nichushkin rejoins the team for practice.
Nichushkin is battling a nagging groin/hip injury that will keep him out of tonight's game. He is back in Frisco, Texas getting tested so an update on how long he will be out should be coming soon. Colton Sceviour will play on the Stars top line with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.
Nichushkin was replaced by Cody Eakin on the Stars top line in practice and could miss tomorrow's game with and groin and hip ailment that has been bothering him since training camp. Monitor Nichushkin's status during Tuesday's morning skate.
Nichushkin had been feeling under the weather the last few days which prompted the Stars to have him practice on the fourth line with Colton Sceviour taking his spot on the top-line. Nichushkin was shifted back to the right wing with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin and should be there for the season opener tomorrow. He has a ton of size and skill and two awesome linemates, all things point towards a huge year for Nichushkin.
Burns put up good numbers in his first full NHL season as a forward, scoring 48 points in 69 games (22G / 26A). He was, however, a streaky player, at one point going 19 games between goals and adding just two goals and one assist in seven playoff games while playing on Joe Thornton’s wing. “That size, the strength, the shot – you just saw Montreal with a guy that’s a bit of a wild stallion go and make plays,” GM Doug Wilson said, referring to P.K Subban. “Burnzie, to us, is that type of ingredient that we need, so that will be taking place.”
Mackinnon did end up returning to the game so he was probably to play Game 5 today anyways.
MacKinnon's current 12-game point streak broke Wayne Gretzky's record for longest point-streak in NHL history for an 18-year-old. Over the 12-game streak he has five goals and 12 assists (17 points) as he continues to pace all rookies with 51 points (22G / 29A) in 63 games, which is 12 more than second place Tyler Johnson (39).
MacKinnon's return to practice this afternoon suggests that he will be in the lineup on Wednesday vs. Los Angeles. To be safe, Monitor his status following Wednesday's morning skate. In weekly leagues, it appears as if he should be safe to deploy.
In line rushes at Monday's practice, Nichushkin skated as an extra. With a team stacked with polished NHL and KHL veterans it is not surprising to see the 18-year-old sit on the big stage. He could see some action as the tournament progresses, but don't expect to see him on Thursday vs. Slovenia.
“Val is going back in,” Lindy Ruff said. “This was to recharge Val and get him going again. It’s hard, because we miss him when he’s out of the lineup, we miss the Val that had lots of energy and skated well. It’s hard to say an 18-year-old is a big part of our team, but he’s a big part of our team, and when he’s going well, we’re a better team.” Those are pretty complimentary words for Nichushkin, who has 22 points (9G / 13A) in 46 games. There is no word on how the Stars lines will shake out, but we guess that coach Ruff goes back to his old lines, which will see Nichushkin skating with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn.
Kadri has been moved to the top-line in practice because Tyler Bozak is not on the ice after suffering a lower-body injury versus San Jose on Tuesday. Should Bozak miss an extended period of time, Kadri will likely get a look on the top-line with James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel - something that will certainly boost his fantasy value, because he not be great alongside David Clarkson so far.
Kadri is only expected to miss tonight's game but should be back in the lineup on Thursday.
Nelson continues to shuffle in and out of the Islanders lineup. He played 13:41 and was a minus-1 with three shots on goal vs. the Red Wings last night.
Still, the Sharks improved to 8-0-1 this season with Burns in the lineup. Burns has faced the Devils (tonight's opponent) just four times in his career, with one goal and one assist.
Nelson goes from the first line to a healthy scratch in an instant with Thomas Vanek returning from a lower-body injury and Michael Grabner getting back in the lineup. "Brock has played extremely well and the other guys have seen that. You have to make tough decisions," Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said.
Burns has been scratched for the last 13 games, after taking a series of high hits that included a whack in the face from Ottawa goaltender Robyn Lehner on Oct. 12. He had four goals and four assists in his first eight games on a line with Thornton and Tomas Hertl, with seven of his eight points coming at even strength.
