Zuccarello missed the Rangers two-game road-trip and will miss his third straight game tonight. This leaves the Rangers without Zuccarello and Pavel Buchnevich on the right-side. Filip Chytil could move up the Rangers’ lineup for the time being.
Zuccarello left Tuesday’s game vs. the Canadiens early, playing just 14:53 TOI in the win. Zuccarello is day-to-day and is very likely to miss Friday’s game in Detroit and Saturday’s game in Columbus.
Aube-Kubel was recalled to provide a spark to the Flyers’ bottom-6 after they’ve lost three in a row. Aube-Kubel had seven points (3G / 4A) in eight games with Lehigh Valley (AHL) prior to his call-up and will make his NHL debut tonight.
Johansson missed Saturday’s game vs. the Panthers but will draw back in tonight in Tampa Bay. Johansson, who will skate on a line with Pavel Zacha and Jean-Sebastian Dea, has just one goal and one assist in seven games this season.
Johansson missed Friday’s practice with an illness and will not play this afternoon. Joey Anderson has been recalled from the AHL and will make his NHL debut. Johansson should be ready to return next Tuesday in Tampa Bay.
Johansson missed Friday’s practice with an illness, but head coach John Hynes is hopeful that he will be available to play vs. the Panthers. If Johansson can’t play, the Devils will need to recall a forward.
Eriksson Ek will not play on Saturday and will likely miss all of next week with a lower-body injury. Charlie Coyle will play centre and J.T. Brown will play on the third line while Eriksson Ek is out.
Eriksson Ek missed Friday’s practice with “soreness” and is considered a game-time decision for Saturday’s game vs. the Hurricanes. If Eriksson Ek does not play, look for Charlie Coyle to move to centre and for J.T. Brown to play on the right wing of that third line.
Hartman was moved to IR retroactively to September 21, so he is eligible to come off of IR for tonight’s season opener. Hartman had 11 goals and 20 assists (31 points) in 78 games between the Blackhawks and Predators last year and will start the season on Nashville’s fourth line.
Bogosian will be evaluated later today, but head coach Phil Housley called him day-to-day for now. Bogosian has had terrible luck with injuries during his career, so this comes as no surprise. Bogosian could miss the start of the season, which starts next Thursday.
Hinostroza, 24, is a Chicago native who was drafted in the sixth round in 2012 and set career-highs in games (50), goals (7), assists (18) and points (25) with the Blackhawks last season. He also spent some time in Rockford (AHL) where he was near a point-per-game with 22 points (9G / 13A) in 23 games. Hinostroza projects to be a middle-6 forward to start the 2019 season.
Spurgeon has been sidelined since March 13th with a hamstring tear, but it looks like he will be ready to go for Game 1 in Winnipeg. Spuregon skated next to Carson Soucy on the second pairing and it looks like he’ll play despite maybe not being 100 percent. Spurgeon’s return is huge with Ryan Suter (ankle) on the shelf and comes in with 37 points (9G / 28A) in 61 games this season.
