Head coach Pete DeBoer said that Vlasic will not play Saturday but did not give a reason why. Tonight’s matchup with the high-powered Lightning will be tough without Vlasic, Justin Braun or Radim Simek.
Klingberg has been out since November 8th but is set to return to the Stars lineup tomorrow. Klingberg has registered 13 points (5G / 8A) in 16 games with the Stars prior to getting hurt. Klingberg will be back on a pair with Esa Lindell and on the top power-play against the Blackhawks.
Klingberg is four weeks into what was originally a five-week timetable. It looks like Klingberg will be back a couple of days early as he appears to be on-pace to play Thursday. The 26-year-old was tied for sixth among defensemen in points with 13 (5G / 8A) in 15 games before getting hurt.
Thornton missed Wednesday’s practice and is questionable to play Thursday vs. the Stars. The Sharks are being vague on Thornton’s injury but the fact he is a game-time decision suggests that it is minor. Thornton has just 12 points (4G / 8A) in 23 games this season.
Nedeljkovic is expected to serve as Petr Mrazek’s backup on Friday with Curtis McElhinney out with an undisclosed injury. Nedeljkovic, was a second-round pick in 2014, and has performed well in the AHL this season. The 22-year-old is 12-4-0 with a 2.94 GAA and .890 SV% in 18 games with the Checkers.
White missed Friday’s game in Dallas with an undisclosed injury but will return to the Senators lineup on Monday. White has enjoyed a quality season, picking up seven goals and six assists (13 points) in 22 games. White will skate on the second line with Brady Tkachuk and Mark Stone.
Klingberg underwent surgery on his hand last Friday and will miss at least five weeks. Klingberg’s original timetable was “one month,” but head coach Jim Montgomery said he would “take that deal” if Klingberg was out for six weeks. This puts Klingberg on-pace to return in late-December/early-January which will give Miro Heiskanen an extended run on the Stars top-pairing and top power-play unit.
Couture was hurt late in Sunday’s win over the Flames and will be a game-time decision for Tuesday’s game vs. Nashville. Couture centred Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl in the morning skate, suggesting that he’ll be good-to-go tonight.
After Thursday’s game, the Stars announced that Klingberg would miss at least three weeks. However, Klingberg underwent surgery on Friday morning and the initial timetable suggests that he will miss at least the next four weeks.
Klingberg suffered an upper-body injury last night and the Stars announced that he will miss at least three weeks. His movement to IR opened up a roster spot to call-up Joel Hanley from the AHL.
Klingberg was forced to leave Thursday’s game with an upper-body injury that he suffered while blocking a shot. The Stars immediately announced that he will miss at least three weeks, which is a huge blow. Miro Heiskanen gets a massive bump in fantasy value as he takes over as their primary power-play defenseman.
Thornton has been sidelined by a knee infection since October 5th, but will play tonight vs. the Rangers. Thornton will centre the Sharks’ top line with Timo Meier and Joe Pavelski on his wings. He picked up a single assist in two games this season.
Gaudette was a healthy scratch on Saturday, but was on the second power-play unit in Sunday’s practice. That kind of participation suggests that Gaudette will be back in the lineup vs. the Wild. Gaudette will likely play in the bottom-6 now that Elias Pettersson is back in and re-enters the lineup with just one assist in six games.
Gaudette played five games with the Canucks last season after turning pro following his Junior year at Northeastern University. The 2015 fifth round pick led Northeastern with 60 points (30G / 30A) in 38 games and has had a nice start to his AHL career, amassing four points (2G / 2A) in four games. The 22-year-old will likely make his season debut in Pittsburgh on Tuesday with Vancouver losing two centres (Elias Pettersson and Jay Beagle) in Florida on Saturday.
Thornton’s injury is not structural but rather an infection in his knee. This should come as a relief for Thornton owners, as the veteran will be put on antibiotics and hopefully make a quick recovery. Joe Pavelski will shift to centre and Melker Karlsson will be bumped to the top-line for the time being.
Svechnikov was banged in the Red Wings’ preseason game on Saturday and it looks like it will cost him a spot in the opening night roster. The power-forward was on the bubble, but will likely make his season debut in Grand Rapids (AHL) as soon as he is healthy.
