Nylander, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner were all absent from practice on Wednesday due to an illness. They will be reevaluated ahead of Thursday's contest against the Philadelphia Flyers. Nylander has five points (3G / 2A) in his last four games.
Rielly received an in-person hearing for his impending suspension, meaning he could have potentially been suspended for six or more games, but the Department of NHL Player Safety has settled on five. Because it is less than a six-game suspension, Rielly's only option to appeal will be directly to Commissioner Gary Bettman. It remains to be seen whether or not the Leafs' defenseman will choose to do so.
Tavares and Mitch Marner were both announced as late scratches for Tuesday's game against the Blues due to illness. The Leafs will have their hands full on Tuesday, as they are already without Morgan Rielly due to his impending suspension.
MacEwen was placed on waivers on Monday but cleared and was reassigned to Belleville (AHL) on Tuesday. The 27-year-old signed a three-year contract with the Senators in the offseason but has failed to impress with only two goals, one assist, 16 SOG, and 46 PIMs in 22 games so far this season. He heads back to the AHL for the first time since 2022-23 where he appeared in three games with Lehigh Valley (AHL).
With the Panthers starting their first leg of a back-to-back Wednesday in Pittsburgh, Sergei Bobrovsky will take the crease for his third-straight start. The 35-year-old Vezina Trophy winner has been lights out when called upon in his fifth season with Florida, with his 25-10-2 record, 2.43 GAA, and .913 SV%. He heads to Pittsburgh to take on the struggling Penguins, who have lost five of their last seven games and are currently 24th in the NHL in goals per game (2.9) despite being fifth in SOG/GP (33.3).
MacEwen has been a healthy scratch for five straight games, last playing on January 23rd, and has been placed on waivers. The hard-nosed forward has three points (2G / 1A) and 38 hits while averaging 6:23 time-on-ice through 22 games this season.
After participating in the All-Star festivities over the weekend, the Panthers opted to give Bobrovsky the night off in their return to action on Tuesday, a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Bobrovsky will return to the crease on Thursday, looking to build off his last two performances (2-0-0), in which he saved 66 of 70 shots (.943 SV%). The Panthers are significant -270 home favourites against a Washington Capitals club riding a five-game losing streak (0-4-1).
Lettieri suffered a lower-body injury on December 30th and has been out of the lineup since. He has been on the injured reserve for 15 games and will likely return to the lineup on Wednesday. In 19 games with Minnesota, Lettieri has four points (3G / 1A), 26 shots, and 21 hits.
Stolarz, who started the last game before the All-Star break, will start again for the Panthers in their return to the ice on Tuesday. Stolarz has been tremendous lately, winning two straight and allowing three total goals while saving 47 of 50 shots (.940 SV%). The Panthers, winners of four straight, are sizeable -204 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers club that has dropped five straight (0-5-0).
A solid campaign with the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL has earned Brisson his second call-up of the season. In 39 games with Henderson, the 29th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft 26 points (12G / 14A).
Columbus will continue to swap their goalies game by game as Merzlikins takes the crease for the second time in three games Tuesday in St. Louis. The 29-year-old made it public knowledge earlier in the season that he would like to be traded but has remained with Columbus and carries a 8-10-7 record, 3.35 GAA and .901 SV%. He takes on the red-hot St. Louis Blues, who have surprisingly won four straight games by the score of 4-3 and are currently on a five game winning streak.
Roslovic was a healthy scratch on Sunday's game in Seattle but he will replace Adam Fantilli (lower-body) in the lineup on Tuesday. Roslovic has not scored a goal since October 26th, posting just four assists in his last 20 games.
Bobrovsky will return to the crease for the Panthers on Friday as they look to extend their two-game winning streak. In his last outing, Bobrovsky saved 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 6-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Before that, Bobrovsky lost three straight, allowing three or more goals in each, posting an ugly .846 SV%. The Panthers are -132 road favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins club riding a two-game losing streak.
Bobrovsky will return to the crease for the Panthers on Friday as they look to extend their two-game winning streak. In his last outing, Bobrovsky saved 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 6-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Before that, Bobrovsky lost three straight, allowing three or more goals in each, posting an ugly .846 SV%. The Panthers are -132 road favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins club riding a two-game losing streak.
