Schmidt has occasionally come out of the lineup in favour of Taylor Chorney this season and tonight will be one of those nights. Schmidt has 14 points (1G / 13A) in 51 games this season and will likely draw back into the lineup on Friday.
Tanev appeared in the last three games with the Jets, but will head down to Manitoba during the Jets’ bye week. Tanev has one goal and four assists (five points) in 10 games with the Moose.
Maatta played just 7:38 before leaving last night’s game with a hand injury. The Penguins quickly announced that he underwent surgery and will likely miss the remainder of the regular season. Expect the Penguins to place him on LTIR to create a roster spot and earn some cap relief ahead of the 2017 trade deadline.
Crouse is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and is not in Calgary with the team. Crouse will not play Tuesday either, but will be evaluated over the next few days and could join the team in Los Angeles on Thursday. Crouse will be replaced by Josh Jooris in the lineup tonight.
Tanev has been a healthy scratch for the last two games and with Drew Stafford set to return to the lineup on Tuesday, Taven has been sent to Manitoba, where he has three points (1G / 2A) in six games this season.
Tanev has not been in the lineup since December 20th, but he will replace Drew Stafford (lower-body) tonight vs. Ducks. The 25-year-old winger has two goals and two assists (four points) in 35 games this season.
O’Brien played just 6:08 TOI in his season debut on Monday, but it looks like T.J. Oshie is ready to play on Wednesday, so O’Brien returns to Hershey.
With Patrik Laine out, Tanev has been recalled and could draw into the lineup on Monday. Since being sent down in late-December, Tanev scored one goal with two assists (three points) in six games with Manitoba. Tanev or Chris Thorburn will play in place of Laine.
O’Brien, 22, appeared in 13 games with the Capitals last season, but he is set to make his season debut on Monday. O’Brien has five goals and 13 assists (18 points) in 28 games with Hershey this season and comes to the Capitals with one goal and one assist in his NHL career. T.J. Oshie is doubtful to play tonight, which is why O’Brien was recalled.
Maatta missed the last two games with an illness, but is set to return to the lineup tomorrow vs. the Canadiens. Once heralded as one of the next great young defenseman, Maatta has struggled to produce offensively, picking up just two assists in 35 games this season.
Maatta did not travel to New Jersey for Tuesday's game and will also miss tonight's game at home vs. the Hurricanes. The Penguins will get Trevor Daley back to replace Brian Dumoulin, who broke his jaw last night. Maatta is considered day-to-day.
Tanev, 24, has two goals and two assists (four points) in 35 games with the Jets this season. With the Jets getting healthier, Tanev has been a healthy scratch of the last two games and will head down to Manitoba.
The Penguins have a quick one-game trip to New Jersey tonight and left Olli Maatta back in Pittsburgh because he is dealing with an illness. With Maatta out, Chad Ruhwedel will draw into the Penguins lineup vs. the Devils.
Schmaltz has four points (1G / 3A) in 26 games with the Blackhawks this season and has not made the offensive impact the Blackhawks were expecting when he made the opening night roster. His return to the AHL suggests that Jonathan Toews could be ready to play, but that seems unlikely. It’s more likely that Jordin Tootoo will simply re-enter the lineup after sitting as a healthy scratch.
Crouse took part in the Coyotes’ morning skate but remains a game-time decision for tonight’s game vs. the Sharks. Crouse has just one goal in 13 games this season.
Sergachev was the ninth overall pick this past summer and he made the team out of training camp. He was a healthy scratch most of the time and failed to record a point in the three games he did play in. Sergachev returns to Windsor, who will host this year’s Memorial Cup—he had 57 points (17G / 40A) in 67 games with the Spitfires last year.
Connauton missed the Coyotes’ season opener with a lower-body injury, but will replace rookie Jakob Chychrun in the lineup on Tuesday. Connauton had 17 points (5G / 12A) in 65 games a season ago.
Sergachev made his NHL debut on Thursday, blocking two shots in 11:48 of ice time. With Jeff Petry (knee) expected to return to the lineup on Saturday, it looks like it will be the rookie Sergachev who will sit. If he can’t work his way back into the lineup, look for the Canadiens to send him back to the Windsor Spitfires (OHL).
Connauton is dealing with what is believed to be a knee injury. He returned to practice recently, but no decision has been made on his availability for the season opener. Connauton is expected to play on the left side of the Coyotes’ third pairing.
Schmidt suffered a lower-body injury on Sunday and was held out of a scrimmage on Monday. Schmidt is day-to-day, but doesn’t appear to be in any danger of missing any regular season time.
