Robinson had no points in three games with the Blue Jackets and returns to Cleveland where he has 10 goals and nine assists (19 points) in 33 games. Kevin Stenlund comes up to replace him on the roster.
Berube came up for one game to backup Joonas Korpisalo while Sergei Bobrovsky was away from the team. He returns to the AHL where he has gone 11-10-0 with a 2.94 GAA and .899 SV% in 24 games.
Andersen was originally expected to return from a five-game absence due to a groin injury but will not be available tonight because of the flu. With Andersen still sidelined, Michael Hutchinson will make his fifth consecutive start.
The undrafted 27-year-old netminder has gone 12-7-4 with a 2.47 GAA and .924 SV% in 26 games with the Penguins this season. DeSmith has played very well while Matt Murray was sidelined and proved that he is a more than capable No.2 netminder who can serve as a No.1 when called upon.
McElhinney allowed three goals on 31 shots in the Hurricanes win against the Islanders on Tuesday. McElhinney has won three straight, stopping 72 of the 78 shots (.923 SV%) that he faced. The 35-year-old has not faced the Sabres this season but has gone 6-2-1 with a 2.01 GAA and .930 SV% at PNC Arena.
Myers was banged up in Minnesota on Thursday and will be replaced by Sami Niku on the Jets’ blue line on Friday. Myers is day-to-day, so he could be back Sunday against the Ducks.
Eichel has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury but will be back Friday in Carolina. Eichel has enjoyed a quality campaign, collecting 15 goals and 34 assists (49 points) in 40 games.
Gibson surrendered two goals on 30 shots in the Ducks overtime loss to the Senators on Wednesday. Gibson has not registered a win since December 17th, going 0-4-3 with a 3.00 GAA and .908 SV% in his last eight starts. That last win came against the Penguins, who he faces again tonight—he stopped 28 of 30 shots in the 4-2 win in his hometown.
Bernier surrenders five gaols on 42 shots in the Red Wings 5-1 loss in Dallas on December 29th. It was the second straight game in which Bernier gave up five goals. The 30-year-old has gone 1-4-2 with a 3.82 GAA and .886 SV% in his last seven starts and is a very risky option in Winnipeg, where the Jets are 15-6-2.
Murray stopped 36 of 37 shots in the Penguins win over the Panthers on Tuesday. Murray can’t be beat right now. Since returning from his injury, Murray has gone 7-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA, .970 SV% and two shutouts in seven games. Over the course of the season, Murray has gone 7-0-1 with a 1.78 GAA, .948 SV% and two shutouts on the road.
