Zaitsev has been battling an illness and will miss his second straight game on Wednesday. However, Zaitsev was able to get on the ice for the first time in five days, which suggests that he could be ready for tomorrow’s game in Buffalo.
Dermott missed Tuesday’s practice but says he will play tonight vs. the Stars after getting over a head cold. Dermott has picked up just one assist over his last nine games though.
Methot was forced to leave Tuesday’s loss in Montreal with an upper-body injury and is not expected to play in Toronto on Wednesday. It has been a brutal season for Methot in terms of injuries, so look for the Stars to be patient to make sure he’s ready for the playoffs. Julius Honka will likely replace him in the lineup against the Maple Leafs.
Heatherington has one assist in five games with the Stars this season but has spent most of the season in Texas, where he has picked up 17 points (3G / 14A) across 52 contests. Marc Methot was hurt on Tuesday, so Julius Honka will likely draw into the lineup on Tuesday, leaving Heatherington as the Stars seventh defenseman.
DeAngelo was forced to leave Monday’s game vs. the Hurricanes with what ended up being a sprained ankle. DeAngelo’s 3-4 week timetable effectively ends his 2017-18 season with eight assists and a minus-18 rating in 32 games. Ryan Sproul was recalled from Hartford (AHL) and he is expected to replace DeAngelo on Wednesday.
Weber has been out since mid-December and his season officially ended on Tuesday as he underwent surgery to repair tendons in his left foot. Weber’s six-month timetable should allow him to join the Canadiens for training camp next season, as long as his rehab goes well.
Jarnkrok came out of the Predators lineup on Saturday, but will draw back in for Scott Hartnell on Tuesday. Jarnkrok has picked up 16 goals and 19 assists (35 points) in 67 games this season.
Rinne allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Predators win over the Ducks last Thursday. With Juuse Saros starting on Saturday, Rinne comes into Tuesday well rested and one a personal eight-game winning streak—he has posted a 1.88 GAA, .942 SV% and two shutouts over that stretch. He is a must-start regardless of matchup.
Frederic, 20, was a first round pick (No.29 overall) in 2016 and leaves the University of Wisconsin after his sophomore season. Frederic picked up 32 points (17G / 15A) in 36 games, one point shy of his freshman total.
Marchand missed Sunday’s game against the Blackhawks but he will draw back into the lineup tonight. Marchand should be active in all formats, especially against Cam Ward and the Hurricanes who are in the second game of a back-to-back.
Rask allowed four goals on 27 shots in the Bruins win over the Blackhawks on Saturday. Anton Khudobin started on Sunday, so the Bruins will come back to Rask tonight in Carolina. Rask has won four consecutive starts while posting a 3.24 GAA and .890 SV%—he is a must-start against a Hurricanes team on the tail-end of back-to-back.
Dahlbeck was in the lineup for the last two games, but will be replaced by Haydn Fleury tonight vs. the Bruins. Dahlbeck has regularly served as the Hurricanes’ seventh defenseman and that role doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.
Fleury was a healthy scratch for the last two games but he will replace Klas Dahlbeck in the second game of a back-to-back tonight vs. the Bruins. Fleury, who put up decent offensive numbers in the WHL and AHL certainly hasn’t done so at the NHL level yet. In his first 54 career games (all this season) the 21-year-old has just six assists.
Ward was pulled after he allowed four goals on 13 shots in the Hurricanes loss in Minnesota last Tuesday. Ward has gone 2-2-0 with a 2.70 GAA and .893 SV% in his last four starts and tonight he faces the Bruins for the second time this season—he was yanked after allowing two goals on two shots in a 7-1 loss in Boston back in early-January.
Talbot allowed one goal on 33 shots in the Oilers win over the Wild on Saturday. Talbot has won three in a row while turning aside 94 of 99 shots (.950 SV%). Tonight he faces the Flames for the third time this season—he is 2-0-0 with a 1.44 GAA and .953 SV% in the first two meetings of the season.
