Stafford (personal) did not participate in the Sabres morning skate.
Stafford missed Tuesday’s game to be with his wife for the birth of their child. His absence this morning doesn’t necessarily rule him out for tonight, but it isn’t a good sign.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Enroth gets the call in goal for the Sabres.
Enroth allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Sabres loss to the Devils on Tuesday. Enroth has gone 1-4-1 with a 3.68 GAA and .882 SV% in his last six starts and one relief appearance. He will make his second start of the year vs. Carolina—he made 22 saves in a 4-3 shootout win vs. the Canes in October.
Goalie Start
Elliott starts in goal for the Blues.
Elliott stopped all 23 shots that he faced in the Blues blowout 6-0 win over the Coyotes on Tuesday. Since returning from his knee injury, he is 2-1-0 with a 1.69 GAA and .944 SV%. The 29-year-old will face the Sharks for the second time in under a week—he made 18 saves in a 7-2 win on Saturday.
Waiver Move
The Wild have placed Stu Bickel on waivers.
Bickel has one assist and 46 PIMS in nine games with the Wild this season. He is unlikely to be claimed, so he will head to Iowa (AHL).
Call up / Send down
The Wild have recalled Jordan Schroeder from Iowa (AHL).
Schroeder, 24, has registered 10 goals and 14 assists (24 points) in 28 games with Iowa this season. Tonight he is expected to skate on an all University of Minnesota line with Thomas Vanek and Erik Haula.
Call up / Send down
The Wild have recalled Jon Blum from Iowa (AHL).
With Marco Scandella out, the Wild have promoted 25-year-old blue liner Jon Blum. He has 16 points (4G / 12A) in 29 games with Iowa this season. He is expected to play in his second game of the season with the Wild tonight.
The Wild have placed Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) on IR.
Kuemper suffered an injury in practice on Wednesday and has been placed on IR. His designation on IR means that he will miss at least the next four games (including tonight). Niklas Backstrom will serve as the Wild’s number-1 with John Curry as his backup.
Liles (illness) will be back in the Hurricanes lineup on Thursday.
Liles has missed the last five games with an illness, but will replace Brett Bellemore tonight vs.the Sabres. He will play alongside Ron Hainsey.
Semin (upper-body) will return to the Hurricanes lineup on Thursday.
Semin missed the last seven games, but will be back on a line with Jeff Skinner and Riley Nash, a line that coach Bill Peters hopes can produce some secondary scoring.
The Predators have placed Eric Nystrom (undisclosed) on injured reserve.
There is no word on the nature or severity of Nystrom’s injury, but he must have suffered it on Tuesday vs. the Hurricanes. He will miss at least the next two games.
Call up / Send down
The Predators have recalled Miikka Salomaki from Milwaukee (AHL).
Salomaki, 21, has 16 points (5G / 11A) and 26 penalty minutes in 29 games for the Admirals this season, in addition to ranking among the AHL’s Top 10 forwards in plus/minus rating (+13).
The Predators have placed James Neal (lower-body) on IR.
Neal’s placement on IR means that he will miss his fourth consecutive game with a lower-body injury. There is no word on how many games past today that Neal will miss. Monitor his status prior to Saturday’s game in Minnesota.
Goalie Start
Mason will start for the Flyers.
Mason stopped 41 of 42 shots and four of five shootout attempts in the Flyers 2-1 shootout win over the Senators on Tuesday. The win snapped a five-game losing streak and was his first since December 13th. Tonight he will start with the Flyers hosting the Capitals—he is 6-4-2 at Wells Fargo Center.
Line Change
Schenn in; MacDonald out.
Schenn has served as a healthy scratch in three of the last four games, but he will be back in tonight for Andrew MacDonald. He will be paired with Michael Del Zotto. Schenn has one goal, two assists and a minus-8 rating in 30 games.
Call up / Send down
The Maple Leafs have recalled Troy Bodie from Toronto (AHL).
Bodie, 29, has seven points (5G / 2A) with 34 PIMS in 32 games with the Marlies this season. He had three goals, seven assists and 26 PIMS in 47 games with the Maple Leafs last season.
Call up / Send down
The Maple Leafs have sent Greg McKegg back to Toronto (AHL).
McKegg averaged 7:49 TOI and had one shot in two games during his recall. The 22-year-old forward returns to the Marlies where he has 15 points (7G / 8A) in 23 games.
Semin (upper-body) is expected to play on Thursday.
Semin has missed the last seven games with an upper-body injury, but it looks like he will return tonight vs. the Sabres. He has struggled this year, posting just six points (1G / 5A) in 22 games this season.
Goalie Start
Ward will start in goal vs. Buffalo.
Ward allowed three goals on 26 shots in the Hurricanes 3-2 loss to the Predators on Tuesday. Despite posting a 2.10 GAA and .925 SV%, Ward is 3-8-1 in his last 12 starts. He draws a great matchup tonight at home vs. the Sabres--Ward is 7-5-2 with a 1.92 GAA and .927 SV% at home this year.
Ramo (undisclosed) left Wednesday’s game and did not return.
Ramo left the game after following a collision with teammate Raphael Diaz. With Ramo out, Jonas Hiller manned the crease. Joni Ortio is not on the ice with Adirondack (AHL) this morning, so the belief is that he has been recalled, which is obviously not a good sign for Ramo’s health.
Goalie Start
The Capitals will not have a morning skate because of the back-to-back set. Coach Barry Trotz will address the media at 5 PM ET, he might announce the starter then.
