Ovechkin skipped this past weekend's All-Star festivities and will miss Monday's game in Montreal as a result. With Ovechkin suspended, Travis Boyd is expected to draw into the lineup but it remains to be seen who will move up to play with Nicklas Backstrom.
With the fourth line playing well according to head coach John Tortorella, Milano will be the one to come out of the lineup with Cam Atkinson returning to the lineup on Thursday.
Lindgren allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Canadiens loss in Detroit on January 7th. Since coming up from the AHL, Lindgren has lost both of his starts while allowing a combined six goals on 65 shots (.908 SV%). Tonight he'll take on a Blackhawks team that played last night but they've won five of their last six road games while averaging 4.17 goals for per game.
Carlsson has been a healthy scratch for the last five games and gets sent back to the AHL to make room for Andrew Peeke to be activated from IR. The 23-year-old blueliner has nine points (1G / 8A) in 28 AHL games.
Backstrom is in the final year of the 10-year deal that carried a $6.7M AAV cap-hit and gets an extension that carries him through the 2025 season. He is now the 22nd highest-paid player in the NHL heading into 2021. He has nine goals and 26 assists (35 points) in 39 games, putting him on-pace for 17 goals and 49 assists (66 points).
Sandin has been all over the place this season. He started the year in the NHL, posting two assists in six games, was then sent to the AHL and then loaned to Team Sweden for the World Juniors, where he had 10 points (3G / 7A) in seven games. Toronto is trying to sort some stuff out defensively, so it looks like they'll give the 19-year-old another look.
Strome was forced to leave Tuesday’s game with an ankle injury and will miss at least one game. He was not available for Wednesday’s practice and head coach Jeremy Colliton is unsure about a timeline but doesn’t expect it to be long-term.
Lindgren allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Canadiens loss in Carolina on New Year's Eve. It was a solid season debut for the 26-year-old. He faced the Red Wings in 2017, stopping 25 of 27 shots in a 3-2 win. Montreal has somehow lost their first two games vs. Detroit this season, so they'll lean on Lindgren tonight on the tail-end of a back-to-back to try and make that 1-2.
With Kukan undergoing knee surgery, Carlsson will be back in the Blue Jackets lineup on Saturday. Carlsson has no points and a minus-1 rating in five games this season.
Carlsson played in three straight games, averaging 10:34 TOI/gm but had no points and was a minus-2. He'll get replaced by Scott Harrington in Boston.
Columbus finally gets some good news on the injury front, with Milano returning from an eight-game absence. Milano, who has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 30 games this season, will replace Alexandre Texier (back) in the lineup in Boston.
Dowd is with his wife, who is in labour with their first child, and will not play vs. the Islanders this afternoon. Tom Wilson is expected to be back in the lineup this afternoon, replacing Dowd in the lineup--but Travis Boyd will centre the fourth line.
Oshie missed yesterday's morning skate and was listed as a game-time decision for this afternoon's game. Oshie has just one goal inn his last six games and will be in his usual spot with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana.
Carey Price has started seven straight games but has given up 11 goals in his last two games, so Lindgren will make his season debut in Carolina. The 26-year-old netminder was 7-6-2 with a 2.67 GAA and .893 SV% in 16 AHL games before being called up. He has previously suited up in 18 NHL games, going 8-8-2 with a 2.89 GAA and .912 SV%.
Carey Price has started seven straight games but has given up 11 goals in his last two games, so Lindgren will make his season debut in Carolina. The 26-year-old netminder was 7-6-2 with a 2.67 GAA and .893 SV% in 16 AHL games before being called up. He has previously suited up in 18 NHL games, going 8-8-2 with a 2.89 GAA and .912 SV%.
Oshie missed Monday's practice with an illness and may not be available for Tuesday's game vs. the Islanders. The Capitals have called him "day-to-day" and Richard Panik skated in his spot with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana on the Capitals' second-line.
Wilson was a late-scratch in Carolina on Saturday but was back on the top line in Monday's practice and should play against the Islanders on Tuesday. Wilson has been stuffing categories lately, posting six points (1G / 5A) with 10 shots and 32 PIMS in his last seven games.
van Riemsdyk has played in the last five games but will be replaced by Haydn Fleury tonight vs. the Capitals. van Riemsdyk has just three assists in 24 games this season.
Carlsson appeared in two games before the break but was a healthy scratch in their last game. Overall, he has no points in two NHL games but has accumulated nine points (1G / 8A) in 28 AHL contests.
Carlsson has scored one goal with eight assists (nine points) in 28 games with the Monsters this season. The former first-round pick (No.29 overall in 2015)has appeared in 17 career NHL games to-date and gets his first call-up of the season with Andrew Peeke (broken finger) going on IR.
