There were rumblings that Barkov could miss the rest of the 2016-17 season, but it seems like if he can avoid surgery he will return at some point this season. Barkov was having a great year, scoring nine goals with 18 assists (27 points) in 36 games and it appears as if he is still at least two weeks away from returning to the lineup.
Petrovic has been out since November 15th because of an ankle injury, but the 24-year-old is set to return to the lineup on Thursday. Petrovic scored one goal with four helpers in 16 games earlier in the season and should replace Jakub Kindl on the blueline.
Markstrom allowed two goals on 22 shots in the Canucks’ loss to the Devils on January 15th. Ryan Miller started the last three games, but Markstrom will go tonight in Colorado. Markstrom has gone 3-7-1 with a 2.48 GAA and .920 SV% on the road this season and he stopped 33 of 35 shots in a 3-2 shootout win in his first start vs. the Avalanche.
Kulikov has been out since December 27th, but returned to practice on Monday, which suggests that he could be back by the time the Sabres’ return from the All-Star break. Expect him to miss Tuesday and Thursday’s game before the break, but monitor his status as the week progresses just to be sure.
Bennett was a healthy scratch on Thursday, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Oilers. Bennett has been held off of the scoresheet for 10 games straight games and comes into tonight’s game with just 18 points (9G / 9A) in 47 games this season.
Bennett has not recorded a single point in 10 games and has just two goals in his last 16 games. The second-year forward has struggled to improve on last year’s pace and will come out of the lineup as a healthy scratch tonight. Michael Ferland (lower-body) will take his spot up-front.
Barkov is out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury and head coach Tom Rowe said that Barkov “is not close,” so expect him to be sidelined for at least a couple more weeks. Vincent Trocheck will continue to play huge minutes with Barkov out.
Gudas has had a mostly strong season, but has struggled recently, so he will sit tonight vs. the Canucks. Head coach Dave Hakstol said he is looking for more consistency out of Gudas. Nick Schultz will replace Gudas in the lineup.
Markstrom allowed two goals on 44 shots in the Canucks’ win in Edmonton on New Year’s Eve. Ryan Miller started the last three games, including a win last night, but Markstrom will start on the tail-end of the back-to-back. Markstrom has gone 2-1-0 while stopping 106 of 112 shots (.946 SV%)—but that loss came against the Flames, who he faces again tonight.
Forsling has been a healthy scratch in three of the last four games and played just 10:17 TOI last night. His return to the AHL suggests that Brian Campbell will get back into the lineup on Friday. Forsling has one goal and three assists (four points) in 32 games with Chicago.
Gudas is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Brandon Manning will be back in the Flyers’ lineup vs. the Sharks with Gudas sidelined.
Barkov left Wednesday’s game against the Maple Leafs with an undisclosed injury and missed Thursday’s contest vs. the Canadiens. The Panthers have moved him to IR and head coach Tom Rowe said that Barkov is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.
Kulikov has one assist in eight games since returning from a back injury, but will come out of the lineup tonight because of the same injury. Kulikov is listed as day-to-day and will be replaced by Cody Franson.
Barkov played 9:05 TOI before retiring to the dressing room in the Panthers’ shootout loss to the Maple Leafs. Panthers’ head coach Tom Rowe did not have an update on Barkov postgame, but he is considered questionable for Thursday’s game vs. the Canadiens. If he doesn’t play, expect Vincent Trocheck to play a significant role.
Markstrom stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Canucks’s win over the Jets on Tuesday. Ryan Miller started and lost on Thursday, so Markstrom will be back in tonight in Calgary. The 26-year-old netminder has gone 2-5-1 with a 2.41 GAA and .916 SV% in seven starts and three relief appearances on the road this season.
Markstrom gave up one goal on five shots after replacing Ryan Miller in the Canucks’ 8-6 loss in Carolina last Tuesday. Markstrom has had a tough time in December, going 0-4-0 with a 2.76 GAA and .908 SV%. Tonight he will face a Jets team that has lost four of their last six and are 5-10-2 on the road this season.
