Haula has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury and is expected to miss at least another week. Expect the Wild to recall a centre from Iowa to fill-in for the injured Zac Dalpe until Haula is ready to play.
Saros stopped 34 of 35 shots in the Predators win over the Penguins on Saturday. He started because Pekka Rinne had food poisoning. He was excellent and is the goalie of the future in Nashville, but he heads back to Milwaukee for the time being.
Haula has reportedly been playing through a lower-body injury for a week, but might not be able to go tonight vs. the Devils. If Haula can’t go, Joel Eriksson Ek is expected to make his NHL debut.
O’Reilly was battling a back injury in the preseason but will be in the lineup for the first game of the season. O’Reilly will not be able to take all of the face-offs tonight, which means Sam Reinhart will have to draw in, but he shouldn’t be too limited otherwise. He will play on the top line between Reinhart and Evander Kane.
O’Reilly skipped Tuesday’s practice session, which leaves his status for the season opener up in the air. O’Reilly was able to skate on his own before the session but remains day-to-day. The Sabres could also be without Kyle Okposo for Thursday’s contest.
After Jonathan Huberdeau left Saturday’s preseason game, Marchessault took reps with Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr. Marchessault had seven goals and 11 assists (18 points) in 45 games with the Lightning last year before signing with Florida this summer.
Marchessault, 25, split his 2015-16 campaign between the NHL and AHL. The 5-foot-9 forward had nine points (6G / 3A) in 11 games with Syracuse and 18 points (7G / 11A) in 45 games with the Lightning. Marchessault will fight for a spot on the Panthers’ opening night roster in training camp this Fall.
The Lightning cut it close, signing Stamkos two days before he hit the free agency market. There were a tonne of teams hoping Stamkos would become a free agent, but it looks like he will be with the Lightning through the 2023-24 NHL season. Stamkos missed games at the end of the season with a blood clot issue, but he finished with 36 goals and 28 assists (64 points) in 77 games.
Forsberg was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1st, but is now signed through the 2021-22 season. Forsberg just wrapped up his second full NHL season with the Predators, where he recorded his first 30-goal season (33) with 31 assists to give him 64 points in 82 games. He has not missed a game in the last two years, finishing with nearly identical 63 and 64-point campaigns.
Haula missed game one, but will be back in the lineup for game two. He had 34 points (14G / 20A) in 76 games this season and has eight points (5G / 3A) in 15 career playoff games in 2014 and 15.
Haula has been listed as questionable for game one, but travelling to Dallas suggests that he will be in the lineup on Thursday. With that said, monitor his status during tomorrow’s morning skate.
Haula missed his second straight practice with an undisclosed injury, but head coach John Torchetti said that he “likes Haula’s chances” of playing in Game 1. Haula was on a tear in March, but has been held off of the scoresheet for the last four games. He finished the year with 14 goals and 20 assists (34 points) in 76 games.
The Predators are comfortably in the playoffs so they will rest a number of players in their season finale. Josi will come out of the lineup vs. Dallas.
Skjei, 22, has recorded four goals and 24 assists (28 points) in 68 games with Hartford. He has appeared in his first four career NHL games this year and his recall likely means bad news for Ryan McDonagh, who suffered a hand injury on Monday.
