Malkin has not played this season but has been practicing regularly for a while. This is the first time that he's been listed as a game-time decision, which is a good sign that he'll be available in Anaheim. Malkin skated on the second line with Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen and PP1 in Monday's practice session.
Malkin continues to practice with the team but the Penguins are taking a cautious approach to returning him to the lineup. His next chance to return is Tuesday in Anaheim.
This is terrible timing for Rust, who has been one of the hottest players in the NHL recently, scoring eight goals with four assists (12 points) in his last four games. Jeff Carter will replace him in the lineup and Evan Rodrigues may replace him on the top line.
The Sharks are hopeful that Karlsson will be available next Tuesday, so this does not appear to be an injury that will sideline him long-term. Brent Burns will remain on the top PP unit with Ryan Merkley on PP2 on Saturday.
Karlsson suffered an upper-body injury in the third period of Tuesday's loss in Detroit. Ryan Merkley will draw into the lineup to replace Karlsson but Brent Burns will take over on PP1.
Karlsson appeared to get hurt in the third period of Tuesday's loss in Detroit and is questionable for Thursday's game. If Karlsson can't play, look for Marc-Edouard Vlasic to draw back into the lineup and for Brent Burns to take over on PP1.
Malkin continues to practice and is nearing his season debut but it will not be Wednesday vs. the Blues. With Jeff Carter also still out, expect Evan Rodrigues to centre the second line again.
Bemstrom suffered an injury during the preseason and has been working his way back ever since. He scored one goal in three games during his time with Cleveland (AHL) and is finally set to make his season debut on Thursday. The 22-year-old forward had three goals and two assists (five points) in 20 games with Columbus last year.
The Predators had an outbreak before the Christmas break, so on the day where they activated six skaters, they also added three new players to the protocol list, including Novak.
Chinakhov was not in the lineup for the last five games but will replace Gregory Hofmann in the lineup on Thursday. Hofmann had been skating on the top line, so Chinakhov, who has four points (1G / 3A) in 18 games, could play in the top-6.
Lizotte has missed the last five games while in COVID-19 protocol but was activated on Wednesday and is expected to play on Thursday. He has one goal and four assists (five points) in 21 games this season.
This call-up has been on the radar for quite some time and the Jets recently waived Riley Nash to create room for the 21-year-old centre. Gustafsson was a second-round pick in 2018 and has scored seven goals with nine assists (16 points) in 23 AHL games this season. He should be a fixture in the Jets' bottom-6 moving forward.
van Riemsdyk missed the last four games while in COVID-19 protocol but is set to play Wednesday in Chicago. van Riemsdyk will be back in a familiar spot on the Capitals' third pairing and comes in with seven assists in 24 games this season.
