Crosby is on the Penguins road trip and skated before the morning skate and also took part in the team session ahead of Tuesday's game in Vegas. It's a great sign that he was able to skate with the team again today but he will remain out of the lineup for at least one more game.
Crosby has been out since November 9th after undergoing surgery for a nagging sports hernia but it looks like he'll be back in the lineup at some point this week. The Penguins are in Vegas on Tuesday, so monitor Crosby's status if they elect to hold a morning skate.
Bemstrom has been sidelined by an upper-body injury since December 7th but has been activated from IR prior to Saturday's afternoon game. It remains to be seen if Bemstrom will play against the Sharks.
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.
Rakell will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury that he suffered against the Islanders last Saturday. With Rakell out, Max Jones is expected to remain in the Ducks lineup.
This leaves the Ducks without three of their top-6 forwards because both Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg are out with the flu. The Ducks recalled Daniel Sprong to fill one of the spots but the other will likely go to Jaccob Larsson and they will dress seven defensemen and 11 forwards.
Korczak was a second-round pick in this summer's entry-draft and has scored five goals with 23 assists (28 points) in 32 games on the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) blueline this year.
Rust missed Monday's practice with an illness and is listed as a game-time decision for Tuesday's game in Calgary. The Penguins have been skipping morning skates this season, so don't expect to get an update on his status until two hours before puck-drop.
Malkin missed the last two games with an illness but was back at practice on Monday and is expected to play Tuesday in Calgary. Since Sidney Crosby got hurt, Malkin is tied for ninth in the NHL with 21 points (6G / 15A) in 14 games.
Bemstrom is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks so he was going to end up on IR eventually. The move to IR opens up a roster spot to call-up some reinforcements after Josh Anderson, Sonny Milano and Ryan Murray all left Saturday's game with upper-body injuries.
The Penguins did not hold a morning skate but head coach Mike Sullivan announced that Malkin will miss tonight's game due to an illness. The Penguins will be in tough without Malkin or Sidney Crosby. Joseph Blandisi was recalled this morning and is expected to play in Malkin's place.
Bemstrom was hurt on a cross-check from Brian Boyle in Saturday's game in Florida and will be out until at least mid-to-late January. Alex Wennberg replaced Bemstrom on Monday and will likely remain in the Blue Jackets lineup moving forward.
Jones was sent down last Tuesday but quickly swaps spots with Joel Persson again. Jones has been spectacular in the AHL, posting 11 points (3G / 8A) in 14 games but has not registered a point in nine games with the Oilers.
Bemstrom was hurt midway through Saturday's game in Florida and did not travel to Washington for Monday's game. Bemstrom remained in Columbus to undergo further evaluation, so look for Alexander Wennberg to replace him in the lineup vs. the Capitals.
Rust has missed the last three games but will return to the lineup Friday vs. the Coyotes. Rust will be back on the top-line with Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel but is not expected to see any power-play time. Rust enters play with nine goals and eight assists (17 points) in 14 games this season.
