Karlsson has missed the last 10 games with a lower-body injury but will play Saturday vs. the Canucks. Karlsson will skate with Marc-Edouard Vlasic and enters play with 43 points (3G / 40A) in 47 games this season.
Karlsson will not play Monday in Vancouver but head coach Pete DeBoer said that he is “really close” and that they don’t want to risk re-aggravating the injury.
Malkin has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury but is set to play Monday in Philadelphia. Malkin centered the Penguins’ second-line with Phil Kessel and Nick Bjugstad on his wings. Malkin has registered 55 points (14G / 41A) in 50 games this season.
Despite taking part in the All-Star weekend festivities, Karlsson is not ready to play on Saturday. Tim Heed will dress in Karlsson’s place.
The Sharks returned to the ice on Friday but Karlsson did not participate and remains a question mark for tonight’s game. The All-Star defenseman has been excellent for the Sharks this season and the team has gone 2-2-1 in the five games he’s missed due to injury or suspension his season. Fortunately for San Jose, it looks like they will at least get Marc-Edouard Vlasic back and Karlsson’s return seems just around the corner.
Graves, 21, has scored twice in eight games with the Avalanche this season and has collected eight points (2G / 6A) in 29 AHL contests. Graves will replace Mark Barberio in the lineup vs. Minnesota.
Jones played well during his time with the Oilers, scoring one goal and picking up five assists across 17 games. The Oilers are in need of blueline help and Oscar Klefbom isn’t ready to return yet, so the move doesn’t make a lot of sense at this time.
Karlsson will miss Monday’s game in Florida and Tuesday’s game in Washington, at the very least. The Sharks’ first game after the break is Saturday, February 2nd vs. the Coyotes. Look for Kevin Labanc to play on the top power-play for a second straight game.
Karlsson was on the ice for warmups but the lower-body ailment that he has been dealing with will force him to miss Saturday’s game vs. the Lightning.
Rakell skated on the top line in Tuesday’s practice and was activated from IR ahead of Wednesday’s game. Rakell will take warmups and will return to the lineup barring a setback.
Rakell has missed the last 13 games with an ankle injury but is set to return to the Ducks lineup on Wednesday. Rakell has been limited by a 5.7 shooting percentage, resulting in just five goals and 15 assists (20 points) in 30 games this season.
Rust missed Monday’s game in Minnesota with a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Wednesday. Rust was back on the Penguins top line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel in the morning skate and will look to continue the torrid pace he was on before getting hurt—scoring eight goals with three assists (11 points) in his last nine games.
Rust is not expected to be in the lineup in Minnesota on Monday, so look for Zach Aston-Reese to start on the top-line with Sidney Crosby.
Graves was a fourth-round pick of the Rangers in 2013 and will make his NHL debut tonight after playing 254 career AHL games. Graves, who has eight points (2G / 6A) in 26 games this season, will replace Anton Lindholm on the Avalanche blueline.
How Dumba suffered the injury remains a mystery but the Wild are holding out hope that Dumba will be able to return later this season and be ready for the playoffs. Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin have taken on larger roles with Dumba sidelined.
