There are reports that Tanev is more like week-to-week and will be out until after the Olympic break. Yannick Weber wil return to regular shifts on defense while Dale Weise draws back into the lineup .
Ekman-Larsson has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury that he suffered last Thursday. OEL has been one of the better defensemen in fantasy this season, he has 22 points (4G / 18A) in 40 games and should be activated in all formats. Expect him to be paired with Derek Morris tonight and jump back onto the top power-play unit alongside Keith Yandle.
Ekman-Larsson will miss his second straight game after suffering an upper-body injury on Thursday.
Ekman-Larsson was injured on Thursday but is reportedly feeling better today and will be re-evaluated tomorrow.
OEL was crunched into the boards by Blue Jackets forward Derek MacKenzie. It appeared to be a shoulder injury and the Coyotes have deemed him day-to-day. Head coach Dave Tippet said that Ekman-Larsson "looked alright" following the loss. The Coyotes are back in action tomorrow, monitor OEL's status during the game-day skate.
Tavares is a must-start given that he commented he felt good after the morning skate.
Tavares who did not skate on Friday was declared as day-to-day with a lower-body injury that will keep him out of tonight's game vs. the Devils. Tavares has been extremely durable having only missed three games in the first four seasons of his NHL career. Brock Nelson will shift onto the first line with Tavares out.
The Islanders are in action on Saturday so Tavares is questionable to suit up vs. the Devils, monitor his status following tomorrow's morning skate.
Rielly has been a healthy scratch in three of the last four games but draws back in tonight vs. the Islanders. In his first 15 NHL games Rielly has six assists and a minus-4 rating. He has a bright future ahead of him, but is not fantasy relevant yet.
Tavares missed Wednesday's practice after suffering an injury on Tuesday. JT will suit up tonight vs. the Kings riding a three game point streak - he has eight goals and 22 points in 19 games.
Rielly figured to be a healthy scratch tonight with Mark Fraser returning tonight, but Colton Orr will not dress because of an injury so Rielly will dress as the Maple Leafs seventh defenseman.
Rielly has been solid posting five assists in 13 games, but he is still only 19-years-old and has tons of room to grow. He will sit tonight, but I don't think he will sit for too many consecutive games.
Rielly has played in eight games with the Leafs, and they had to decide after his ninth game to keep him or send him back to juniors. He has impressed assisting on four goals in the eight games.
After missing practice yesterday with an upper-body injury, OEL will be on the Coyotes blueline tonight. He has a goal, an assist and plus-two rating while averaging 22:33 TOI in the first two games.
OEL missed practice this morning with an upper body injury. Monitor his status tomorrow.
Earlier in the week Rielly was working with Jake Gardniner, but he will start tonight's game with Cody Franson as his partner. He has all the tools of an emerging offensive-defenseman. He is a great skater who moves the puck effectively. His play in his own zone still needs some work but for all fantasy purposes he is good. He had 12 goals and 42 assists (54 points) in 60 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) last season.
Rielly will make his debut with Jake Gardiner as his D-partner. That is a high-powered, offensive duo that should be able to produce for the Leafs. If Rielly can get off to a hot-start with Fraser on IR, he could stick with the team.
Rielly sat in each of the Maple Leafs first two games of the season but could play on Saturday. Mark Fraser was seen leaving the arena on crutches last night, which opens a spot on the blueline for the 19-year-old.
Rielly led all Leafs in ice time in the final tune-up game Saturday, as management took one long, last look at him before making their decision. While the roster has not been submitted yet, it appears Rielly will remain in Toronto for at least nine games, the limit before the clock starts ticking on the first year of his entry-level contract.
Domi had a good preseason and looked like he may make the team. However he has been sent back to the OHL and will not have any fantasy relevance this season.
