The Blackhawks have a tough salary-cap situation, which is why they couldn’t give more term to Panarin. The young Russian winger has picked up 15 goals and 22 assists (37 points) in 37 games this season and has 114 points (45G / 69A) in 117 career NHL games.
Edler has been sidelined since November 26th with a broken index finger, but it looks like he could return tonight vs. the Kings. His original timetable was 4-6 weeks and tonight would be exactly the one month mark. Edler is expected to skate with Troy Stecher and comes in with one goal and two assists (three points) in 21 games.
Dumoulin left Tuesday's game after being hit in the face by a slapshot. Dumoulin will undergo surgery to repair a broken jaw and is expected to miss at least one month. With Dumoulin not available for Wednesday's game, the Penguins are hoping that Olli Maatta (illness) will return this evening.
Armia has missed the last 24 games with an undisclosed injury that he suffered early in November. The young forward had four points (1G / 3A) in 10 games before suffering the injury and will take Brandon Tanev’s spot in the lineup tonight.
Kuemper allowed five goals on 35 shots in the Wild’s loss in Vancouver on November 29th. Devan Dubnyk started the last seven games, but Kuemper will give him a break this afternoon. Kuemper has gone 2-2-1 with a 3.36 GAA and .897 SV% in five starts this season. He will take on a Coyotes team that has won three of their last four contests.
Edmundson has been sidelined since November 6th, but will return to the lineup tonight vs. the Canadiens. Robert Bortuzzo has been moved to IR to open up a roster spot for Edmundson to be activated. Edmundson has one assist in 13 games this season.
Kuemper gave up three goals on 32 shots in the Wild’s loss in Dallas on November 21st. Devan Dubnyk started the last three games, but Kuemper will go tonight in Vancouver. He has posted a 2.94 GAA and .908 SV% in four games this season, but if there were ever a time to spot-start him, tonight is it.
Dumoulin was a healthy scratch on Sunday, but will be back in the lineup on Wednesday. Dumoulin will replace Steven Oleksy and comes in with two assists in 21 games this season.
Edler was injured early in the Canucks’ win in Colorado on Saturday and will miss at least one month. With Edler out, the Canucks will recall Alex Biega from Utica and he will draw into the lineup on Tuesday.
Kuemper allowed one goal on 36 shots in the Wild’s win in Ottawa on November 13th. With Devan Dubnyk playing great, Kuemper hasn’t been give a lot of playing time. In his three starts, Kuemper has gone 2-1-0 with a 2.94 GAA and .908 SV%. Tonight he will face a Stars team that has lost three of four.
Kopitar missed Sunday’s game in Winnipeg and it sounds like he is a ways away from returning to the lineup. With Kopitar out, Jeff Carter is expected to continue to centre the top line with Trevor Lewis seeing an expanded role.
Armia is set to miss is third straight game on Tuesday and is expected to be out for an extended period of time, so the Jets moved him to IR to create a roster spot to activate Tyler Myers from IR and added Jacob Trouba to the active roster after signing him on Monday.
Fiala picked up two goals on 18 shots in 10 games with the Predators. The 20-year-old, former 11th overall pick (2014) has not developed the way the Predators have hoped, so he returns to Milwaukee, where he had 50 points (18G / 32A) in 66 games last year. Pontus Aberg has been recalled to replace Fiala.
