Drouin (illness) will not play on Saturday.
Drouin was sent home with a stomach virus this morning and will be held out of the lineup tonight. With Drouin out, Cedric Paquette will play on the top-line with Steven Stamkos and Brett Connolly.
New York Islanders News
Drouin (illness) is questionable for the Lightning.
Drouin was not on the ice for the Lightning’s morning skate because he was sent home sick this morning. Coach Cooper said that there is “no indication” that Drouin has the mumps. Expect an update on Drouin’s status a few hours prior to warmups.
Goalie Start
Varlamov will start Tuesday vs. the Blues.
Varlamov (groin) has missed the last six games, but will be back between the pipes tonight vs. the Blues. In his only two starts in December, he has gone 0-1-1 with a 5.24 GAA and .836 SV%. He draws a tough matchup to return in—St. Louis ranks sixth in the NHL in scoring with 2.94 goals per game.
Varlamov (groin) could start Tuesday against the Blues.
Varlamov skated and took shots on Sunday in Detroit and Patrick Roy said he is “95 percent and will likely start on Tuesday” but the team will decide for sure on Monday. Calvin Pickard continues to play extremely well, so there is no need to rush Varlamov back if he is not 100 percent.
Palmieri (shoulder) is hopeful he will return for the first game after Christmas.
The Ducks first game after the Christmas break is on December 27th vs. the Coyotes. Palmieri remains with the team on their road-trip and will undergo tests when they return to Anaheim.
Palmieri (shoulder) will miss at least the next two games.
Palmieri suffered a shoulder injury in the Ducks loss to the Maple Leafs last night. He has been sent back to Anaheim and will miss the remaining two games of the Ducks current road trip. Emerson Etem has been recalled and will skate in Palmieri’s spot on the second line.
Drouin will play on the Lightning top line on Saturday.
Drouin has been in and out of the lineup recently and has only averaged 12:58 TOI in 23 games this season. He scored his second goal of the year last night and will bump up to the top line with Steven Stamkos and Ryan Callahan.
Cizikas (upper-body) returns to the Islanders lineup on Monday.
Cizikas has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury that he suffered on December 6th vs. the Blues. He will be back in for Michael Grabner, who is day-to-day with a lower-body ailment. Cizikas will centre the fourth line with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck.
Call up / Send down
The Senators have recalled J.G Pageau from Binghamton (AHL).
With Zack Smith out for multiple months, the Senators have recalled Pageau to fill in. Pageau, 22, had two goals in 28 games with the Senators last season. He had 18 points (8G / 10A) in 25 games with Binghamton before his recall.
Varlamov (groin) will miss at least two weeks.
Varlamov underwent an MRI on Monday and the results did not reveal anything positive for the Avalanche. Varlamov will miss a couple of weeks at least, which leaves the team with Calvin Pickard as their starter.
The Islanders have placed Casey Cizikas (upper-body) on injured reserve.
Cizikas’ move to IR is retroactive to November 6th. Josh Bailey will remain in the lineup until Cizikas is 100 percent.
Drouin expected to be a healthy scratch on Tuesday.
Drouin has had a difficult time staying in the lineup as of late. Tonight will mark the third time in seven games that the 2013 third overall pick will sit out. J.T Brown will be in for Drouin.
Varlamov is day-to-day with a groin injury; will not play on Tuesday.
Varlamov is still battling a groin injury that cost him to miss six games from November 15th-December 3rd. There is no word on who will be called up, but if it is Calvin Pickard, he will get the start. Groin injuries with goalies are tricky, so Varly could be held out for awhile.
Cizikas (upper-body) will not play on Tuesday.
Cizikas was injured in the Isles’ loss to the Blues on Saturday and will miss Tuesday’s game vs. the Wild. Ryan Strome will drop to the fourth line, and Josh Bailey will draw into the lineup with Cizikas out.
Call up / Send down
The Islanders have sent Ryan Pulock back to Bridgeport (AHL).
Pulock, 20, took part in warmups as the seventh defenseman this afternoon, but did not get into the lineup. His return to the AHL suggests that Lubomir Visnovsky will be good to go on Tuesday.
Goalie Start
Varlamov leads the Avalanche onto the ice for warmups.
Varlamov allowed four goals on 25 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Flames last night. It was Varlamov’s first start since November 15th, but he will go again tonight in the second game of the Avs’ back-to-back. It hasn’t been a great two months for Varly, who has missed time with injuries and posted a 4-5-5 record with a 3.01 GAA and .914 SV%.
Call up / Send down
The Islanders have recalled Ryan Pulock from Bridgeport (AHL).
With Travis Hamonic on IR, the Islanders have recalled Pulock, 20, who was their first round pick (15th overall) in 2013. The 6-foot-1, 218 lbs. defenseman has eight goals and five assists (13 points) in 20 games in his first full pro season.
Clutterbuck (lower-body) left Tuesday’s game and did not return.
Clutterbuck played just 5:48 TOI before retiring to the dressing room for the night. Coach Capuano called Clutterbuck day-to-day and said that he will be evaluated on Wednesday.
Goalie Start
As expected, Varlamov will start on Thursday.
Varlamov stopped 23 of 25 shots in a win over the Devils in his last start back on November 15th. The Avs went 3-3-0 in the six games that Varly missed, but he will be back between the pipes tonight in Calgary. He is 4-5-4 with a 2.95 GAA and .918 SV% this season, but the Avs are playing better of late, making him an interesting buy-low candidate.
Varlamov (groin) is expected to play on Thursday vs. the Flames.
Varlamov will miss his sixth straight game when Calvin Pickard gets the start on Monday, but Varly is expected to return later in the week vs. Calgary.