Simmonds was forced to leave Game 2 after being hit by a point-shot by his teammate and is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks with a lower-body issue. Simmonds could return to the Predators lineup if they advance past the first-round, but is expected to be replace by Miikka Salomaki in the meantime.
Ristolainen missed the last four games with an illness but will play on Tuesday. Ristolainen will be back on a pairing with Rasmus Dahlin and enters the game with 39 points (5G / 34A) in 75 games but has the worst plus-minus in the entire league (-42).
Grundstrom was acquired from the Maple Leafs in the trade that sent Jake Muzzin to Toronto. The 21-year-old, former second-round pick (2016) has scored three goals with seven assists (10 points) in 13 games Ontario since the trade—giving him 16 goals and 23 assists (39 points) in 55 AHL games this season. He is expected to make his NHL debut tonight in Arizona, skating on a line with Adrian Kempe and Tyler Toffoli.
Seeler was a healthy scratch on Tuesday but will replace Anthony Bitetto on Thursday. Seeler has just five points (2G / 3A) with a minus-8 rating an 49 PIMS in 60 games this season.
Seeler has been a healthy scratch for the last three games but will replace Anthony Bitetto in the lineup on Tuesday. Seeler has just two goals and three assists in 57 games this season.
Dvorak missed the first 62 games of the season but will make his season debut on Tuesday. Dvorak did not record a point during his two-game conditioning stint with Tucson (AHL) but had 37 points (15G / 22A) in 78 games with Arizona last season.
Simmonds’ production took a predictable hit this season after the Flyers signed James van Riemsdyk in the offseason. Simmonds’ playing time dropped 1:30 TOI/gm this season and has led to him scoring 16 goals and 11 assists (27 points) in 62 games. Simmonds in on-pace for less than 10 power-play goals for the first time since 2013 but should help bolster the Predators power-play, which ranks 31st in the NHL right now.
Dvorak missed the first four and a half months of the season with what the Coyotes called an “upper-body” injury but recently played two games with Tucson on a conditioning stint. Dvorak did not record a point but returns to the Coyotes, where he had 37 points (15G / 22A) in 78 gmaes last year.
Dvorak has been sidelined by a lower-body issue since training camp but has been skating with the Coyotes recently and a conditioning stint with Tucson is the next step to get him up to game speed. Dvorak will likely play a few AHL games before returning to Arizona where he will make his season debut. With Nick Schmaltz out and Alex Galchenyuk primarily playing the wing, Dvorak could step right into the No.2 centre role between Galchenyuk and Clayton Keller.
In his first full season with the Kings, Thompson has four goals and two assists (six points) in 53 games. Thompson is a hard-working, fourth liner while has averaged 12:55 TOI/gm. His 64.9 D-zone start% hurts but a 43.4 CorsiFor% and -5.9 CF%rel are absolutely disastrous rates.
Grundstrom was one of the Maple Leafs’ top prospects and has been enjoying a quality campaign with the Marlies, scoring 13 goals with 16 assists (29 points) in 42 games. Grundstrom, a former second-round pick, plays a physical two-way game but doesn’t project to be much of a high-end scorer at the NHL-level.
Deslauriers was a healthy scratch in Detroit on Tuesday but will replace Charles Hudon on Thursday. Deslauriers has just two goals and one assist in 30 games this season.
Seeler missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but will return to the lineup in Toronto on Thursday afternoon. Seeler doesn’t bring a lot of offence to the table, having picked up just three points (1G / 2A) in 36 games this year.
Deslauriers has just two points in 24 games this season, averaging just 10:12 TOI/gm. Deslauriers will be replaced by Matthew Peca.
Couturier has missed the last two games but is expected to play Wednesday in Calgary. Couturier has played 91% of his 5v5 ice-time with Claude Giroux this season but will start the night as the second-line centre with Michael Raffl and Jakub Voracek on his wings. Couturier has 10 goals and 10 assists (20 points) in 26 games this season.
Couturier is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury so he will not play in Buffalo this afternoon. Either Jordan Weal or Phil Varone, who was recalled on Friday, will replace Couturier in the lineup.
