Aho exited the Islanders' previous game Friday vs. Ottawa after just 1:28 TOI and will be out Saturday vs. Philadelphia with no timetable for his return. The 27-year-old Swedish defensemen has yet to score this season but has four assists, 18 SOG, six PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 19 games prior to his injury.
The Islanders lost both Aho and Adam Pelech on Friday, and both are questionable to play Saturday. Depending on their availability, the Islanders may be forced to make some roster moves in order to have six defensemen.
Dumba signed a one-year, $3.9 million contract with Arizona in the offseason but has struggled out of the gate to produce with two goals, two assists, 25 SOG, 24 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus in 19 games and will be a healthy scratch Saturday. The 29-year-old will be replaced by Vladislav Kolyachonok, who is making his season debut.
Skinner will look to rebound on Friday against the Washington Capitals after allowing four goals on 12 shots (.667 SV%) before being replaced by Calvin Pickard en route to a 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. Skinner has allowed three or more goals in three consecutive games (1-2-0), posting an ugly .829 SV% after a two-game stretch (2-0-0) where he saved 49 of 51 shots (.961 SV%). The Capitals have won five straight but rank fourth-worst in the league offensively (2.56 GF / GP), and as such, the Oilers are -143 road favourites.
Rust's return to the lineup appears to be on the horizon as he participated in practice on Friday but unfortunately is not quite ready to return to game action. After a down 2022-23 campaign, Rust was in the process of having a terrific rebound season, tallying 16 points (9G / 7A) in 17 games thus far.
Skinner served as the backup for the first time since Jack Campbell was demoted to Bakersfield (AHL) earlier this month as Calvin Pickard started for the Oilers but was unsuccessful, allowing four goals on 31 shots in a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers. In his last contest, Skinner allowed five goals on 23 shots (.783 SV%) in a 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning but was stellar in his three games prior (3-0-0), allowing only five goals on 86 shots (.942 SV%). The Oilers are +125 road underdogs on Wednesday against a Carolina Hurricanes team that is mid-pack in the league offensively (3.24 GF / GP) and defensively (3.18 GA / GP) and is fourth in the Metropolitan division with a 10-7-0 record.
Rust will miss Wednesday vs. the New York Rangers after it was announced he was day-to-day with a lower-body injury. If he is forced to miss an extedned chunk of time it would be a shame as the 31-year-old winger is on pace for career highs in almost all categories as he has nine goals, seven assists, 55 SOG, and a +10 plus/minus through 17 games played.
Skinner served as the backup for the first time since Jack Campbell was demoted to Bakersfield (AHL) earlier this month as Calvin Pickard started for the Oilers but was unsuccessful, allowing four goals on 31 shots in a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers. In his last contest, Skinner allowed five goals on 23 shots (.783 SV%) in a 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning but was stellar in his three games prior (3-0-0), allowing only five goals on 86 shots (.942 SV%). The Oilers are +125 road underdogs on Wednesday against a Carolina Hurricanes team that is mid-pack in the league offensively (3.24 GF / GP) and defensively (3.18 GA / GP) and is fourth in the Metropolitan division with a 10-7-0 record.
Harvey-Pinard has missed the Canadiens' last two games due to a lower-body injury and will now be out 6-8 weeks. It's a tough loss for the 24-year-old sophomore, who has four assists, 11 SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 13 games played prior to his injury.
Rust is being evaluated by the Penguins' training staff Tuesday for a lower-body injury and is considered out until there are more updates. If he is forced to miss a chunk of time it would be a shame as the 31-year-old winger is on pace for career highs in almost all categories as he has nine goals, seven assists, 55 SOG, and a +10 plus/minus through 17 games played.
Rakell has struggled so far in 2023-24 with no goals and only four assists, 44 SOG, two PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus in 17 games but will now be forced out long-term with an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old right winger joins Bryan Rust, and Chad Ruhwedel on Pittsburgh's growing injury report Tuesday.
Lizotte will not play on Monday due to an undisclosed injury that will force him to miss approximately a little more than a week. Lizotte has been a regular in the Kings lineup, tallying seven points (4G / 3A) in 16 games, playing predominantly alongside Trevor Lewis and Carl Grundstrom. Jaret Anderson-Dolan will draw back into the Kings' lineup during Lizotte's absence.
Harvey-Pinard did not play the last two games for the Canadiens, has been placed on the injured reserve, and will not travel on the team's upcoming California road trip, meaning he will miss at least the next three games. Before his injury, Pinard was held without a point in his last four games, racking up two shots on goals, averaging 10:22 time-on-ice.
Skinner will look for his fourth consecutive win Saturday after he beat Seattle stopping 32 of 25 shots (.914 SV%) in his previous start. The 25-year-old was an All-Star last season but has struggled out of the gate in 2023-24, with his 4-5-1 record, 3.23 GAA, and .880 SV%. He will face Tampa Bay on the road Saturday, who broke a three-game losing streak with a victory their last time out and are 12th in the NHL in goals per game (3.35).
Mantha is expected to return to the lineup after last playing on November 8th, when he scored two goals, playing 12:58 against the Florida Panthers. In 10 games this season, Mantha has been held without a point in eight, totalling four points (2G / 2A). In addition to his lack of production, Mantha is averaging only 12:43 time-on-ice per game, nearly two minutes less than last season, his lowest total since his rookie campaign with the Detroit Red Wings in 2015-16.
Bemstrom has cleared waivers and will join the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. He had four points (3G / 1A) and a -7 plus/minus rating while averaging 13:45 time-on-ice through 12 games with the Blue Jackets this season.
