Nugent-Hopkins missed the last two games, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Canucks. The first line rushes he took were with Nail Yakupov and Teddy Purcell, but then he was reportedly between Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall at the end of practice, so expect him to be in his usual spot on the top-line. He has one assist in two games.
Nugent-Hopkins is on the ice for the Oilers morning skate and is participating in line rushes, which suggests he will return to the lineup tonight after missing the last two games. RNH is skating on the third line with Nail Yakupov and Teddy Purcell. Monitor his status following the morning skate.
Nurse had no points with a minus-2 rating and two shots in his first two NHL games. The 19-year-old will get one more year of junior and have a chance to stick with the Oilers full-time next season. He had 13 goals with 37 assists (50 points) in 64 games with Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) last season.
Skinner missed his fourth straight game after suffering a concussion in the preseason, but the Hurricanes are off until Tuesday so he has time to rest and will should be in the lineup against the Jets. As a corresponding roster move, the sent Brody Sutter and Patrick Brown back to the AHL.
Pickard, 22, was the Avs second round pick (49th overall) in 2010. He has never made and NHL appearance but has 94 games of AHL experience. He is 1-1-0 with a 1.52 GAA and .952 SV% in two starts with Lake Erie this season.
Skinner skated for the second straight day, but will not play tonight vs. the Rangers. After tonight, the Hurricanes are of until Tuesday, so they are electing to give their young star four extra days to rest before he returns to the lineup.
Typically a player who is available for the evening's game will take part in line rushes with the line that he will play with that night, with Skinner not taking part, it suggests he is not ready to return to the lineup on Thursday. Expect an update following the morning skate.
Nugent-Hopkins skated on Tuesday but missed yesterday's game against the Kings and will not play tonight vs. the Coyotes. However, it is a positive sign that he has skated two days in a row, so consider him day-to-day.
Murray is nearing his season debut, but head coach Todd Richards said that penciling him for Friday might be "premature". Richards said he has his fingers crossed for Murray to be ready sooner than later, but “it might be pushing it” to suggest Friday as a possibility. Regardless, Murray continues to make progress and it is a long season. If not Friday, Murray could be back Saturday.
Skinner was a full participant in Hurricanes practice this morning and skated on the third line with Brad Malone and Patrick Brown. He will probably take part in the morning skate and the Hurricanes will see how he feels before deciding whether or not he will play against the Rangers.
Skinner is a full participant in Hurricanes practice on Wednesday, which means he should be available to play on Thursday against the Rangers. Monitor his status later this afternoon or tomorrow during the morning skate for confirmation that he will play.
Smith gave up six goals on 27 shots to the Jets in the season opener. He took a seat while Devan Dubnyk won against the Kings on Saturday, but the Coyotes will turn to Smith tonight vs. the Oilers. The Oilers have yet to get into the win column and are on the tail-end of a back-to-back, so Smith should be able to bounce-back tonight.
Nurse, 19, was the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. He will replace Jeff Petry in the Oilers lineup tonight and likely skate with Andrew Ference. He had 13 goals and 37 assists (50 points) in 64 games in the OHL last season.
Nugent-Hopkins was reportedly injured on a hit in the Vancouver game on Saturday. He won't play tonight and should be considered questionable for tomorrow's game. Mark Arcobello will centre the top line with RNH out.
RNH missed practice on Monday with an undisclosed and is not practicing on any particular line this morning, which would suggest he is not playing tonight. Mark Arcobello is skating in his spot on the top-line, so if RNH can't go expect that the be the case tonight. We will get an update following the skate.
This is the first time that Skinner has joined his teammates for a practice since suffering a concussion in the preseason. He will not play tonight, but is targeting Thursday for a return. Monitor his status leading up to Thursday's contest.
Skinner has not played this season, but the Hurricanes expect him to be on the ice with the team on Tuesday and possibly make his season debut on Thursday. Eric Staal was injured over the weekend, so getting Skinner back in the lineup will be huge for the Hurricanes.
Murray has yet to play this season, but he has practiced everyday for the last week, which is a great sign that he is nearing his season debut. Murray is a tremendous offensive talent and will help bolster a Blue Jackets power-play that is working at 12.5% through two games.
Griffith, 21, was a fifth round pick (131st overall) in 2012. He had 50 points (20G / 30A) in 69 games with Providence last year. Expect him to suit up on the Bruins fourth line on Monday.
The Jets originally announced that he will miss at least two games, but now they will reevaluate him in two weeks and see where he is at. Head coach Paul Maurice felt like this was good news considering how serious they thought the injury originally was. Expect Dustin Byfuglien to continue to play a bigger role in Kane's absence.
