Tatar was cross-checked in the linesman direction. When the linesman jumped to try and avoid a potential collision his knee caught Tatar in the head. Tatar wobbled off of the ice, but head coach Mike Babcock said Tatar is fine. The Red Wings are already dealing with injuries to Pavel Datsyuk and Gustav Nyquist, so losing Tatar for a period of time would be a rough way to start the season.
Markstrom, 24, was acquired in the trade that sent Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers last March. He was 2-8-3 with a 3.39 GAA and .873 SV% between the Panthers and Canucks last season. Markstrom was once considered the NHL's top goaltending prospect and will likely be claimed by another team. He has just one year with a $1.2 million cap-hit left on his contract, making him a relatively low-risk add.
Tatar, 23, recorded 19 goals and 20 assists (39 points) in 73 games with the Red Wings last season. The Red Wings did virtually nothing in free agency, which means that young players like Tatar will take on bigger roles in 2014-15. He played in the top-6 for a large portion of last season because the Wings were ravaged by injures. He will likely start the year on the third line with Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco, but with strong play could climb into the top-6 quickly. A 20-goal, 20 assist season should be Tatar's floor this year.
Palat - dealing with a nagging injury - will be a gametime decision tonight.
Palat left game 1 with an upper-body injury and did not return. He is listed as a game-time decision, but Copper also said it is unlikely that he plays. This is a tough blow for the Lightning, Palat scored 23 goals with 36 assists (59 points) in 81 games.
Dillon is listed as day-to-day with the lower-body ailment. Aaron Rome, who was limited to just 25 games this season, will draw into the lineup for Dillon. Missing Dillon will hurt the Stars blueline considerably. At 6-foot-3, 225 lbs. they could definitely use his size against a Ducks team who have 11 players over 6-foot.
Markstrom allowed five goals on 22 shots in a loss to the Oilers last night. His first two starts with the Canucks have not gone very well as he has allowed eight goals on 49 shots (.837 SV%), both resulting in losses. He will start the last game of the season vs. the Flames.
Palat has played all 81 games this season, but will miss the season finale today vs. Washington. Palat suffered the upper-body injury on Friday in Columbus. Palat scored his 23rd goal of the season before getting hurt. Consider him day-to-day.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 27 shots in a loss to the Avalanche in his first start with the Cancuks. He will get a second chance tonight and draws a much easier matchup in Edmonton. However, it is Ryan Smyth's last NHL game so the Oilers could come out flying for their veteran.
Markstrom has not started an NHL game since December 20th. He played 19:48 wit the Canucks in early March after replacing Eddie Lack--he stopped four of five shots. He will likely start the remaining three games in a lost season for the Canucks. This will give Vancouver a good idea of what their goalie situation will be like heading into 2014-15.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Glendening has six assists, but is still searching for his first NHL goal. He has played 51 games this season and has played very well in a shut down, fourth-line role.
Hamilton was a healthy scratch in each of the last two games but draws back in tonight vs. Phoenix. He will be paired with Zdeno Chara.
Markstrom, 24, was the 31st overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft. He has yet to assert himself as an NHL regular, but will get a chance now in Vancouver to share time with fellow countryman Eddie Lack. The two were teammates back with Brynas of the Swedish Elite League. Markstrom is 1-6-3 with a 3.52 GAA and .874 SV% with Florida this season, but has recently been playing with San Antonio (AHL) where he was 12-11-3 with a 2.56 GAA and .918 SV%.
“He’ll take warm-ups," said head coach Lindy Ruff. "We’re still hopeful that he may be able to go for us, but that’s going to be a game-time decision.” So there is a chance he can play, and they can certainly use him. The 6-4 defenseman leads the team in hits with 128 and is second in blocked shots (behind Alex Goligoski) at 111. Dillon is second on the team in time on ice at 21:25 per game, third in defenseman scoring with 14 points and first in goals by a defenseman at six.
Dillon missed Saturday's game with a lower-body injury and was skating with the injured Stephane Robidas at the Stars' morning skate, which suggests he will not play tonight vs. Buffalo.
There was no word on Dillon's status until he did not come out onto the ice for warmups. The Stars D-pairs will be Goligoski-Daley; Benn-Gonchar; Rome-Connauton with Dillon out.
Hamilton missed the last four games with a concussion that he suffered on January 11. He will be back vs. the Flyers, but there is no word yet on who he will be paired with. He has 10 points (4G / 6A) in 33 games this season.
After a four-game absence, Hamilton will return to the Bruins blueline on Saturday. He has 10 points (4G / 6A) in 33 games.
If all goes well, Hamilton could be back in the Bruins' lineup on Saturday. The Bruins are also without Adam McQuaid, but it looks like Hamilton is closer to returning. Monitor his status as Saturday approaches.
