The Flyers will return to the ice for the first time in 10 days after a COVID-19 outbreak but will do so without six regulars. Konecny, Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Justin Braun, Oskar Lindblom and Scott Laughton will all miss Tuesday's game against the Rangers.
Johansen will be placed on IR with an upper-body injury that is expected to sideline him for at least a couple of weeks. With Johansen out, Calle Jarnkrok will continue to centre the Predators second line on Monday.
As reported yesterday, Simmonds will miss an extended period of time after breaking his wrist on Saturday. With Simmonds out on Monday, Rasmus Sandin will make his season debut as the seventh defenseman.
Couturier has been out since January 15th but was a full participant in Saturday's practice and may be available for Sunday's afternoon game. Head coach Alain Vigneault said that Couturier is close but wouldn't commit to him playing Sunday.
Petersen allowed one goal on 33 shots in the Kings win in Minnesota last Tuesday. It was Petersen's first win of the season, as he's opened 1-2-0 with a 2.38 GAA and .919 SV% in three appearances. Tonight he faces a Ducks team that is on a three-game losing streak and sit dead last in the NHL in goals per game (1.60).
Konecny was held without a shot in 17:33 TOI in Thursday's win and has just one assist and one shot in his last three games. Head coach Alain Vigneault was displeased with his top-6 despite the win and it looks like he was particularly unhappy with Konecny, who could be a healthy scratch on Saturday. Konecny stayed on for extra work with the scratches following the morning skate, so look for Samuel Morin to replace him vs. the Islanders.
This was a necessary move if Markus Nutivaara is to make his season debut, so Tippett goes to the taxi squad and either Juho Lammikko or Ryan Lomberg will replace him upfront.
Petersen allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Kings loss in St. Louis on Saturday. Petersen has lost each of his two starts this season while allowing six goals on 53 shots (.887 SV%) but it appears as if the Kings will trust him to take on a decent sized workload in the condensed season. Tonight he faces a Wild team that is 4-2-0, including two wins over the Kings to kick-off the season.
Petersen allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Kings loss in St. Louis on Saturday. Petersen has lost each of his two starts this season while allowing six goals on 53 shots (.887 SV%) but it appears as if the Kings will trust him to take on a decent sized workload in the condensed season. Tonight he faces a Wild team that is 4-2-0, including two wins over the Kings to kick-off the season.
The Red Wings have been hit hard by COVID-19 and now Darren Helm is dealing with an undisclosed injury, so it looks like Smith and Taro Hirose, who was also recalled, could make their season debuts on Sunday. Smith had two goals and one assist in 21 games with the Red Wings a season ago.
