Faksa left Saturday’s game vs. Buffalo with a lower-body injury and it will keep him out of tonight’s game vs. the Jets. Faksa was able record a goal and assist in that game before leaving, but he will be replaced by Martin Hanzal in the lineup tonight.
Kapanen played just 7:31 TOI in his season debut with the Maple Leafs and will replace Josh Leivo in the lineup tonight and play with Nazem Kadri and Leo Komarov.
Leivo has been a healthy scratch for the majority of the season, but has appeared in two of the last three games, recording one assist. Leivo will be scratched in favour of Kasper Kapanen.
Kapanen has picked up three goals on six games with the Marlies this season and could make his season debut on Saturday after taking Eric Fehr’s spot on the roster. The 21-year-old winger has just one goal in 17 career NHL games.
Gunnarsson will be kept out of the lineup on Wednesday because he became a father this morning. With Gunnarsson out, Nate Prosser will make his Blues debut.
Sundqvist had no points, a minus-2 rating and three shots on goal while averaging 12:52 TOI in the first two games of the season. The Blues will replace him with Ivan Barbashev this afternoon.
Krug missed the Bruins’ season opener with a jaw injury that he suffered in the preseason but he will get back into the lineup this afternoon vs. the Avalanche. Krug is expected to skate with Adam McQuaid at even-strength and should quarterback the top power-play.
The Bruins have a few players who are listed as game-time decisions, but Krug seems like the most likely to return vs. the Avalanche. Krug, who was cleared for contact on Saturday has skated with a full-face shield in practice, had an impressive 51 points (8G / 43A) in 81 games last season. Expect head coach Bruce Cassidy to address the media around 11am ET.
Walker, 23, a Sydney, Australia native will make his NHL debut vs. the Canadiens on Saturday. The 5-foot-8, 186 lbs. winger showed some good offensive talent in the AHL in 2015-16, collecting 41 points (17G / 24A) in 73 games but had a more difficult time last season, posting just 11 goals and 12 assists (23 points) in 58 games.
Krug has an X-ray and a meeting with doctors scheduled for Friday and the best-case scenario would be a return to the lineup for the Bruins’ second game of the season on Monday. With Krug out on Thursday, Matt Grzelcyk will get a look on the Bruins’ third-pair and second power-play unit.
Krug, who has missed time after taking a puck to the face in the preseason, was placed on IR on Tuesday but practiced in a non-contact sweater on Wednesday. Look for Krug to be sidelined for at least another week.
Krug took a puck to the mouth in the Bruins’ preseason win on Tuesday night. Krug will likely miss at least the first three games of the regular season. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks and a new update is expected to be released.
Witkowski, 27, is a Michigan native that is headed home after spending the first five years of his professional career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Witkowski is capable of playing on the blueline or on the wing and adds some size and toughness to the Red Wings’ depth chart. Witkowski has just four assists and 58 PIMS in 54 career NHL games.
