Apr 6, 2017
Ice Chips: Flames' Gillies to make NHL debut
Keep updated on all the injury news and roster moves from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
TSN.ca Staff
Keep updated on all the injury news and roster moves from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
Calgary Flames
American goalie prospect Jon Gillies will make his NHL debut tonight when the Flames battle the Kings in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old owns a 17-14-1 record with a 2.95 GAA and a 0.909 SV over 38 games with the AHL's Stockton Heat this season. Gillies was selected by the Flames in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. - Team Tweet
Pittsburgh Penguins
Superstar Evgeni Malkin says he is "very close" to returning to action and could even see some game time before the playoffs kick off next week. "I feel very close. We still have after this game two games left. I hope I play. If I feel like I can play the last game or the last two, I will. It's tough to say right now, but I'll try my best. Every day feels better," he told Sam Kasan of Pens Inside Scoop. The 30-year-old has missed the last 10 games with a shoulder injury suffered on Mar. 15 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Malkin has scored 33 goals and added 39 assists over 62 games with Pittsburgh this season.
In other news, defenceman Trevor Daley (knee) is a game-time decision against the New Jersey Devils while winger Bryan Rust (lower-body) is expected to play. - Jason Mackey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
San Jose Sharks
Joe Thornton will not be in the lineup Thursday for his team's clash with the Edmonton Oilers. On Wednesday the veteran, who's been sidelined with a lower-body injury, said there was "no doubt" he'll be ready to go for the playoffs. - Kevin Kurz, NBC Sports California
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth, who was stretchered off the ice Saturday after collapsing in his crease, is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, the team announced on Thursday. Neuvirth was taken to hospital, but was released Sunday afternoon. The reason of Neuvirth's collapse is not known at this point. - Dave Issac, Courier-Post
Ottawa Senators
Defenceman Erik Karlsson will miss the Senators crucial matchup with the Boston Bruins Thursday night with a lower-body injury, head coach Guy Boucher confirmed after the morning skate on Thursday. Jyrki Jokipakka will replace the All-Star Swede in the lineup. - Team Tweet
Toronto Maple Leafs
Veteran forward Brian Boyle attended the morning skate Thursday and is expected to be in the lineup ahead of his team's clash against his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Boyle left Tuesday's game against the Washington Capitals after he suffered an upper-body injury in the first period. - Joe Smith, Tampa Bay Times/Kristen Shilton, TSN
Tampa Bay Lightning
Steven Stamkos, who hasn't played since Nov. 15 with a knee injury, is out for Thursday's game against the Leafs. Tyler Johnson, who's played the last two games after missing the previous 11 with a lower-body injury, did not take part in line rushes at practice and will be a game-time decision. - Pierre Lebrun, TSN
Winnipeg Jets
Defenceman Tyler Myers, who's been out since mid-November with a lower-body injury, is crossing his fingers that he'll be able to play in Winnipeg's last game of the season on Saturday. “I'm starting to move a little bit better,” Myers told the Winnipeg Sun. “It's going to be pretty close. I would love to jump in for the last one. If I'm ready to go, just for the mental side of things, it would be great to get one in. But obviously, I don't want to come back if I'm not ready.” The 27-year-old has five points in 11 games this season. - Winnipeg Sun
Projected Lines vs. Blue Jackets
Forwards
Perreault-Little-Laine
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Copp-Lowry-Armia
Tanev-Roslovic-Thorburn
Defence
Morrissey-Trouba
Melchiori-Byfuglien
Stuart-Nogier
Goalies
Comrie
Hellebuyck
New York Islanders
Goalie Jaroslav Halák will get the start between the pipes for a fifth consecutive time Thursday night. The Isles are five points behind the Leafs for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. - Team Tweet
Buffalo Sabres
Goalie Linus Ullmark has been assigned to the American Hockey League. - Team Tweet