Jan 24, 2018
Ice Chips: McLellan drops Lucic to fourth line
Edmonton Oilers head coach Todd McLellan shook up his lines at practice on Wednesday after a 5-0 loss to the last-place Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. In one of the more notable moves, McLellan had Milan Lucic skating on the fourth line, rotating with Jujhar Khaira at left wing on a line with Mark Letestu and Jesse Puljujarvi.
TSN.ca Staff
Keep updated on all the injury news and roster moves from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers head coach Todd McLellan shook up his lines at practice on Wednesday after a 5-0 loss to the last-place Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.
In one of the more notable moves, McLellan had Milan Lucic skating on the fourth line, rotating with Jujhar Khaira at left wing on a line with Mark Letestu and Jesse Puljujarvi. Both Lucic and Puljujarvi spent Tuesday's game on the second line with Leon Draisait at centre.
Patrick Maroon was moved off of the top line with Connor McDavid, who skated between Drake Caggiula and Anton Slepyshev. Maroon spent practice with Ryan Strome and Zack Zassian on the second line, while Draisaitl was dropped to the third line with Mike Cammalleri (a healthy scratch on Tuesday) and Iiro Pakarinen.
Practice lines:
Caggiula-McDavid-Slepyshev
Maroon-Strome-Kassian
Cammalleri-Draisaitl-Pakarinen
Lucic/Khaira-Letestu-Puljujarvi
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets placed forward Shawn Matthias on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 12. In a corresponding move, the Jets recalled defenceman Tucker Poolman from the AHL's Manitoba Moose.
Poolman, 24, has played in 13 games with the big club so far this season, scoring one goal.
San Jose Sharks
Sharks forward Joe Thornton left Tuesday's game with an apparent right knee injury and did not return. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson announced the 38-year-old will be out at least two weeks. The team is currently awaiting further results of an MRI.
He appeared to incur the injury late in the third period after a collision with Mikkel Boedker.
In 47 games so far this season, Thornton has 13 goals and 23 assists.
Columbus Blue Jackets
There's a chance the Blue Jackets could get last season's goal leader Cam Atkinson (broken foot) back on Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Portzline reports that Atkinson, who suffered the injury last month, has skated hard and well in recent days, saying his foot feels better than expected.
In 32 games so far this season, the 28-year-old has six goals and seven assists.
Boston Bruins
Head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters Wednesday that he believes centre Patrice Bergeron (illness) will play Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.
Cassidy was less sure about forward Noel Acciari's status (lower-body) for tomorrow matchup, telling reporters "we'll see how he is tomorrow."
Both missed practice Wednesday.
Nashville Predators
The Predators have waived forward Cody McLeod according to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie. In 23 games so far this season, the 33-year-old has one goal and one assist.
Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks forward Tommy Wingels left Tuesday's practice after taking a puck to the face, but was back on the ice Wednesday morning according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. In 43 games so far this season, he has six goals and five assists.
Forwards Brandon Saad and Artem Anisimov were absent during the skate. Goaltender Jeff Glass is expected to start in net.
Washington Capitals
Here were their lines at their morning skate Wednesday according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Burakovsky-Backstrom-Oshie
Stephenson-Eller-Connolly
Vrana-Beagle-Smith-Pelly
Chiasson extra
Nissanen-Orlov
Djoos-Carlson
Orpik-Bowey
Chorney
Holtby
Grubauer
NHL Game Notes
Lowest GF/G in 2018
Team GP G/G
Blue Jackets 8 1.75
Edmonton Oilers 9 1.78
Toronto Maple Leafs 9 2.00
Nashville Predators 8 2.25
Detroit Red Wings 9 2.33
Vancouver Canucks 9 2.33
Struggling Leafs on Offence
Player Last GP G-A
Kadri 20 1-1
Marner 11 1-2
Marleau 9 1-0
Nylander 4 0-1
Bozak 4 0-0
JVR 4 0-0
Leafs (57P) at Blackhawks (50P) - 8PM
TOR 1-0-0 vs CHI in 17-18, OTW at home. CHI 7 straight home wins vs TOR
CHI (22-19-6):
lost 3 straight, all at home, shutout twice, PP 0/10
Kane (2G, 1A) last 5GP (PTS all in one game)
TOR (26-18-5):
3-4-4 last 11GP, 24GF, PP 3/29
Matthews (2G, 1A) last 2GP
Kings (55P) at Flames (56P) - 10PM
CGY 2-0-0 vs LAK in 17-18, both games 4-3, 1 in OT. 1-0-0 in LA (OTW)
CGY (25-16-6):
0-0-2 last 2GP, both at home, both 2-1, PP 1/7
Gaudreau (2G, 12A) last 9GP
LAK (25-18-5):
1-7-0 last 8GP, 17GF, PP 5/20
Kopitar (1G, 4A) 4 game PT streak