Ice Chips: "Good chance" Guentzel makes Canes debut tonight
Published
Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.
Carolina Hurricanes
There's a "real good possibility" newly-acquired forward Jake Guentzel will make his debut for the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday against the New York Rangers, per head coach Rod Brind'Amour.
Guentzel last played on Feb. 14 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, when he suffered a shoulder injury. The forward was acquired by the Hurricanes along with defenceman Ty Smith for Michael Bunting, a pair of prospects and a first- and fifth-round draft pick.
The 29-year-old native of Omaha, Nebr. has 20 goals and 52 points in 50 games this season.
The Hurricanes trail the Rangers for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, with a 39-19-6 record.
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are making a lineup swap on the blue line for their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, subbing in Johnathan Kovacevic for Jordan Harris.
Kovacevic has missed the past three games with a lower-body injury, but has played 51 games this season with six goals and nine points.
Harris has averaged just under 17 minutes of time on ice per game in 40 games this season.
Ottawa Senators
Zack Ostapchuk is set to make his debut for the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday against the Penguins, per TSN's Claire Hanna.
"You don’t believe it for a couple minutes," the 20-year-old said. "I called my mom & that’s when I realized that this was going to come true and my dream as a little kid is coming true tonight.”
Travis Hamonic skated Tuesday morning in a non-contact jersey as he tries to return from a lower-body injury.
Hamonic, 33, has missed the last five games with the injury.
The St. Malo, Manit. native has two goals and six points in 47 games for the Senators this season.
Senators practice notes via TSN's Claire Hanna
Sens Lines vs. Penguins:
Tkachuk-Pinto-Batherson
Joseph-Stutzle-Giroux
Greig-Ostapchuk-Kubalik
Katchouk-Kastelic-Smejkal
Sanderson-Zub
Chychrun-Guennette
Brannstrom-JBD
Korpisalo
Forsberg
Senators head coach Jacques Martin on Penguins forward Sidney Crosby:
“He still fills buildings. He is special. I had the privilege to work with him for several years. I learned a lot from him. Not only as a player but more important as a person. He’s a tremendous person and individual. Kind and always concerned with teammates. Has time for people. Well brought up. I’m not sure that you can ask for a better leader. When I say that, he leads by example. It’s no fluke that he’s still performing at a high level when you look at the commitment he brings to the game. His lifestyle, work ethic, whether it’s in and off season, the amount of work he does before and after practice, working on details. He’s consumed with the game and consumed with being the best player he can be and trying to help his teammates.”
Crosby on Martin's coaching style:
“The importance of playing on both sides of the puck. He did a lot of work with our PK but stressed the importance of being good in our own zone and the discipline that comes with that. As an offensive player you’re always looking to create and you learn quickly that if you can take care of your own zone you get more opportunity to do that. It doesn’t have to be a trade off. He was someone that believed in that, enforced that and we learned that pretty quickly.”
Chicago Blackhawks
Andreas Athanasiou is set to make his return to the lineup for the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks, per The Athletic's Mark Lazerus.
Athanasiou, 29, hasn't played since Nov. 9, when he suffered a groin injury.
The Woodbridge, Ont. native has four assists in 11 games this season, his second in Chicago. In 80 games a season ago, he scored 20 goals and totaled 40 points.
Colorado Avalanche
Veteran forward Zach Parise skated in a red non-contact jersey with the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, per the Denver Post's Corey Masisak.
Parise made his season debut with the Avalanche in February, but missed the last game with a lower-body injury. He has four goals and seven points in 15 games.
Additionally, Gabriel Landeskog travelled with the team to Calgary, and was spotted riding a stationary bike before morning skate. Landeskog hasn't played this season, and the team announced in September that there was a good chance he would not play at all this year.
Calgary Flames
Flames lines vs. Avs
Pelletier-Kadri-Pospisil
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Huberdeau-Sharangovich-Kuzmenko
Hunt-Rooney-Coronato
Kylington-Andersson
Weegar-Miromanov
Hanley-Pachal
Vladar
Wolf
PP1: Huberdeau, Kadri, Sharangovich, Kuzmenko, Miromanov
PP2: Backlund, Pospisil, Mangiapane/Coleman, Andersson, Weegar