On the Lightning …
- Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Bay Tribune: Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy received clearance for hockey related activities and could start skating with the team as soon as next week. He’s been out since early September with a blood clot. His top left rib was removed after is was discovered that he had a blood vessel that was being pinched between his rib and collarbone. He had been on blood thinners. GM Steve Yzerman is hopeful that Vasilevskiy can start practicing with the team on Monday and go on a rehab assignment in the AHL at some point.
On the Flyers …
- Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post: The Flyers lost both Sean Couturier and Michal Neuvirth to upper-body injuries last night. Couturier didn’t return to the second period after being hit by Zac Rinaldo. Neuvirth was hit by Patrice Bergeron’s stick after he scored.
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Flyers Brayden Schenn missed last night’s game with a shoulder injury, and is listed as day-to-day.
On the Rangers …
- Andrew Gross: Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said Derek Stepan had a tooth extracted yesterday, but will be ready to play tonight.
On the Blues …
- Tom Timmerman of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: The Blues have put Paul Stastny on the IR with a broken right foot. Stastny will miss at least five weeks.Coach Hitchcock on Stastny’s absence.
“It’s an injury that affects all three aspects of our team, special teams and five on five,” Hitchcock said. “One person is not going to be able to absorb that. We have to find a way to absorb that in our group. … For a little while, you can get by on emotion, but there’s a reality to the situation.”
Forward Robbie Fabbri has been out since October 10th with a concussion, skated yesterday on his own and could be ready soon. The Blues don’t practice until tomorrow.
If Fabbri and Kevin Shattenkirk practice on Friday, they could be available for Saturday’s game. Shattenkirk has missed the past four games with a lower-body injury.
On the Penguins …
- Jenn Menendez of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Penguins forward Kevin Porter missed practice yesterday with an undisclosed injury.
“Porter was injured last night in the game. They decided to send him for some tests,” said Johnston. “We’ll get a read to where he’s at.”