Injuries: Stars, Sharks, Rangers, Canucks, Wings, Flyers and Blues
  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News:  Stars Valeri Nichushkin will be rehabbing with the team as much as possible.

    “We want him up there now, because they’re the specialists, and they know what he needs, but we expect him back here pretty soon,” said Stars general manager Jim Nill. “We definitely think he can have a productive year coming back from the injury.”

    Nichushkin had hip surgery on Nov. 18th and is expected to be out four months.

  • Kevin Kurz: Sharks Raffi Torres continue to rehab his knee injury and hopes to start skating in the next week or so. His ACL was removed from his right knee and has been dealing with multiple infections.

    “People have helped me along the way and I’m hoping that I can get back and start helping this team out the way I know I can,” Torres said. “At the end of the day, I haven’t played in a couple years, but I feel good. Mentally, I feel refreshed.”

    “Coming back here puts that fire back in my body.”

  • New York Rangers: Rangers Ryan McDonagh doesn’t think he’ll be ready for tonight.
  • Farhan Lalji: The Canucks are getting a second opinion on Dan Hamhuis. Sounding like he could be out months, as it’s not a day-to-day or week-to-week injury.
  • Ansar Khan: Red Wings Brendan Smith had needed surgery to clean up the infection from his left hand after his fight with Blue Jackets Nick Foligno.
  • George Richards: When Panthers David Bolland is getting close to returning, you would have to think they would send him to the AHL to get a in a few games. He hasn’t played since game four.
  • Tim Panacico: Flyers Michael Raffl (right foot) practiced yesterday and hopes to play in one of the games this weekend.
  • Lou Korac: No update on Brian Elliott from Ken Hitchcock last night. More should be known today. Tone of his voice didn’t sound too optimistic.