- Will DePaoli of Inside Pittsburgh Sports: Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta will have surgery next week to remove a tumor in his neck that might be a low-grade thyroid cancer. Maatta is still able to play until he has the surgery. The lump was detected by team doctors during training camp. There is an 85 percent chance that the tumor is cancerous.
“It’s an 85 percent chance that it’s cancer” Vyas said. “We don’t expect him to have to undergo any radiation or chemotherapy at this time.”
- Stephen Whyno: Maatta will miss four weeks after his surgery, they are expecting a full recovery.
- Shawn Mitchell: Blue Jackets Nick Foligno: “(Stiffness) is the worst part. If anyone comes from my right, I’m not going to see them too well right now. Hopefully I can turn a corner here today. I’d like to play with the guys tomorrow if I can. As long as I’m feeling good, maybe I can get in the lineup tomorrow.”
- Aaron Portzline: Foligno has no structural damage to his neck and there is no word if he sustained a concussion.
- Helene Elliott: A Kings spokesman said that Anze Kopitar (upper-body) is flying with the team to Philadelphia.
- James Mirtle: Carl Gunnarsson will make his Blues debut tomorrow night. He has missed the first seven games this season due to offseason hip surgery. Andy Strickland: Gunnarsson said that he has played with a torn labrum for the past two years in Toronto.
- Jeremy Rutherford: Blues Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan Reaves are questionable for tomorrow night due to illness.
- Matt Baker: The Lightning hope to have J.T. Brown and Alex Killorn back tomorrow.
- Kevin Kurz: John Scott will have hearing this afternoon for leaving the bench start an altercation in last night’s game.
- Roger Millions: Flames Paul Byron didn’t practice today due to a flu. Mason Raymond was given a maintenance day.
- Renaud Lavoie: The Flmaes put Corey Potter on waivers. The Blue Jackets put Simon Hjalmarsson on unconditional waivers. Chris Johnston: Hjalmarsson had signed with the Jackets after having a good year in Sweden. He was unable to make the team and will be heading to the KHL.
- Mark Stepneski: Stars Valeri Nichushkin and Sergei Gonchar are progressing but are not expected to play this week.
- Aaron Portzline: Blue Jackets Jarmo Kekalainen said that Matt Calvert has an upper-body injury.
- Don Brennan: A couple lines at Senators practice: Ryan-Turris-MacArthur line together. Michalek is with Zibanejad and Chiasson.
- Jeremy Rutherford: Brian Elliott will start in net for the Blues tomorrow.