Nick Schmaltz to the IR, Kevin Connauton injured and Alex Goligoski skates
Richard Morin: The Arizona Coyotes have placed Nick Schmaltz on the IR with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Kevin Connauton is injured but coach Rick Tocchet didn’t give any details.
Richard Morin: Coyotes didn’t defenseman Alex Goligoski practiced after missing Wednesday’s game with flu-like symptoms.
Brandon Davidson activated
Stephen Whyno: The Chicago Blackhawks have activated defenseman Brandon Davidson off the IR.
Stars hopeful for Jamie Benn tonight
Mark Stepneski of NHL.com: Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn didn’t practice yesterday after leaving Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury.
Coach Jim Montgomery listed Benn as day-to-day and there is some hope that he could play tonight.
“I am hopeful for Jamie Benn for (Friday) night,” Montgomery said after Thursday’s practice. “We’ll see.”
Carl Gunnarsson activated, Vladimir Tarasenko ill
Jim Thomas: St. Louis Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson has been activated from the IR.
Lou Korac: Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko missed last night’s game with an illness.
Canucks hopeful Elias Pettersson not going out long-term
Sean Farrell of NHL.com: Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson left last night’s game in the second period with a leg injury but he’s not expected to be out long-term.
“He’s staying with the team,” Vancouver coach Travis Green said. “I expect he won’t play Saturday but I don’t expect that he’s going to be (out) that long.”
Head coach Travis Green.
“It’s not good that he’s out but, as long as he’s not out too long, it’s part of the game,” Green said. “You do have bumps and bruises along the way, and a lot of teams have to play without some of their top players.”
The bad new is Pettersson’s out for the game. The good news is he was able to walk off without any help #Canucks pic.twitter.com/FPWe0lEJV9
— Vanessa Jang (@vanessajang) January 4, 2019
