This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
Kyle Okposo is returning for the New York Islanders after an extended injury absence, and the team currently sits atop the Metropolitan Division. There were some murmurs before the season that the Islanders would be better, and could perhaps make the playoffs, but they have flown well past that. In the Eastern Conference, a conference that appears wide open, the Islanders have as good of a chance as anybody of making it to the Stanley Cup Final. After years in the wilderness, this would be a major turnaround for this once proud franchise.
Of course, there is no guarantee they will take their division, let alone the conference. They are atop the Metropolitan, but their competitors have games in hand. The New York Rangers were in the Final last year, and Henrik Lundqvist returning would be bigger than Okposo, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are still the Pittsburgh Penguins. It's not going to be easy.
However, Islanders fans will probably take being one of several teams with a real chance of winning the East. John Tavares is excellent. Jaroslav Halak is not terrible, which has been the real change for this team. They are good, and they have the chance to turn the tables and become the talk of hockey in New York. It'd be nice if this was happening in their new arena, as opposed to the decrepit mausoleum they currently play in, but what are you gonna do?
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Sabres (Matt Hackett) at Maple Leafs (Jonathan Bernier) 7:00
Rangers (Cam Talbot) at Capitals (Braden Holtby) 8:00
Ducks (John Gibson) at Flames (Karri Ramo*) 9:30
*Confirmed Starters
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Sabres
Zach Bogosian, D (lower-body) – Ready to go Wednesday.
Zemgus Girgensons, C (ankle) – May not return this season.
Josh Gorges, D (lower-body) – On injured reserve.
Chad Johnson, G (lower-body) – Will miss significant time.
Patrick Kaleta, RW (lower-body) – On injured reserve.
Evander Kane, LW (shoulder) – Out for season.
Cody McCormick, C (blood clots) – Likely out for season.
Andrej Meszaros, D (upper-body) – Likely to play Wednesday.
Maple Leafs
Nathan Horton, RW (back) – Out for season.
Nazem Kadri, C (suspension) – Likely to return Wednesday.
Roman Polak, D (hernia) – Out for season.
Stephane Robidas, D (shoulder) – Out for season.
Rangers
Henrik Lundqvist, G (neck) – Skating, return date unknown.
Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom, C (illness) – Questionable with flu.
John Erskine, D (neck) – On injured reserve.
Mike Green, D (upper-body) – Day-to-day.
Michael Latta, C (upper-body) – Practiced Tuesday.
Dmitry Orlov, D (wrist) – May not return this season.
Brooks Orpik, D (lower-body) – Left practice Tuesday, status unknown.
Ducks
Matt Beleskey, LW (upper-body) – On injured reserve.
Korbinian Holzer, D (concussion) – Likely headed to AHL when healthy.
Tim Jackman, RW (lower-body) – On injured reserve.
Sheldon Souray, D (wrist) – Out for season.
Sami Vatanen, D (lower-body) – Traveling with team, but not likely to play.
Flames
Paul Byron, C (lower-body) – Not expected to return soon.
Mark Giordano, D (biceps) – Out for season.
Drew Shore, C (undisclosed) – Unlikely to play Wednesday.
Ladislav Smid, D (upper-body) – Skating, return date unknown.
Hot
Jaden Schwartz, LW, STL – On Tuesday, Schwartz made it back-to-back games with both a goal and an assist. He also had a point in the two games before that. He has 23 goals on the season now, and 52 points, and Schwartz is one of many players on this Blues team going strong. Schwartz was considered a nice prospect when he was younger, and now here he is at 22 proving those projections correct.
Ryan Spooner, C, BOS – Young Mr. Spooner didn't do a ton when he was up earlier this season, but since being recalled in February, he's been excellent. In those eight games, he has only had one where he has failed to register a point. Granted, most of them were single point games, and almost all of them are assists. However, on Tuesday he potted two goals, including a power-play tally, adding a little variety into the mix. Spooner is both hot, and a player worth a pickup.
Cold
Shane Doan, RW, ARI – Mr. Coyote was not one of the players sold off at the trade deadline, meaning he is left to languish with this team as they try and boost their lottery hopes down the stretch. Doan is living up, or rather down, to those hopes, as he has a single point in his last 10 games. He has zero points in four straight games, and he is a minus-5 in those games. It's not likely to get any better in Arizona, and Doan is a player on his last legs to boot.
Seth Jones, D, NAS – Jones showed promise as a rookie, and it would also probably be unfair to say this season has been a sophomore slump. Plus, in his most recent game he picked up an assist and was a plus-1. However, before that, it was slow going for Jones. He has that single point, an assist, to show for his last eight games, and he is a minus-2 in those games. There are also many games where he gets no shots on net. He's still young, and still promising, but promise doesn't help in the present.
Recommended Pickup
Justin Abdelkader, LW, DET – Abdelkader has been around Detroit for years, and has never been in the spotlight. He saw stars like Pavel Datsyuk above him, and has now seen guys like Gustav Nyquist pass him. However, he's quietly having a rather good season. After a nice recent hot streak, he has 17 goals and 18 assists this season in 58 games. He's a plus-6, he has 45 penalty minutes, and a 118 shots on goal. Basically, Abdelkader does a bit of everything, and he's still playing well, and perhaps playing as well as he has all season. Why not give him a little recognition?
