The NHL has eight games on the schedule for this evening, including a battle between Bill Zito’s Florida Panthers and his former employees from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Panthers lost their last game but still sit atop the Atlantic Division with a 35-11-5 record, while the Blue Jackets are making some noise in the Metropolitan Division with three straight wins and an 8-2 record over their last ten games. It’ll be hard for Patrik Laine and the Blue Jackets to climb all the way up, but they have passed the Detroit Red Wings and are now the closest team to that final wild card spot in the east.
Atlantic Division
- Now that they have some cap space because of Jake Muzzin’s long-term injured reserve stint, the Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Kyle Clifford, and–according to CapFriendly—Rasmus Sandin. The team has sent Brennan Menell and Kristians Rubins, two players that were up solely for cap purposes, back to the AHL.
Metropolitan Division
- By moving Elvis Merzlikins onto injured reserve retroactive to February 17, the Blue Jackets were able to add two players to the roster today. Emil Bemstrom and Jake Christiansen have both been recalled from the minor leagues. The team will not have Zach Werenski on this road trip as he deals with an upper-body injury, meaning Gabriel Carlsson will enter the lineup tonight.
- The New York Rangers have recalled Zac Jones to the NHL. Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that Patrik Nemeth is away from the team expecting the birth of a child. Morgan Barron will also enter the lineup in the place of Filip Chytil, who is ill.
Central Division
Pacific Division
This page will be updated throughout the day