Carolina Hurricanes top defender Jaccob Slavin is returning to the lineup tonight against the New York Rangers, according to Hurricanes content producer Walt Ruff.
Slavin had missed the past six games before the All-Star break with a lower-body injury. His last game was on January 19, leaving late in a matchup against the Minnesota Wild. Carolina has won all six games in Slavin’s absence, three of them in regulation, and they’ll look to continue a seven-game winning streak tonight in Raleigh. Slavin, averaging over 22 minutes per game this season, is expected to return to his spot on the top pairing alongside Brent Burns.
- Another important shutdown defenseman is returning to the lineup: Jonas Brodin of the Minnesota Wild. The Athletic’s Michael Russo notes he’s set to return to the lineup tonight against the New Jersey Devils alongside Matt Dumba on the second pairing. Brodin missed the team’s last two games with a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old has two goals and eight points in 43 games this season, posting a +6 rating and 22:32 average time on ice.
- Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond is absent from today’s game against the Vancouver Canucks with a lower-body injury, ending his 132-game iron man streak. Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press notes that Raymond suffered the injury in a collision with teammate Ben Chiarot yesterday during practice. Raymond’s status is day-to-day. The sophomore forward has 15 goals and 33 points in 50 games this season.