Malcolm Subban Reassigned To Providence; Rask Returns
The Boston Bruins announced via their team website that they have reassigned goalie Malcolm Subban to Providence of the AHL. Subban was originally recalled due to injuries to Boston’s top two netminders, Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin. He started one contest and was pulled in the second period of a loss to Minnesota after allowing three goals on 16 shots.
The reassignment of Subban suggests Rask is now healthy enough to at least serve as the backup in tonight’s game against Detroit. Joe Haggerty of CSNNE confirmed that belief via Twitter, indicating that Rask and Zane McIntyre would serve as the tandem between the pipes for Boston.
Subban was Boston’s first round choice in the 2012 draft, selected 24th overall. In 99 appearances for Providence, Subban has recorded a 91.6% save percentage and a goals-against-average of 2.46.
Anton Khudobin Out Three Weeks
Boston’s goaltending depth is about to get put to the test as the team announced on Tuesday that Anton Khudobin will miss the next three weeks with an upper body injury that was sustained in practice on Monday. This comes at the same time that the team is currently missing starter Tuukka Rask due to general body soreness and there remains no timetable for his return to action.
Khudobin has played in a pair of games this season while subbing for Rask. Both contests were losses with the 30 year old posting a 4.10 GAA and a .849 save percentage.
As a result of the injury, the team will be running with a duo of prospects Malcolm Subban and Zane McIntyre for the time being, the latter being recalled on an emergency basis today. McIntyre leads the AHL in both goals against (0.44) and save percentage (.977) this season while Subban, Boston’s first round pick in 2012, has struggled, being pulled in two starts already while posting a 4.50 GAA and a .846 save percentage. Subban is expected to get the start between the pipes tonight against Minnesota.
The team will also be without center David Backes for that game, who is day-to-day with an unspecified injury, adds Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). However, veteran blueliner Adam McQuaid will make his season debut for the Bruins, the team announced (Twitter link).
The Bruins also assigned defenseman Rob O’Gara to their AHL affiliate in Providence. The rookie has played in three games with Boston this season, logging just over 16 minutes per night in ice time.
Injury Updates: Penguins, Bruins, Stars, Blues, Kings
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby returned to practice for the first time on Monday since sustaining a concussion just prior to the start of the regular season, notes Sam Kasan of the team’s official website. He also wasn’t wearing a non-contact jersey which is a sign that he should be nearing a return to the lineup in the near future. Crosby skated on the top line in practice along with wingers Patric Hornqvist and Scott Wilson. There remains no firm timetable for his return, but head coach Mike Sullivan wouldn’t rule out a possible return this week.
Still with the Penguins, Kris Letang (upper body) and Conor Sheary (eye) did not practice today, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (via Twitter). Both players are currently listed as day-to-day.
Other injury updates from around the league:
- With Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask still unavailable to practice, the team announced that they’ve recalled prospect Malcolm Subban on an emergency basis. On top of that, Anton Khudobin left practice early with an upper body injury, adds Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe. Rask remains day-to-day while there’s no word yet on the severity of Khudobin’s injury.
- After returning to the lineup on Saturday from a groin injury, Dallas right winger Ales Hemsky is once again on the shelf with a groin injury and won’t play tomorrow, notes Mike Heika of the Dallas News. Additionally, center Jason Spezza tweaked something and is listed as questionable. Jiri Hudler (flu) is skating and is nearing a return to the lineup but is not expected to play on Tuesday night. The team announced that Hemsky has been placed on IR while center Justin Dowling has been recalled from Texas of the AHL.
- St. Louis center Jori Lehtera skated on his own today as he continues to recover from an upper body injury, reports Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link). In a follow-up tweet, Timmermann adds that right winger Dmitrij Jaskin is day-to-day with a back issue.
- Kings goaltender Jeff Zatkoff is expected to miss around a week with his groin injury, head coach Darryl Sutter told reporters including Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider. Zatkoff was expected to be the backup to Jonathan Quick this season but was thrust into the starting role with Quick expected to miss the next three months. In the meantime, Los Angeles will continue to go with Peter Budaj as their starter while speculation continues that the team will eventually have to add some help via the trade route.