West Notes: Kurashev, Kolesar, Johnsson, Knyzhov
Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that forward Reese Johnson will be replacing Philipp Kurashev in the lineup tonight. Johnson will suit up in his first game since the team’s February 19th win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In his report, Pope mentions that Kurashev may be headed toward concussion protocol, but are waiting until the team returns to Chicago to make a better determination. In 70 games played for the struggling Blackhawks so far this season, Kurashev has scored nine goals and 16 assists. Although these may seem like tepid numbers from a forward, he has passed his total production from last season, which must be a welcomed sign from the rebuilding Chicago team.
Other notes:
- After being out since March 11th, the head of the Vegas Golden Knights, Bruce Cassidy, reports that Keegan Kolesar will be back in the lineup for tonight’s game. Although Kolesar does not usually generate a lot of offensive chances for the Golden Knights, the forward has thrown 240 hits so far this year, good for seventh overall throughout the entire league. As the Golden Knights are making their final push to return to the playoffs, Kolesar’s ability to throw the body is a valuable asset to employ come playoff time.
- Since being acquired from the New Jersey Devils at the trade deadline, forward Andreas Johnsson has not been able to find his footing in the Bay Area just yet. Tallying just three assists in 13 games for the Sharks, Johnsson has been out since the team’s March 20th game with an injury. Sharks beat writer Curtis Pashelka passes on a note from head coach David Quinn that the new forward will likely be out for some time, with no update on when he will return to the lineup.
- Continuing on with the Sharks, the team has announced that defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov has been sent down to their AHL affiliate San Jose Barracuda. Spending most of this year on the team’s long-term injured reserve, Knyzhov has suited up in nine games for San Jose, scoring only one goal from the back end.
West Notes: Thompson, Kurashev, Canucks
Despite a big win for the Vegas Golden Knights against a divisional rival last night, there was a concerning setback near the end of the game. Goalie Logan Thompson, who was making his first appearance in 18 games after being sidelined with a left leg injury, left the team’s 3-2 win against the Calgary Fames with a lower-body injury.
Thompson left the game with less than 10 minutes remaining after making 37 saves on 39 shots. He was replaced by Jonathan Quick, who stopped all five shots he faced, helping the Golden Knights extend their lead atop the Western Conference. The team has not yet issued an update on Thompson’s status, but it’s something to watch out for in the coming days as the Pacific Division leaders approach the playoffs without the full health of their starter. It’s worth noting that in Thompson’s absence, Quick has been much-improved since joining the Golden Knights, posting a 5-1-0 record and a .908 save percentage.
More updates from the Western Conference on Friday:
- Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev left last night’s game against the Washington Capitals with an undisclosed injury, per the team. Kurashev had just two shifts before exiting the game less than five minutes in, seemingly due to a hit from Capitals winger Tom Wilson. The 23-year-old Swiss forward has set career highs for the struggling Blackhawks this season, with 25 points in 70 games.
- Vancouver Canucks defenseman Noah Juulsen is likely to miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury, according to head coach Rick Tocchet. The 25-year-old blueliner has played in just 12 NHL games this season but has 20 points in 49 games at the AHL level. In addition, defenseman Guillaume Brisebois was an injury-related scratch last night against the San Jose Sharks, and Christian Wolanin, who signed a two-year extension yesterday, left last night’s game after just three shifts. The Canucks have not provided an update on Brisebois or Wolanin’s conditions.