News and notes from around the NHL this evening:
- Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise missed tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. Minnesota Wild Digital Content Coordinator says that Parise has been battling strep throat for weeks, and it is the cause of tonight’s scratch. Parise is off to a slow start this season with only 5G and 8A in 24 games, and on pace for his worst statistical season since his rookie year.
- Buffalo Sabres defenseman Cody Franson was a late scratch in tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Franson was initially pencilled into the lineup and even skated during the warmup drills, but must have suffered an injury before the game started. Justin Falk, who was initially scratched, replaces Franson in the lineup.
- The Los Angeles Kings announced that Tyler Toffoli is considered day-to-day with a lower body injury, reports Helene Elliot of the LA Times. Toffoli has had a decent season so far, scoring 8G and 12A in 32 games. The Kings forward is in his final year of his RFA deal which pays him $3.25MM a year. Toffoli is eligible for arbitration, but with approximately $60MM on the books already for next year, it’s unclear whether the Kings have the resources to Toffoli any sort of raise.