Although the Panthers find themselves within striking distance of a playoff spot, don’t expect them to turn to the rental market to try to add someone to help make that push. Speaking with reporters (video via the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel), GM Dale Tallon stated that they’re only going to be making a move if they can get someone who fits in long-term and that they have identified several targets around the league that could fit that bill. This represents a shift from last year when they picked up Thomas Vanek from Detroit as a rental on deadline day in a move that did little to help their postseason aspirations.
Elsewhere in the East:
- Lightning goaltender Peter Budaj will be out for a while yet. GM Steve Yzerman told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link) that Budaj’s leg injury will keep him out for six-to-eight weeks from December 29th, the day he was hurt. That means he will be out for the next month at a minimum so Louis Domingue will be sticking around as Andrei Vasilevskiy’s backup for the foreseeable future following their bye.
- Pittsburgh’s recall of goaltender Casey DeSmith yesterday wasn’t due to an injury. Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes that netminder Matt Murray is away from the team due to personal reasons. There’s no word on when he will return to the Penguins. Tristan Jarry will get the extra workload in Murray’s absence.
- Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere isn’t expected to play tonight due to an illness, notes Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post (Twitter link). His absence is a big one for Philadelphia as he sits fourth in team scoring with 32 points in 39 games while logging nearly 21 minutes a night of playing time. Travis Sanheim is slated to take his place in the lineup.