The NHL is rather quiet this evening with just four games, though a pair of them do have significant playoff implications. The Toronto Maple Leafs head to Tampa to take on the Lightning in a battle for the second seed in the Atlantic, while the Los Angeles Kings welcome in the Calgary Flames and try to continue their chase of the Pacific crown. The Flames sit just three points ahead of the Kings and have lost three straight, though they do have three games in hand on their pursuers. As those teams and others prepare for this evening, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Detroit Red Wings have assigned Kyle Criscuolo to the AHL, after he played in just his 12th career NHL game last night. The 29-year-old forward has been excellent in his return to the Grand Rapids Griffins, joining them last season and posting 51 points in 78 games to this point. In three matches this season with Detroit, he recorded one point–his first at the NHL level.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Arizona Coyotes have recalled Victor Soderstrom from the AHL, bringing up the top prospect once again now that he’s recovered from injury. Soderstrom, 21, has played in 13 NHL games this season but is still looking for his first point of the year, while he has registered 13 in 23 games with the Tucson Roadrunners.
Pacific Division
- Bowen Byram is back up with the Colorado Avalanche and will travel on their upcoming road trip, which includes two stops in Canada. Byram, who has always should immense ability when on the ice, has struggled with head injuries during his short career and has just 39 professional games (at any level) to his name to this point.
- The Calgary Flames have recalled Adam Ruzicka and Juuso Valimaki from the AHL. The pair have joined them in Los Angeles and will be available for tonight’s game if needed. The 23-year-old Valimaki was once considered a key future piece for the Flames, though injuries and inconsistency have slowed his progress in recent years. This season, he’s played just eight games with the big club, spending most of the year with the Stockton Heat.
- Pavel Dorofeyev has been sent back to the AHL by the Vegas Golden Knights, after playing in his second career NHL game a few days ago. The 21-year-old winger is still looking for his first point at that level, but has 41 in 53 games for the Henderson Silver Knights.
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