Vesalainen has scored nine goals with 13 assists (22 points) in 44 AHL games this season. The 2017 first-round pick has one assist in five career NHL games and could make his season debut on Tuesday with Adam Lowry out for at least one month.
Lowry left Sunday's game in Chicago with an upper-body injury that he suffered early on a hit from Drake Caggiula. With Lowry out, Andrew Copp will move back to centre and Jack Roslovic will be bumped back into the top-6.
DeMelo missed the last 10 games with a broken finger but will be back on the top pair with Thomas Chabot in Washington. DeMelo has averaged a career-high 19:50 ATOI while posting six assists in 32 games this season.
DeMelo has missed the last 10 games with a broken finger but was back on the ice for Monday's practice and is expected to play on Tuesday. The Senators did not hold a morning skate so we'll have to wait for an update during head coach D.J. Smith's pre-game availability.
Fleury has shuffled in and out of the Hurricanes lineup this season but has been a healthy scratch for the last five games. He will replace Trevor van Riemsdyk on the third pair with Jake Gardiner. Fleury has two goals and two assists (four points) in 19 games this season.
Gregor was a healthy scratch vs. the Rangers but will replace Dylan Gambrell Saturday vs. the Canucks. Gregor has just one goal on 17 shots (5.9 SH%) and a minus-5 rating in 17 games this season.
DeMelo broke his finger late in Wednesday's game in Montreal and will be out until early-January. This is a huge blow for the Senators, who lose arguably their most consistent/reliable defenseman of 2019-20. Erik Brannstom could be summoned from the AHL to replace DeMelo.
Skinner has gone 7-5-2 with a 3.23 GAA and .890 SV% in 15 AHL games this season. He is only coming up because Mike Smith is dealing with a leg injury, so he'll sit on the bench while Mikko Koskinen gets the nod.
Namestnikov missed the last three games with a lower-body injury but will play Friday in Minnesota. Namestnikov, who has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 22 games this season, will skate with Artem Anisimov and Connor Brown on the Senators' third-line.
Namestnikov suffered a lower-body injury early in Wednesday's game in Montreal and will miss at least two games and J.C. Beaudin was called up from Belleville (AHL) to replace him.
Bjugstad will miss his third straight game on Thursday and will miss at least two months after undergoing surgery today. Injuries have devastated the Penguins in the first two months of the season but they’ve continued to win games. Luckily, they’ll get Patric Hornqvist back to replace Bjugstad on Thursday.
Ferraro has missed the last three games with an undisclosed injury but will replace Dalton Prout in the lineup on Saturday. Ferraro has two assists and a minus-6 rating in 17 games this season.
Ferraro will miss his second straight game on Tuesday but head coach Pete DeBoer said he is "close to returning." With Ferraro out, Tim Heed will remain in the lineup.
Ferraro is dealing with some kind of injury but was on the ice for the Sharks morning skate and could play Saturday. Ferraro has picked up two assists in 17 games this season.
Lowry missed the last two games after being suspended for a hit in the Heritage Classic but will play Saturday in Vegas. Lowry is still searching for his first point after being held scoreless in his first 12 games of the season.
Lowry crunched Kylington into the corner during Saturday’s Heritage Classic and will miss Tuesday’s game in Anaheim and Friday’s game in San Jose. Logan Shaw was recalled from Manitoba (AHL) and will likely draw into the lineup for Lowry tomorrow.
Fleury was the seventh defenseman in their last game but Brian Gibbons was recalled from Charlotte (AHL) and will suit up as a 12th forward on Saturday. Fleury’s usage will likely be limited now that Trevor van Riemsdyk is healthy.
Bjugstad has missed the last nine games with a lower-body injury but was back at practice on Friday and will be a game-time decision in Dallas. Bjugstad centred the second line with Bryan Rust and Patric Hornqvist and skated on the second power-play unit in practice.